Wei Xue has gained a reputation for his exceptional ability to predict and interpret color trends. Our color design manager, Industrial Coatings, is one of the visionaries behind the Color Aesthetics Studio in Suzhou, China. Wei has been instrumental in establishing our company’s dominance in color trends and forecasts across various sectors.
Since joining PPG's global color design team in 2007, Wei has played a pivotal role in shaping the color landscape, not just in China but worldwide.
The Touch and Feel of Color Aesthetics
Wei Xue's journey with us began as a color stylist focused on consumer electronics in Greater China. Today, he oversees the Color Aesthetics Studio (CAS), a hub of creativity and innovation that he helped establish in 2010 at our Suzhou R&D center.
"We started with small brands, but now our clients include globally recognized, first-class brands."
The CAS, staffed by a team of experts in art, design, and materials, boasts an impressive library of over 7,000 color effects. The studio doesn’t just create colors; it creates experiences.
We also provide effects, even the touch feeling—spatial effects like color gradients, ceramic, metallic, stone patterns, or fabric touch.
This approach ensures that every aspect of a product’s visual and tactile experience is carefully crafted to resonate with the market.
The CAS employs five key tools to maintain PPG’s color leading position, including What’s New, What If (Looking into Emerging Markets), or Workshop - (Interactive Design for “Idea to Market” speed).
Wei highlights the remaining two tools: the Ready Collection—a quick-to-market selector that features a range of solid colors and effects, from metallic to glossy finishes, as well as the Styling Direction, which guides global color forecasts.
One of the specialties of the studio's work is a unique blend of technology and tradition. Wei's team collaborates closely with chemists to develop new coatings, inspired by traditional Chinese art forms.
"We combined new technologies to create a waterborne white clear coat to mimic the porcelain effects of traditional Chinese ceramics. There's very little that is impossible when it comes to colors."
​Driving Global Color Trends
Every year Wei participates in global workshops where our color experts from different regions and businesses come together to forecast the trends for the next one or two years. This year's workshop took place in Mexico City.
40 color experts from different regions, doing different marketing and offering different color inspiration came together. These workshops are essential for capturing diverse perspectives and ensuring that our color offerings are ahead of the curve.
After collecting information, Wei shares everything with color consultants. New color stories are built and the next year or two of color trends can be forecast.
“PPG color forecasting is a very important part of our marketing, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Our customers love our color effects and they keep proving it, which encourages me. Despite working for the color design team for over 17 years, the field keeps giving me fresh inspiration all the time.”
The global 2025 Color of the Year announcement took place in September, and Wei is excited to unveil the next color trend, despite still being enchanted by Limitless, the Color of the Year 2024, for its “bright, optimistic, champagne tones”.
Looking Forward to the Colorful Future
Aside from global forecasts, understanding the regional nuances of color preferences is also critical, in Wei's case especially in the APAC region. Wei and his team work closely with local universities and industry experts to study color, material and finish trends.
"In different parts of China, people prefer different hues, effects, and finishes. We conduct research and organize workshops to stay ahead of these trends."
The insights gained from this research are applied to a wide range of products, from computer mice to earphones, all of which benefit from the innovative color solutions developed at the studio.
Right now, Wei is particularly excited about the future of color trends, especially as they relate to the younger generation and emerging technologies.
Trendy colors from fashion are influencing electronics and even automotive design. And then there's AI, also impacting color trends, particularly in the development of color gradients and effects that change based on temperature or UV light exposure.
As we continue to lead in color forecasting, Wei’s work ensures that our company remains at the forefront of innovation.
"Our trends and color effects are highly valued by customers. This always encourages me to push the boundaries of what we can achieve with color."