What if colour were experienced not as a trend, but as a continuum shaped by material, memory, craft and culture? This June, Asian Paints brings this idea to life with the launch of ‘Colour As Continuum’ at Nilaya Anthology, an immersive month-long showcase that reimagines ColourNext 2026 through the lens of collectible design.
Marking a significant evolution in the ColourNext journey, the exhibition interprets the four forecast directions, IRL, Pastoral, Solarpunk and Daydream—through a curated selection of furniture, objects and material explorations from Nilaya Anthology’s distinguished roster of designers and makers. Moving beyond the conventional format of trend forecasting, Colour As Continuum invites visitors into a slower, more contemplative engagement with colour and its many narratives.
For over two decades, ColourNext has been South Asia’s most extensively researched forecast on colour and material trends, studying colour not merely as decoration but as a cultural and emotional force that influences the way we live, design and imagine the future. Developed through dialogue with voices across architecture, interiors, fashion, art, sociology and media, the forecast continually responds to evolving social behaviours, material innovations and emerging lifestyles.
At the heart of Colour As Continuum lies the belief that colour is never experienced in isolation. Before it reaches a surface, it exists in materials, landscapes, objects and the hands that shape them. Across the four forecast directions, collectible design becomes the medium through which colour reveals its deeper associations with memory, emotion, cultural references and new possibilities for living.
Spread across the galleries of Nilaya Anthology, the exhibition brings together furniture, objects, surfaces, wallpapers, material studies and sensory environments that embody each trend story. From the tactile familiarity and grounded warmth of IRL, to the craft-rooted narratives of Pastoral, the regenerative optimism of Solarpunk, and the atmospheric softness of Daydream, every space encourages visitors to experience colour as something lived rather than merely observed.
The showcase also underscores the growing importance of material exploration in contemporary design. Through biomaterials, woven fibres, handcrafted techniques, translucent surfaces and experimental finishes, the ColourNext Lab, housed within Anthology’s material library, investigates how materials are increasingly becoming carriers of emotion, ecology, memory and cultural continuity. In doing so, it invites visitors to look beyond colour itself and uncover the processes, ideas and material innovations that give it meaning.
The dialogue between colour, material and craft unfolds further through works by celebrated designers and artists from India and around the world. Pieces by Christabel McGreevy, Ashiesh Shah, Ravi Vazirani, Paola Paronetto, Laura Pasquino, Jacqueline Leighton Boyce, Falguni Bhatt, Bennie Smal, Keegan Luttrell and several others have been thoughtfully curated across the four forecast directions. Through material experimentation, craftsmanship and immersive storytelling, these works bring the themes of ColourNext 2026 to life in compelling and unexpected ways.
Speaking about the evolution of ColourNext, Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints, said:
“ColourNext has always been more than a forecast. Over the years, it has evolved into a cultural document that studies how shifts in society, technology, craft and human behaviour begin to shape the spaces we inhabit. What makes this journey meaningful is its ability to move beyond aesthetics and engage with deeper questions around materiality, emotion and the future of living.”
Speaking about Colour As Continuum, he added:
“This year, ColourNext moves beyond trend forecasting into a curated design experience shaped through collectible design. At Nilaya Anthology, the selected pieces do not simply complement the forecast; they become the starting point of storytelling, giving physical and emotional form to each of the ColourNext 2026 directions.”
As part of the month-long programme, Nilaya Anthology will also host the launch of Udayshanth Fernando: Living Design, a new publication by Rizzoli USA. Resonating with the Pastoral direction, the book celebrates design practices rooted in cultural memory, craftsmanship and a deep connection to place.
Extending the dialogue around ColourNext 2026, Nilaya Anthology will also present an evening with London-based artist HARRI, whose work reflects the themes explored within Solarpunk. The programme will bring together design, performance and conversation around material innovation and emerging visions of the future.
Since its inception, ColourNext has engaged India’s architecture and design community through narrative installations, material experimentation and immersive experiences. Over time, it has evolved from a colour forecast into a broader exploration of **CMFT—Colour, Material, Finish and Texture—**and the role these elements play in shaping contemporary spatial narratives.
Colour As Continuum continues this journey at Nilaya Anthology through collectible design, material expression and archival narratives that trace the evolution of ColourNext since its inception in 2003. The exhibition reflects Anthology’s philosophy of design as a layered, lived experience shaped by craft, culture, memory and making—where colour becomes not a moment, but a continuum.
