Lawrence Herbert

Lawrence Herbert transformed a small printing company into the global authority on color. After graduating from Hofstra University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry, he began his career at Pantone in 1956 as a color matcher. Just six years later, in 1962, he purchased the company. Then, in 1963, he introduced his most groundbreaking achievement: the Pantone Matching System. This innovative system standardized color communication across industries, revolutionizing printing, publishing, packaging, graphic arts, paint, plastics, coatings, computers, film, video, textiles, and fashion. Herbert served as Pantone’s chairman and CEO, guiding the company’s expansion into software, hardware, and related products. His work established a universal color language that remains essential for designers and manufacturers worldwide. Under his leadership, Pantone became synonymous with color precision and creativity. Herbert’s legacy endures in every Pantone swatch and product that bears the system’s name.