It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Because of the holiday season? Maybe. But in the design worlds it is the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year that brings excitement to December.
Pantone is the world’s leading expert in colour and has been presenting the Color of the Year for over 20 years, influencing design decisions in colour conscious industries such as textiles, apparel, as well as interior, architectural and industrial design.
Last year, for the first time in Pantone’s history, the Color of the Year was a new creation: PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri. This year it’s another new colour, representing empowerment, courage and experimentation: PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta.
“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.
Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”
Viva Magenta is a crimson red tone that strikes a balance between warm and cool. Being a hybrid colour, it “comfortably straddles the physical and virtual in our multi-dimensional world.” This colour creates an electrifying statement that “revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self expression without restraint.” This red tone is bold and has the power to influence positivity in the worlds of design.
Since Viva Magenta was only announced this month, it may be a while before you start to see the colour in consumer products but it will emerge in fashion, textiles, technology and beyond. You can welcome this fearless colour into your home by creating unusual colour combinations in textiles, adding bold paint in subtle places or by picking textures and finishes that incorporate the concept of Viva Magenta, adding an element of strength and positivity to your space.
And after the last couple of year we’ve all had, who wouldn’t want that? Viva Magenta!