Each year, THE authority on the color, style, and trends that will influence everything from fashion to interiors to design -- the Pantone Color Institute -- announces the color that epitomizes the year ahead. Far from arbitrary or simply a predictor of favorite shades of the coming year, the Pantone Color of the Year serves as a talisman of our culture's climate, and reflects the deeper issues, hopes, and mechanisms underlying today's society. Perhaps more relevant, this color is used to build brand identity and in product development, so get ready to see it (in small or large doses!) all around you.
Announced earlier this week, the Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to Pantone, "A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future."
FYI
Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now.
The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.
Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance.
Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality.
Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.
Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world.
The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection.
Sourced from the Pantone Color Institute website.
PREVIOUS YEARS' COLORS OF THE YEAR
So do you love Ultra Violet, or wish you could invent a time machine to take you back to 2016? I'm still processing and absorbing, I tend to take some time to adjust to change. In any way, the only way is forward, so you'll be sure to see me incorporating Ultra Violet in my designs in the coming year!
Happy Weekend!
xoxo,
Estie