Today is the day we learn which color will take the crown as the color of the year for 2023. Are you ready to start seeing the unconventional new shade everywhere?
All eyes are on Pantone, the worldwide standard for color communication, as they announce their hotly anticipated color of the year for 2023. Last year's shade was PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri and chosen in part to reflect the optimism in the air post-pandemic. For 2023, however, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta is the color chosen and is described as an unconventional shade for an unconventional time. Viva Magenta is claimed to be able to communicate power and demonstrate strength.
If you're not too familiar with Viva Magenta as a color, think of a bold magenta shade with a pink undertone. While I do appreciate a company declaring a color of the year could look like just another marketing gimmick, Pantone doesn't just pluck a random color out of thin air. Instead, they look to creative industries, from entertainment to fashion, to interiors and design to make an educated guess about what shades will be important in the coming 12 months. For photographers that operate in these creative circles, it can only be a good thing to know what the color of the year is. I know when I've mentioned the selected shade to various art directors, designers, or commercial clients, they have always been impressed I even knew what it was.
For those looking for inspiration, this announcement is a good opportunity to embrace the color and work it into their next photoshoots, various marketing materials, or even their online branding. Alternatively, you may want to avoid the color like the plague if you'd rather not go with the flow and follow the masses. Either way, you will now know why everywhere seems to be suddenly using Viva Magenta in their projects. Adjust your color palette accordingly.
What do you make of this new color of the year? Will you be using it in your next shoot? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Lead image by sergiovisor_ph, used under Creative Commons.
This is not the most cool for the face :)
"About Pantone Color Institute™
Pantone Color Institute is the business unit within Pantone that highlights the top seasonal runway colors, selects the Pantone Color of the Year, forecasts global color trends, yada yada yada.."
Will they will be adding a $2 surcharge just for CotY on top of the $15 Pantone charge on certain Adobee products?
I do not know; Colors are supposed to be free but we all remind Klein blue, Kapoor ...