2021 has been a transformative year: Coming out of COVID-19 quarantine, much of the world has reexamined daily life practices and invented new ways to interact, conduct business and live their lives.
What color could symbolize all that?
Very Peri, according to the Pantone Color Institute. For the first time, the color authority’s color of the year is a brand new color of their creation: The “dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone” blends the “faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red,” which together creates an “empowering mix of newness,” the company announced Wednesday.
“The Pantone color of the year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that color can hope to answer,” said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.
Why not choose an existing color, as the institute has in years past?
“Creating a new color for the first time in the history of our Pantone color of the year educational color program reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place,” Pressman added.
“As society continues to recognize color as a critical form of communication and as a way to express and affect ideas and emotions and engage and connect, the complexity of this new red-violet-infused blue hue highlights the expansive possibilities that lie before us.”
‘Essential to the human spirit’:Ultimate Gray, Illuminating are both Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year
Since 2000, Pantone’s team of color experts have analyzed color trends and influences from entertainment, art, fashion, design, travels and other lifestyle inspirations to arrive at a color that highlights top global trends.
Pantone chose two colors for 2021 – after a particularly distressing year, Ultimate Gray symbolized a quiet reassurance and resilience, while Illuminating, a cheery butter yellow, reflected sunshine and optimism about a better tomorrow. Recent years’ winners include Classic Blue, Living Coral, Ultra Violet and Greenery.
‘A reassuring presence’:Classic Blue is Pantone Color Institute’s 2020 color of the year
For the past two years, Pantone has partnered with immersive digital art space Artechouse in New York City to submerge guests into the Color of the Year. This year, it served as the backdrop of the company’s Color of the Year announcement and will welcome the public to a Very Peri-themed exhibition next year.
