How to Use Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta
On Friday 2nd December, The Pantone Colour Institute announced the Color of the Year for 2023: Viva Magenta (otherwise known as Pantone 18-1750).
The Pantone Colour Institute is well known for their colour matching system which allows for consistent and accurate colour reproduction. The company has been naming a ‘Colour of the Year’ since 2000, analysing trends in entertainment, fashion, social media, and branding with a view to determining a shade that reflects the upcoming 12 months and the shifts we may see culturally.
This years colour of the year Is all about reconnecting with nature in an increasingly virtual world. It is based on the red of cochineal, one of the strongest and vibrant natural dyes the world has known. It is a bold powerful colour, well balanced between warm and cool tones, making it an exciting colour choice.
The vivid crimson is described as ‘an unconventional shade for an unconventional time’.
Pantone Color Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman said “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real,” she said. “Rooted in the primordial, Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter.”
But how can we decorate with it?
Create a Focal Point
"It's a great colour for reflecting light, which gives it a sense of fantasy and glamour." Trend forecaster and Pantone Color Institute member Jane Boddy said. Use it on a large statement piece to draw focus and lift a neutral space.
Pan y Pasteles Bakery, Madrid by Ideo Arquitectura
Tattu Restaurant, Manchester
2. Maximise its use
Viva Magenta is a rich, luxurious colour. Be fearless – colour drench your room and use it across multiple surfaces in a single space. Let the room become the star of the show. When the whole backdrop recedes, any object or accessory you put in it, from chandeliers to cushions and furniture, just takes more of a central role.2,
Lisa Gilmore Design
Bon Bon Bar, Gothenburg, Sweden
3. Use it as an accent
Accent colours are still a thing. Think less ‘changing rooms feature wall’ and more ‘ribbons of colour running through a space’ to add drama and warmth.
Magenta Restaurant by Blue Sky Hospitality
