Pantone have again broken with tradition and created a brand-new colour for its 2022 Colour of the year.
Called Very Peri, 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.
Having chosen two colours for 2021 (yellow and grey), creating a brand-new colour has been another reflection of the strange times the world has found itself in as Leatirce Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Institute explained.
“As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the section of Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue colour family encompassing the qualities of the blue yet at the same time with its violet-red undertones displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.”
Taking up the story Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute said, “The Pantone Colour of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that the colour can hope to answer. Creating a new colour for the first time in the history of our PANTONE Colour of the Year program reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place. As society continues to recognize colour as a critical form of communication, and 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 lay before us”.
For the flower world, whilst not the easiest colour to match, it could be a way to move away from the hard, harsh 'Cadbury blue' … tricky at the best of times … and embrace the gentler periwinkles, soft blues and muted lavenders of Scabious, Lavender, Clematis Tweedia, Delphinium, Agapanthus and Allium et al that work well with the softer blowsy, country look that is so popular.
How the colours are chosen
The Pantone Colour of the Year selection involves thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s colour experts comb the world looking for new colour influences. These can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions.
Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact colour, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention. For 23 years, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.
Who chooses the colours?
The Pantone Colour Institute is the business unit within Pantone that highlights the top seasonal runway colours, selects the Pantone Colour of the Year, forecasts global colour trends, and advises companies on colour for product and brand visual identity. Through seasonal trend forecasts, colour psychology, and colour consulting, Pantone Colour Institute partners with global brands to effectively leverage the power, psychology, and emotion of colour in their design strategy.
Ways the Pantone Institute suggest using VERI PERI within different colour palettes
1: BALANCING ACT
Balancing Act is a complementary palette of color whose natural balance of warm and cool tones support and enhance one other. The brilliance of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri is intensified within this artfully calibrated palette, injecting a feeling of liveliness and visual vibration.
Balancing Act harmonies
2: WELLSPRING
A holistic and harmonious blend of nature infused shades, Wellspring highlights the compatibility of the greens with good-natured PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, and the health-giving properties of these deliciously subtle and nourishing hues.
Wellspring harmonies
3: THE STAR OF THE SHOW
The dynamic presence of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri comes through in The Star of the Show, as we surround this happiest and warmest of all the blue hues with a palette of classics and neutrals whose essence of elegance and understated stylishness convey a message of timeless sophistication.
The Star of the Show harmonies
