No, the calendar didn’t suddenly flip to summer and discussion of the sun’s ultra-violet rays.
Amid the winter blues, snow, ice, and cold temperatures, there is always one bright spot … the start of a new Pantone Color of the Year.
We love the Color of the Year (almost always; we still don’t like to talk about 2015) and while we always gush over it, we don’t always swoon.
This year, we swooned. We are still swooning. And Ultra Violet is our Valentine today!
Welcome, Ultra Violet!
Ultra Violet is swoon-worthy, both the color and Pantone’s beautiful explanation:
A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.
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.
Ultra Violet is full of creativity, uniqueness, individuality, expression, and the unknown. It is an inspirational color made possible by the energy and passion of red, and the calmness and soothing power of blue. As Pantone said, it is highly nuanced color that allows us to see something different each time we look at it. Beyond incorporating this beautiful shade into events this year, it’s a color that simply needs to be incorporated into our life to surround us with awareness, inspiration, and new paths.
Ultra Violet? Yes, please!!