Ultra Violet is dead. Long live Living Coral.
Pantone has named its color of the year for 2019: Living Coral, otherwise known as Pantone 16-1546, which it describes as "vibrant, yet mellow."
In a statement, the company said that the color was selected in reaction to the "onslaught of digital technology and social media" that affect people's lives: "We are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression."
The color, the company notes, appears in nature but also has a "lively presence" within social media, balancing two worlds. "In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, Pantone Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color."
Color and Hospitality
Pantone is already taking steps to bring Living Coral to hotels through a partnership with Marriott International's Tribute Portfolio soft brand. The Pantone Pantry by Tribute Portfolio debuted at this week's Art Basel art show in Miami Beach at the Royal Palm South Beach Miami Resort and will travel to new Tribute Portfolio hotels next year.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Lippman
Each Pantone Pantry by Tribute Portfolio will emphasize color and design, using different mediums to bring the travel-inspired installations to life and to highlight the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year. Artful, unexpected and designed to reflect the character of its host city, each pantry will be created collaboratively with a cast of colorful characters, artists and influencers, who have a unique perspective on travel.
“We are thrilled to partner with Pantone, who is as passionate and colorful as we are,” Amanda Nichols, global brand director, Tribute Portfolio, said in a statement. “With Tribute Portfolio’s knack for igniting imaginations through travel and Pantone’s ability to inspire through color, these quirky pop-up experiences are sure to encourage a fresh perspective for guests and locals alike.”
“Like travel, color enhances and influences the way we experience the world,” said Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute. “Linked to tactility and human connection, Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral is a warm and welcoming shade that fosters immersive experiences and encourages playful expression; so it made perfect sense that we partner with Tribute Portfolio, a brand that shines a light on the individualized and personalized spirit of all its characterful hotels, to create a unique way to experience color and bring Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral to life.”
The Pantone Pantry combines monochrome and multisensory moments that pay tribute to how color (like travel) can reframe one's perspective and illuminate the quirky character of different destinations. The pop-up also reimagines a traditional hotel experience with an unexpected concierge desk, a cabinet of curiosities and a hidden hotel guestroom.
Next year, the brand’s Pantone Pantry will pop up at The Alida in Savannah, Ga., recently opened in October as part of Tribute Portfolio and partnered with Pantone 18-0317 Peachskin—“a dusty peachy pink hue whose inherent soft and subtle warmth invites you down a path of creative and unexpected combinations.” After that, it will open at the Slaak Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which is scheduled to open in March 2019 as part of Tribute Portfolio.