Living Coral named 2019 Pantone color of the year

As in years past, Pantone has announced its 2019 color of the year — PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral. The color of the year is selected upon trend analysis and thoughtful consideration. In order to select the right color that embraces the current year’s theme, Pantone’s color experts comb the world looking for new color influences. This year the focus was connection and intimacy based on how digital technology and social media habits influence our daily lives.

“Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity,” reads the announcement on Pantone's website. “Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”

Each year since 2000, Pantone has selected its color of the year based on what’s trending and influencing our world, moods and fashions at the time.

“Representing the fusion of modern life, Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media,” the announcement by Pantone reads. “Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its 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, Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color."

Pantone’s color 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 for over 20 years. Color influences can be gathered from 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 color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention, said Pantone.

Last year, Pantone was inspired by the cosmos and selected Ultra Violet as its 2018 color of the year. For more information on Living Coral and previous selections for Color of the Year, visit Pantone's website.