Pantone is a company best known for its Pantone Matching System, which allows for standardized color reproduction and easy color communication between printers, designers, retailers and consumers. But Pantone has increasingly become a trendy household name. People love buying Pantone’s home goods in specific shades, and magazines and news organizations feature articles on Pantone’s Color of the Year. For 2014, Pantone’s chosen color is Radiant Orchid, which the company describes as “an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.” You may or may not think that a color picked out by a company has anything to do with your marketing, but incorporating Pantone’s Color of the Year shows that your brand is relevant (and has darn good style.) Here’s what you need to know about Radiant Orchid:
How It Was Picked
To pick the color, Pantone begins searching in the spring of the previous year. They look to high-end fashion brands, films that are in production, popular travel destinations, circulating art collections and other incredibly timely inspirations. The company said they chose 2014’s color because “Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”
What to Pair It With
Believe it or not, Radiant Orchid is an incredibly versatile color. Pantone recommends pairing it with other vibrant colors, such as turquoise, teal, royal blue and light yellows. If these palettes are a little too outside of your comfort zone, consider tying it in with neutrals like gray, beige and taupe. Though a light pinkish purple color may seem inescapably girly, when used in small doses and paired with basic colors, it can have mass appeal.
How to Use It
You still might be thinking that Radiant Orchid has no place in your branding, but even the most masculine and minimalist of companies can find a tasteful way to use it. Try it out as a border on your next direct mail piece or promo poster. If you’re handing out promotional t-shirts, order some in the shade. Have you updated your social media profile photos lately? Play around with your logo to see if you can incorporate it in some small way. If you love to be up on the latest trends in design, you’ll probably enjoy figuring out how to use 2014’s favorite color. But if it’s not your cup of tea and seems a little unnecessary, remember that Pantone holds a lot of power, and one color can make your company seem modern and trendy.
