It’s that time of year again, and I don’t mean Christmas shopping. I’m talking about the Pantone Color of the Year.

Actually this year, colors, with an s.

There are two colors for Pantone’s Color of the Year 2016. Bizarre, right? Rebelling against their own rules by choosing two instead of one. Woah.

Before I get started on giving my thoughts and opinions on the new choices, let me explain what Pantone is and why this matters. Pantone is a color standards company. They basically set the bar for color whether it be used in print, design, media, film, fashion, etc. They are best known for their color guides (an artist or designer’s best friend) and their Color of the Year.

Color theory and usage is a science.

Color is mind-controlling in a way. It can affect your mood, behavior, and even more physical aspects like body temperature and vision. Pantone has capitalized on that science by not only further studying and exploring it, but by also listing, distributing, and creating color.

When Pantone names their color of the year, it’s a tremendous deal. They have color experts meet and predict the main color trend for the upcoming year. For example, in 2014, Pantone named Radiant Orchid as their Color of the Year. Radiant Orchid quickly became a common color in the spring through early winter of that year in fashion and print media.

Radiant Orchid was a hit, but remember it’s only a prediction. Not all colors do well.

For 2015, Pantone chose Marsala for the Color of the Year. Unlike Radiant Orchid, Marsala didn’t pick up until late fall.

I’m surprised it even did that much, it’s hideous. I agreed with Steph when she said “it looks like dried blood on the carpet.” I mean, it really does. Everyone and their mother truly hated it. Legend has it that every time you use Marsala, a public school’s art program is defunded.

Anyway, the color of the year is a color trend based on prediction. Predictions cannot always be right. We discovered this when the meteorologist said it wouldn’t rain on your kid’s fifth birthday party.

Pantone’s goal is not for the Color of the Year to become your favorite color.

It’s meant to inspire your color palette. There are some people who think the new Color of the Year has to become their favorite.

It doesn’t.

You don’t even have to use the new named color either. It’s your choice.

I hate change.

Pantone decided this year to change things up a little, and if you’re anything like me, you hate change and surprises. So this will be a little dreadful for you. Pantone decided to change things up this year by naming two colors as the Pantone Color of the Year – meet Rose Quartz and Serenity:

 

It didn’t totally make sense to me why these colors were chosen; I did some research, and there are a few theories.

Theory One: These colors represent peace amidst chaos

In 2015 alone, a lot has happened within the boundaries of terrorism, race, religion, sexuality, freedom, gender, overall rights, and political correctness. Plus, with the presidential election coming up and ISIS, everything feels hectic.

Our world is changing so rapidly that if you blink, you are certainly going to miss something.

These soft, gentle colors are named to represent the peace in this ever-changing, harsh reality. These colors balance each other out and calms the viewer. It’s a representation of both order and peace.

Theory Two: The colors represent gender equality

Pantone, in so many words, has said themselves that the chosen colors go along with the gender movement. It’s all about equality, gender roles, and gender expectations for ALL genders, not just male and female.

By introducing colors like Rose Quartz and Serenity, it allows people to be more accepting and comfortable in their color and fashion choice. Colors don’t have a gender, and there is really no point in assigning colors to genders. If you are a guy who likes pink, great! If you are a girl who like blue, that’s fine as well. Rose Quartz and Serenity represents this idea of gender equality and fluidity.

Theory Three: A Combination of Theory One and Theory Two

The two colors balance each other so much, it’s on a supernatural level.

It brings order and peace to a busy and stressful day just by looking at them. They represent human connection and wellness, but also the current gender movement. More specifically, gender identity and fluidity.

My Opinion on the Pantone Color of the Year for 2016

I agree with the second theory more than the first. The idea of the first theory is comforting, but I only see part of it. I love the concept of peace within chaos, but I’m not reading it as such. It’s a stretch to me. The two colors do balance each other out very nicely:

I more clearly see the second theory. It coincides with the current gender movement, and it makes sense.

When I first saw these colors, I kind of hated it. They are very soft and infantile. As a designer, I was not sure how I could work them into my projects. With my own sanity at risk, I aim for most of my projects to be more upbeat. I either opt for black and white or use more intensely saturated colors in my design work. It draws the eye more, ya know? So, at first I wasn’t supportive of Rose Quartz or Serenity, but it grew on me.

I am now waiting for the chance to use these bad boys in an upcoming project.