Pantone 2018 Color of the Year

Throughout my design career I’ve gone through T-squares, proportion wheels, repro cameras, inking pens, light tables and courier services—all of which have been replaced by computers, programs and the internet. But one thing that has been constant, and still in the same swatchbook form as fifty years ago, is the invaluable Pantone color matching system. Back then it was the only way to guarantee color consistency from drawing board to press. Today it serves the same exact purpose, in the same exact way, with the addition of extensive tools and systems for electronic communication. Just like the consistency of color from one medium to the next, even Pantone’s logo and brand identity has remained consistent and contemporary.

Pantone Color of the Year 2018: Ultra Violet 18-3838

While Pantone Ultra Violet conjures spirits, intrigue and the mysteries of the universe, it also represents health and wellness. According to experts such as Lakshmi Vandrapu,  protect your brain’s health with a diverse range of produce from this color family:
Beets
Blackberries
Black currants
Blueberries
Eggplant
Grapes
Plums
Purple sweet potatoes

I have seen other fruits and vegetables in shades of purple, such as cauliflower, asparagus and cabbage. Cookies, ice cream and vodka too, but they’re not quite as healthy.

Purple Peanut Butter

I’ve never cared much for grape jelly nor peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But what really grossed me out was when they mixed the two together in a single jar. One brand at least made it look somewhat appealing—layers of purple and brown, like a parfait. But one cheapo generic brand mixed it all together and the result was the most disgusting color for human consumption I’ve ever seen.

Maybe that’s why purple has never been my favorite color (same goes for brown). But that doesn’t mean I don’t design with it. When combined with other colors—as a backdrop, the main subject, or as an accent—it has brought to life conceptual renderings, followed by final production, that no other color could have achieved. Purples and violets, which are made up of blue and red (or cyan and magenta) can be warm, cool, or neutral. Pantone Ultra Violet appears neutral.

Purple Trivia

Here are a few facts about purple. Discover lots more at sensationalcolor.com
• Purple was the color of the first dye made by man
• Purple is the color of the highest denomination poker chip, $5,000
• Purple is the favorite color of adolescent girls