Celebrating PANTONE®’s Color of the Year 2023

The PANTONE Institute takes a variety of aspects into account when selecting their color of the year, considering everything from fashion trends to reoccurring marketing themes. The Color of the Year has become increasingly influential in the vast world of design and brand marketing.

This phenomenon does not mean that one should immediately rebrand or incorporate the color into every campaign, but designers can have fun with it. It’s been proven that special edition products utilizing the color of the year get attention in the marketing world and unique product creations gain traction online through social media hashtags and bloggers picking up the trending topic. So the question is, how can you incorporate this year’s color of the year into your presentation and packaging designs?

2023’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, is described as a vibrant, nuanced crimson color. This color is inspired by the natural red dye cochineal, produced by dye makers from insects for thousands of years. PANTONE calls it “an unconventional shade for an unconventional time,” meant to radiate positivity and bravery.

Let’s find some Viva Magenta inspiration from the Corporate Image project gallery:

First, take a look at this special gift box packaging we created for Driftless Chocolates. This design features the unique raw board capabilities of our proprietary CI RIGIDBOX™ packaging line, utilizing our natural gray rigid board, made from >99% post-consumer waste. It is embellished with an eye-catching one-color metallic foil stamping on the lid. Just like Viva Magenta, this holographic foil color radiates joy and optimism, which is very fitting for a box of chocolates! The contrast between the raw board and the bright foiling is attention grabbing, and expresses the brand’s focus on sustainability, while still having a little bit of playfulness.

Next in our investigation of magenta inspiration is an elegant light-weight portfolio presentation binder custom designed for Loyola Transplant Center. The cover, with its natural matte lamination and deep, rich color, conveys a sense of harmony and balance. In this application, the warm and compassionate qualities of magenta shine through, and are appropriate for a patient’s guidebook.

Given that Vivid Magenta, as the name suggests, is a very vivid color, it can also shine as an accent color in a calmer design. For instance, take a look at this flush-cut binder we created for Restorative Medicine. The contrast between the outside black cover and the bright accent color inside is striking. The pink text on the spine looks elegant and dashing against a flood of black and offers a glimpse at the bright, solid colored liner that awaits you upon opening your binder. This example shows how effective and dramatic a contrasting accent color can be and it even utilizes the signature feature of our flush-cut binders to separate the two contrasting colors — the exposed raw cover board on the edge of the binder.

Looking for a sophisticated woven fabric rather than a print design? We’ve got you covered. For instance, take a look at our experiential Two-Sided Drop Box CI RIGIDBOX™ packaging innovation, designed by and for Corporate Image. It features a gorgeous cloth casing with decorative gold foil stamping to bring the “wow” factor and highlights our raw board and UV print capabilities on the inside of the box. The cloth is an exclusive offering from our parent company, LBS, called VERONA®. It is available in 48 beautiful colors, including several magenta hues such as Pink Punch or Berry Bloom. Here, the combination of crimson and gold feels ornate, especially with the added sensory element of cloth casing.

There are so many different ways to incorporate the color of the year into your creative projects. Since PANTONE specifically designs colors to be used in print, maybe you’d like to embrace Viva Magenta with a full color print, either completely flooded or used as an accent color. Maybe you’d want to use Viva Magenta as a special embellishment though foil stamping. Or if you’d like to elevate your project even further and create a different tactile experience, try using cloth or specialty papers as your cover material. You’ll love using the LBS Online Color Guide to find just the right shade for your next project, including a wide selection of pink and purple cover materials.

Overall, Viva Magenta is a bold and dynamic color that has so much potential. It’s a color that radiates expression and celebration. With optimism and fearlessness, we look forward to all that 2023 will bring. Hopefully that means a wonderful brand-building collaboration with you! Reach out to us today to get started on your project.