Radiant Orchid

Radiant Orchid

One of the special joys of my childhood was getting a brand new box of crayons.  I think we all started out with a brand new box of 8 fat crayons, graduating up to the box of 16.  It was ultimate ecstasy to get the premium box of 152.  I used to melt them together and imagined myself being hired as Binney & Smith's newest color developer at age 10.  Color still excites me, and so now let me introduce Pantone's 2014 Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid! 

As you may know, the Pantone Color Institute 2013 Color of the Year was Emerald.  It served as a symbol of growth, renewal, and prosperity.  Pantone recently announced that Radiant Orchid is the 2014 Color of the Year, saying this about it, "An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today's society.  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."

The color of the year selection requires careful consideration and to arrive at the selection Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences.

This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations, and other socio-economic conditions.  Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

For more than a decade, Pantone's Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industriall design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.