PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet
An incredibly provocative and thoughtful shade of purple that communicates the originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that point us into the future.
Pantone, an X-Rite company and global color benchmark and provider of professional color standards for the creative sector, has just named PANTONE® Color of the Year 2018 PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet. Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead and discoveries beyond what we are today. The vast, boundless night sky is symbolic of what is possible, and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.
Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counter-culture, non-conformism and artistic brilliance. Music icons Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of Western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, inspiring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.
Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground for those seeking refuge in today's over-stimulated world. The use of purple lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspires connection.
About the PANTONE Color of the Year
The Color of the Year selection process requires careful thought and trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone color experts at the Pantone Color Institute scour the world for new color influences, from entertainment and film production, to travel art collections and new artists, fashion, all creative sectors, fashionable tourist destinations, as well as new lifestyles, ways of playing and socio-economic conditions. Influences can also come from technological progress, from materials, textures and effects that affect color, from social networking platforms, and even from future sporting events on which the eyes of the world will be riveted. For the past 17 years, the Pantone Color of the Year has influenced product development trends and influenced purchasing decisions in many sectors, including fashion, industrial and interior design, graphic design and product packaging. Here are previous Color of the Year selections:
- PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
- PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
- PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
- PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
- PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
- PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
- PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
- PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
- PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
- PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
- PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
- PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
- PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
- PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
- PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
- PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
- PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
- PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)
