It’s a brave new world out there. Over the past few months, we’ve seen a dramatic uptick in commercial spaces that use new and bold color in their spaces.
It’s not just in physical places, either. All over the Internet, brands are doing things with color that would have made them squeamish five years ago. This 99designs story has a great recap, but we wanted to highlight a few of the standout trends that are shaping how companies use color in 2018.
- Pink is no longer niche.
Instead, it’s universal. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, said “Pink has developed more power than ever before” shortly after naming Rose Quartz and Serenity the 2016 colors of the year.
It hasn’t slowed down since. It turns out pink is a welcoming and versatile color that has continued to evolve over the past few years. It’s emotional and (this is the key part) instantly memorable.
- Metallics have crossed over.
We’re going to quote Eiseman again here (hey, she knows her colors): “Metallics have really moved over into neutrals.” It’s especially true in interior design and label design, although it hasn’t totally invaded our screens yet.
- Purple might be the new pink.
Ultra Violet (18-3838) is the 2018 PANTONE Color of the Year, and it could mark another shift in the commercial space. Organizations who want to be perceived as thoughtful, unconventional, or artistically brilliant would be wise to use purple liberally in their branding. Purple has already exploded in digital design, and we expect the Pantone recognition to cause a rise in its IRL use as well.
The big question: Why the bold and daring color shift?
It starts with our shorter attention spans. They’re shorter than ever, and we’re increasingly becoming a culture filled with headline readers, not article readers. Videos, GIFs, and memes are everywhere.
To combat this, organizations have become bolder. In the not too distant past, they poured countless dollars into studies about how color makes someone feel. But this 2018 color shift shows that we’ve moved beyond that. Organizations are now happy to stand out from the color palettes of their competition and do something different to hold the attention of their prospects and customers.
If you’re looking for contractor bids to help transform your commercial space in a bold way, contact us.
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