Pantone Announces Its 2022 Color of the Year: Very Peri

Pantone has revealed its 2022 Color of the Year: Very Peri, a bluish purple the Pantone says "displays a carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit."

As with every other year, the Pantone Color of the Year is a hue that the Pantone Color Institute believes encapsulates the general theme or feeling of society going into the year. Previous years have touched on changing gender norms and contrasting feelings during the pandemic.

This year, Pantone says that Very Peri "helps us embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives."

Introducing the Pantone Color of the Year 2022, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone blends the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red. Learn more: https://t.co/eNIwkTq2K8 pic.twitter.com/hBfiDusFKU

— PANTONE (@pantone) December 9, 2021

Pantone touched on themes like a reopening world as we adjust to the pandemic, as well as growing digital design trends in things like video gaming and the budding metaverse. The color is even being released in a series of NFTs, each with artwork incorporating the color.

"As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family, encompassing the qualities of the blues," Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a statement. "Yet, at the same time, with its violet red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity imaginative expressions."

And the Color of Year 2022 is... (drum roll please)#veryperi #pantone #ColorOfTheYear pic.twitter.com/J83p5IxuWb

— Gateway Gallery (@gateway_gallery) December 9, 2021

“The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that color can hope to answer,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute. “Creating a new color for the first time in the history of our PANTONE Color of the Year educational color program reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place. As society continues to recognize color as a critical form of communication, and a way to express and affect ideas and emotions and engage and connect, the complexity of this new red violet infused blue hue highlights the expansive possibilities that lay before us."

The Pantone Color of the Year is more than just a collection of vague descriptions based in color. It's a prediction about what shades will be popular in fashion and product design. Like 2019's Classic Blue, Very Peri represents a return to bold statement colors.