Pantone Announces the Color of 2011: Honeysuckle

The Pantone name is recognized worldwide for establishing a system for referencing colors which dates back to 1963.  Pantone colors which can be referenced in fan decks and color chips allow design professionals to communicate color selections to others, to match and provide for color accuracy, and to create color palettes.  These color tools have been utilized by interior designers, graphic artists, fashion and textile professionals, industrial designers, and many others. 

The Pantone institute studies and provides forecasts on color trends and inspiration for many realms of our everyday lives- clothing, cosmetics, sporting goods, home goods, graphics, advertising, interior paints, children's items……

Pantone’s Color of the year, Honeysuckle (Pink) has been described as: 

• A Vibrant Reddish Hue

• Encouraging & Uplifting
• Courageous
• Confident
• Vital
• A Bold Spirit
• A Healthy Glow
• A Reminder of the Pungent Scent of Honeysuckle on Carefree Spring and Summer Days

Below are some images from the Pantone website and color announcement: 

Could it be that we are drawn to this color because of the Spring and Easter holidays?  Items that surround us this time of the year?  A color that reminds us of youth and sunny days?

Many of the magazines I have picked up recently show color influence of Honeysuckle Pink through titles on articles and in advertising campaigns.

 

Clothing



Traditional Home Magazine

Beauty Products & Cosmetics

Textiles & Patterns

Advertisements

So the next thought/ question....

This Honeysuckle color trend seems very oriented toward the feminine population.  Is this color a response to research that shows that women make 70- 85% of the financial and spending decisions for their households and 91% of the home buying decisions????? 

I am going to answer with a "yes."

But really this trend towards pink is not really new.  Pink has been the color and symbol of breast cancer awareness for the Susan G Komen organization. 

2011 has been projected to be a year of more "Social Awareness" and renewed interests in social responsibility. 

So I suggest that we "Think Pink" and see it not just in a fashionable sense, but hopefully a focus on life and the relationships with those people around us.