Vibrancy 23: an Analysis of Color (and lots of it)
Pantone recently released their Color of the Year for 2023. Viva Magenta contains a combination of hot saturation and natural warmness. This juxtaposition of loudness and serenity led to Pantone’s decision.
They describe Viva Magenta as “a shade rooted in nature…encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.” This unconventional hue brings with it a continuation of trends we have seen throughout the year. Refinery 29 claimed Hot Pink as their official color for 2022. The digital media brand cited Valentino, Lady Gaga, as well as women’s rights activism. High-vibrancy colors have been on the rise for some time, and seem to be entering 2023 at full volume.
“…neon elements, psychedelic prints…all combined in an eccentric way.”
– NSS Magazine
Vibrancy has made itself present within popular music of the Y2K era, and has made a resurgence within pop music today. The new dance genre known as “phonk” has adopted a visual aesthetic that seeks to combine race car driving, gemstones, and purple night skies. While artists such as Kordhell, DVRST, and Freddie Dredd continue to popularize phonk, “hyperpop” coats itself with layer-upon-layer of sonic mania…with visuals to boot. Charli XCX, 100 gecs, and Grimes present media steeped in high-energy visuals. These aesthetic choices seek to communicate the loud and experimental nature of the hyperpop genre. Holographic textures rest atop energetic colors and combine to make cyber-vibrancy synonymous with popular music.
“...unapologetic…had us thinking:
bold, bolder, boldest.”
– Benjamin Moore
While this occurs, vibrancy appears to exist alongside the 1970s nostalgia trend that has been circulating for the past couple of years. As people grow more accustomed to soft earth tones, attention may be more effectively garnered by acidic jolts of color. This teetering between opposites has been present throughout the world’s creative history. The shift in popularity from 80s hair metal to grunge, as well as swing and bebop dynamics of the 1920s and 40s, act in a similar pattern. Calm, earthy hues currently share the same space as their more eccentric counterparts. This coexistence of the natural and deeply vivid has led predictions to suggest that 2023 will seek to combine aspects of the two.
Highly-saturated tones continue to grow in popularity, and are predicted to share the limelight with more naturally-vivid hues.
The Nordroom predicts that 2023’s color palettes will be all about the rich, warm, and natural. Familiar, softer tones will combine with popular chromatic vibrancy. PPG Paints announced their 2023 Color of the Year to be Vining Ivy. While this occurred, Benjamin Moore has given such a title to none other than Raspberry Blush. If we compare these two, we see that both of their base shades are primary colors. Be this as it may, a hint of earth gives each one a more natural hue while maintaining a striking presence. We can expect to see more and more of this natural saturation as 2023 progresses.
“...audacious and full of wit…”
– Pantone
These color trends show that engagement guides creativity. Experimentation is not only encouraged in today’s creative marketplace, but deeply sought-after. Designers are being called to operate free from restriction. "It’s all about our desire for creative expression,” says Pantone’s Laurie Pressman. An array of colors make up the world we live in, as do people. Everyone carries a unique set of skills and experiences. If today’s trends tell us anything, it’s that people want to see these differences. They want to see vibrancy.
