What 2022’s Pantone Color of the Year Communicates
Pantone Color of the Year 2022 is Very Peri, a rosy mauve with a violet-red shift that balances warmth and coolness. Selected to reflect cultural conditions of the year, the color aims to convey intentionality, presence, and a forward-looking creativity. This guide explains how Very Peri reads in design systems, brand language, and lived environments, and why its specific tone and undertone matter for long-term use rather than momentary trends.
Why One Color Each Year
Every year, Pantone selects a hue intended to encapsulate the spirit of the moment while remaining useful across media. The process considers sociocurrent shifts, technological reproduction, material contexts, and historical precedents. Unlike a random novelty shade, the chosen color is evaluated for how it behaves in print, digital screens, physical pigments, and lighting. The aim is not to chase fads but to provide a stabilizing reference that helps designers, product teams, and communicators align visual language across touchpoints.
The Language of Color Trends
Pantone’s annual choices add a shared descriptive term to the collective vocabulary. By naming and standardizing a specific mixture, stakeholders—from fashion teams to interface designers—can reference a consistent point of orientation. This naming also makes it easier to study how color associations evolve across markets, cultures, and communities. The selection becomes a lens for observing broader aesthetic shifts in interior design, branding, fashion, and interface systems.
Technical Profile: Very Peri
Very Peri is positioned between pink, purple, and red, with a subtle blue shift in its undertone. The hue is intentionally saturated yet moderated by grayed purity, making it versatile for both expressive and restrained palettes. Unlike purely romantic pastels, it carries enough depth to function in corporate and institutional contexts. Its behavior in print, on screens, and in physical finishes such as paints, plastics, and fabrics has been documented in Pantone color libraries and cross-industry partnerships.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Color name | Very Peri | Pantone Color Institute |
| Pantone number | 17-3938 | Pantone color database |
| Year | 2022 | Pantone annual announcement |
| Hue family | Red-purple range with cool violet shift | Spectral and naming methodology |
| Typical use cases | Brand identity, product colorways, interiors, digital interfaces | Industry adoption reports |
Color Meaning and Cultural Associations
Very Peri mixes the warmth of red-based pigments with the calm of blue-leaning purples, creating a feeling that is simultaneously reassuring and forward-looking. The name itself—Very Peri—references a periwinkle-like tone while asserting a distinct identity. Culturally, the shade has been linked to mindfulness, creativity, and a desire for authentic expression in a digitally mediated world. Because it avoids heavy gender coding, it reads as inclusive when applied across audiences and sectors.
Historical Context Without Nostalgia
Pantrose and violet families have long signaled creativity, spirituality, and contemplation. Very Peri refines these associations for contemporary conditions, where people negotiate dense digital information and heightened awareness of personal presence. Previous years’ choices provide a backdrop for understanding how Very Peri positions itself against cooler blues, energetic oranges, and muted neutrals that preceded it. Its selection can be interpreted as a response to a collective yearning for grounded innovation.
Practical Applications Across Media
Because Very Peri is engineered for consistency, it translates reliably across print, web, and physical finishes. Designers often use it as an accent to introduce intentionality without overwhelming layouts. In brand identity, the color can serve as a signature that communicates thoughtfulness and curated creativity. For product and retail teams, it offers a versatile option that works in small doses and at scale, from packaging to wayfinding.
Guidelines for Usage
- Use in primary brand elements when differentiation and calm energy are desired.
- Pair with neutral and saturated companions to preserve clarity and accessibility.
- Test contrast and material behavior in context, especially for signage and digital interfaces.
- Consider cultural and regional associations through localized user research.
Comparisons With Other Recent Pantone Choices
Comparing Very Peri to recent years’ selections clarifies how each hue reflects its moment. Earlier colors often leaned toward stability or optimism, while Very Peri emphasizes mindful creativity and intentional presence. Its slightly cooler violet shift distinguishes it from warmer pastels, yet it remains accessible in long-form user experiences and environmental design.
| Year | Color Name | Hex Approximation* | Notable Design Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Classic Blue | #0F4C81 | Stability and trust |
| 2021 | Ultimate Gray | #909092 | Resilience and solidity |
| 2022 | Very Peri | #6667AB | Mindful creativity and presence |
| 2023 | Viva Magenta | #BB2649 | Bold expression and connection |
*Hex values are close reference approximations for screen calibration and are not official specifications.
Integration With Brand and Experience Strategy
Brands considering Very Peri should evaluate it against personality, audience expectations, and competitive contexts. The color can anchor a refreshed identity or appear in focused applications such as campaigns, products, or environmental signage. Because it carries both warmth and precision, it supports narratives around thoughtful innovation, human-centered technology, and considered luxury. Teams should pair color decisions with type, layout, motion, and sound to create coherent experience systems rather than isolated aesthetic choices.
Building Coherent Systems Around a Signature Hue
A signature color works best when integrated into a system of contrasts, harmonies, and usage rules. Pair Very Peri with neutrals that preserve legibility, and test combinations for accessibility and material behavior. Define roles for palette, spacing, and motion so that the color contributes to recognition without becoming a stylistic novelty. Over time, consistent application helps audiences associate the shade with distinct qualities of intention, care, and creative rigor.
Evergreen Takeaways
Very Peri, Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year, remains useful as a case study in how annual color choices reflect cultural conditions and design needs. Its balanced tone, clear methodology, and cross-industry integration demonstrate how a single hue can function as part of durable strategic frameworks. Brands and designers can draw on its example to strengthen visual identities, improve wayfinding, and communicate presence in digital and physical spaces. The color’s continued relevance shows the value of thoughtful palette strategy anchored in context, accessibility, and long-term brand storytelling.