312) Verve and Vigor

Today Pantone announced their 2011 Color of the Year. As you may recall, Turquoise, the cool color of escapism and vacation waters, took home the title last year.


(Image from Pantone.)

This year, it's Honeysuckle. I always thought Honeysuckle would be a warm honey-yellow color, but apparently it's this reddish pink hue.

However you feel about the color itself (don't like it), Pantone's reasoning for its selection is interesting:

"Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life."

So instead of using escapism to deal with all the bad in 2010, in 2011 we're ready to turn and face conflict and tough times head on. That a color can encapsulate and reflect a proposed cultural shift in attitude is just tops.