December 14, 2018

"What Is ‘Life-Affirming’ Coral, Pantone’s Color of the Year?"

If that's your question, the answer is here (at Smithsonian).

I'm surprised they picked an orange — because, you know... orange man bad.

But Trump isn't coral... and he isn't life-affirming... is he?!

From Smithsonian:
Living Coral (also known by its less glamorous name of Pantone 16-1546) is a “reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life,” the company said. In a time when the internet is often a despairingly hostile space, and human connections are being warped by digital technology, Living Coral is cheerful and vibrant, but not jarringly so.

“With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord,” the company said in its statement.

32 comments:

traditionalguy said...

They are going to be in big trouble. They said this Trumpian color was picked because it offers emotional encouragement and a big hug.

Eleanor said...

It's a bridesmaid color. Not perfect for many, but not horrible on anyone.

Carol said...

I love coral. Funny, I don't like baby-pink, but love coral, rust, mauve, rose...anything but that plain pink.

TrespassersW said...

Living Coral (also known by its less glamorous name of Pantone 16-1546) is a “reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life,” the company said. In a time when the internet is often a despairingly hostile space, and human connections are being warped by digital technology, Living Coral is cheerful and vibrant, but not jarringly so.

“With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord,” the company said in its statement.


"But he hasn't got anything on," a little child said.

Ann Althouse said...

"It's a bridesmaid color. Not perfect for many, but not horrible on anyone."

This is a color I was dressed in as a child. I was assigned the color by my mother somehow. As an adult, I never choose it. I like looking at it, but I know from choosing it as a nail polish color that it's hostile to my skin tone!

rhhardin said...

What are the RGB levels for living coral.

rhhardin said...

If actual living coral is involved, wear sneakers.

Fernandinande said...

"I bet color 16-1546 doesn't even speak English" sniffed 2018 winner 18-3838, AKA "Ultra Violet".

Fernandinande said...

What are the RGB levels for living coral.

That would depend on your color system. L*a*b* values are supposed to be device independent.

Infinite Monkeys said...

Was this color choice sponsored by Google? The Home Mini comes in a coral.

tcrosse said...

I am curious (coral).

rehajm said...

The coral color don’t much jive with the times described. What’s the Pantone code for the color of boiled beef?

Greg Hlatky said...


In a time when the internet is often a despairingly hostile space

Just ask any target of a SJW social-media mob.

Chris said...

The 1950's called, they want their color palette back.

wild chicken said...

You got to be brunette to actually wear coral.

My parent had me wear pink, white and beige, because they looked good on her.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

have to see it in full sunlight-- not bad!

high noon at ok coral

Ralph L said...

In 1979, my mother looked all over NoVa for a soft pink sofa for our new house, but Coral was the approved pink that year, which was unacceptable with silvery seafoam carpet.

PM said...

“With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord...”

THAT'S copywriting.

Anonymous said...

In a time when the internet is often a despairingly hostile space, and human connections are being warped by digital technology, Living Coral is cheerful and vibrant...

“With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord...”


So they could buy something in Living Coral...or they could just put down the digital device and go out and make some human interaction and social connection...

Anonymous said...

wild chicken: You got to be brunette to actually wear coral.

No, you gotta have warm undertones to your complexion, whatever your hair color.

When I was young I was always irked by clothing/makeup advice/palettes that invariably assumed that all dark-haired/dark-eyed people are olive-skinned or darker. Hey, some of us brunettes are pretty damned blue-toned. And look hideous in any shade of orange or yellow. (A shame, really. I love yellow.)

For that matter, there are naturally light-haired/light-eyed people who tan well and look great in yellows and oranges. Probably spend childhood and adolescence being stuffed into grossly unflattering cool colors.

Kevin said...

Apparently Pantone didn't agree to include the word "Stormy" in the color's name...

Kevin said...

Thank goodness the Dems won the House so next year's color could be "life-affirming".

The backup was "We're going to tear this fucking place apart Black".

Paddy O said...

Did you know Pantone has a themed cruise? I heard about it just this morning from the always informative Myrna Tellingheusen

Fernandinande said...

"Upon first glance it might resemble a gorgeous piece of coral, some sort of root system, or a brightly hued branch. However, you might be shocked to learn that this bright red object was actually coughed up by a human man — and is a six-inch wide blood clot molded into the right bronchial tree of his lung."

Darrell said...

Coral is a recognized color for pussy.
The future IS female.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Professor Althouse, dropping meme knowledge! Good for you--you can't be truly "old" if you're still up on things. The NPC meme is an especially good one.

Speaking of coral: Know Your Meme: Caaaarl!

n.n said...

The future IS female.

The future is conceived by male and female, realized by a female in a three trimester sprint, then continues a chaotic existence under the watchful gaze of both sexes.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Oh, and I forgot: Llamas With Hats

Coooral!

Temujin said...

Methinks Pantone (and the portion of the design world that actually pays attention to this) makes too much of it. It's a creation of the industry, to serve the marketing purposes of Pantone Color Institute (yes- there is one). Or the fabric industry. Or handbags.

The color of the year is selected by a committee similar to those who select the college football playoffs. In fact they may be the same committee looking for some extra work. Which explains why Clemson is in the playoffs every year.

There's probably a lot of lobbying by the representatives of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black colors, who negotiate between themselves to come up with a sellable color mix that is profitable for all. Coral has been nominated 13 times. This is their first Huey.

Freeman Hunt said...

Great! That's one of my best colors. Maybe there will be lots of shirts in that color made.

veni vidi vici said...

Humanizing, heartening, and bollocking.

What a load of marketing bullshitspeak.

ALP said...

"In a time when the internet is often a despairingly hostile space, and human connections are being warped by digital technology...."

************
Yikes. Always the contrarian, I did not get a smart phone until March of this year. I'm hooked on Instagram. I don't post a single thing - my page even says so. Account is simply so I don't have to search all the time.

I follow many artists and crafters. The interactions I have are positive and inspiring. Getting to know the creative rhythm of individual artists is fascinating. Watching people get better at what they do, encouraging them - I never expected to have this kind of positive experience. During my breaks at work, I watch videos of glass artists from studios in Murano, Italy.

Don't even get me started on YouTube.... OK just one thing: The After Prison Show. This channel is doing an incredible service by allowing people to really get a glimpse of the kind of hard luck life, combined with bad choices, people get into. Up close view of people trying to get their lives right. OK another thing: space themed YouTube channels. I've learned more about the physics of space travel from YouTube than I ever learned in school.

For fuck's sake people - look in the mirror: YOU are the one choosing digital negativity.

Try being a little more deliberate and focused in your digital consumption.