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2019 Color
of the Year
from both human activities and climate change.
Last month Pantone announced its 2019 Color This is a rapid decline that no one wants to see
of the Year, Living Coral. A vibrant coral hue with happen.
a golden undertone. It is described by Pantone With those types of statistics, it is a safe to
as a color that “embraces us with warmth and say Pantone is taking a political stance without
nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in announcing that stance. Pantone has given some
our continually shifting environment”. Using the legitimacy to this argument with their actions.
words “shifting environment” can be descriptive Pantone named the new year’s color the same
of our natural environment or of the continued day scientists announced emissions of carbon
volatility of the political environment. Last dioxide – the greenhouse gas most responsible
year’s Color of the Year, Ultra Violet, had similar for global warming – had reached an all-time
undertones. The vibrant purple was a blend of high. This is likely not a coincidence.
red and blue which many speculated was a nod Laurie Pressman, Pantone’s vice president,
to Democrats and Republican tensions. It was considers this saturated orange base with a
considered a shock to the system which many felt golden undertone not only warm and welcoming
reflected the political climate at that time. but versatile and life-affirming. “With everything
This year’s choice seems to also have a greater that’s going on today, we’re looking for those
meaning, it’s more than just a beautiful color, humanizing qualities because we’re seeing online
it’s a statement about the world. Over the past life dehumanizing a lot of things,” Pressman told
year climate change has blanketed the news. the Associated Press ahead of the annual color
In 2017 the United States withdrew from the unveiling. “We’re looking toward those colors
Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. that bring nourishment and the comfort and
President Donald Trump stated that “The Paris familiarity that make us feel good. It’s not too
accord will undermine the economy,” and heavy. We want to play. We want to be uplifted.”
“puts (the U.S.) at a permanent disadvantage.” The selection process for Pantone’s Color of the
Reaction stateside and internationally to the Year spans the year. Pantone’s experts travel the
withdrawal were overwhelmingly negative world in search of color influences that gained
across the political spectrum. momentum, from the industry and traveling art
There is no doubt that due to human impact, collections to fashion and beauty trends, travel
coral reefs are dying around the world at a destinations and specialty shows for design and
rapid rate. Attacked by coral mining, pollution, color.
overfishing, and warming oceans that cause Next year I expect we might see a beautiful
coral bleaching, 19% of the existing area of coral aqua blue to focus on the melting icebergs in
reefs has already been lost. It is projected that Greenland or possibly a smoky grey to highlight
in the next 10-20 years another 17% will be lost if natural disasters. After the past two years having
current conditions are allowed to continue. By a distinct underlying meaning, I think it’s safe to
the 2030s, 90% of reefs are expected to be at risk see this as a new trend for the Color of the Year.
24 JANUARY 2019 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
