Viva Magenta – Pantone crowns the color of the year 2023

The Christmas holidays are approaching, and more and more shades of red surround us: cheeks flushed from the cold, the warm red of fragrant mulled wine, bright red Christmas tree baubles, and, of course, the royal Coca-Cola red coat of Santa Claus himself. But this year, another red is making a splash: The Pantone color institute has chosen the gaudy Viva Magenta as the Color of the Year 2023.

A shade of red with natural origins

PANTONE 18-1750, or Viva Magenta is a red tone with natural origins: “In our technologized times, we want to be inspired by nature and what is real. ‘Viva Magenta’ is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious natural pigments, and one of the most powerful and luminous known to the world,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the leading color measurement and management company. The Pantone Color Institute calls Viva Magenta a transformative shade of red of inspiring power for contemporary design – a colorful pointer to a positive future.

And who wouldn’t want that after a year like 2022? While it’s debatable whether colors can influence the course of the world, their impact on the human psyche has been scientifically proven. Based on this color theory, which assigns specific characteristics and sensitivities to each tone, the creative minds at Pantone made their choice: Viva Magenta stands for strength, courage, fearlessness, and vibrant optimism – and thus for qualities that we can make good use of on our way into the future with its opportunities, but also imponderables.

Red for lifestyle and travel

Viva Magenta is perfect for anyone looking for a colorful and bold look, whether for advertising campaigns or even in fashion. It’s a statement color that attracts attention and adds variety. You can see that on our Viva Magenta pinboard as well. We dove deep into the vast imagery of the Westend61 portfolio to compile the best Viva Magenta images. In the process, we discovered: We find the vibrant shade of red, especially in travel and lifestyle photography. So take a look and let yourself be inspired by this intense red.
We are looking forward to your creative approaches including our Viva Magenta images!