According to the colourful folks at Pantone, it's all about balance this year, and as Casper Magazine's chief editor, I can totally understand that! More specifically, we're becoming more and more appreciative of nature as we balance our digital and physical lives. With movements around climate change, sustainability, and land protection, the Colour of the Year 2023 acknowledges our gravitational pull towards natural colours.

This year, Pantone also noticed an innate appreciation for nature reflected in countless lifestyle trends, including incorporating more plants, flowers, and living walls in homes and commercial spaces. These trends are also used to create calming outdoor spaces, and by combining soft furnishings and bold splashes of magenta crimson tones indoors, we are adding warmth and texture alongside the greenery.

The trend of living more purposefully encompasses travel, playing sports, and being outside, which has become particularly important after pausing these activities during the pandemic. The warmth of Viva Magenta encapsulates all of that, while its boldness serves as inspiration to be more bold ourselves.

So, what does the colour psychology behind Viva Magenta actually mean?

With its organic origins coming from the cochineal beetle, 2023's colour of the year blends richness, warmth, and strength, encouraging creativity and an openness to the digital world. The raw power of Viva Magenta inspires us to express ourselves in new ways.

Red is a powerful colour that celebrates life, power, and strength. Pantone describes Viva Magenta as a bold, crimson red with fun undertones. There's a rebellious edge, but it's also soft and delicate. It's an expression of fierce grace that inspires us to show up with confidence and humanity. The Colour of the Year 2023 speaks to our desire to take on new challenges and try the unconventional while meeting others with compassion.