The 2022 PANTONE color of the year couldn’t be more perfect.

Written for Scout Digital May 31, 2022

Say hello to Very Peri (17–3938). Pantone developed a brand new color formula for this one to represent the unprecedented change we experienced last year. Some kids grow up to be just like their parents, some kids are a reaction.

Very Peri is a societal reaction to the chaos that was 2021.

With its interesting blend of blue and red — it’s almost metallic. It’s soothing as most blue hues are, but there’s a hint of curiosity and playfulness in it too.

It also projects a sly sense of optimism. It’s as though it’s holding your hand and telling you that things are still going to be shaky, but just a little bit better this year.

Every new year is an opportunity to reflect on the past to improve on what worked and learn from what didn’t.

What I appreciate about PANTONE’S annual color of the year is the amount of reflection and intention that goes into the color selection.

In 2020 it was Classic Blue (19–4052) — why? Our world hadn’t been completely rocked at that point, but American politics was in shambles and people needed comfort, clarity, and resilience. I found these qualities in Classic Blue.

Then there was PANOTNE’S 2019 curious color choice of Living Coral (16–1546) which frankly looks like an orange spray tan with too much sunscreen slathered on. Who does that remind you of?

To be clear, the color of the year is about encapsulating an entire year. It’s not intended to help you choose a new accent color for your living room wall.

But in some cases, the color of the year looks forward instead of back. For me, Very Peri is that color, and the memo is to learn from the past year, then never look back.

2022 is going to be a better year because we as a society will choose to make it so. I look forward to crossing that invisible threshold into the New Year and making something amazing. See you there.