As a long-time colour junkie, I recently spent some time looking into some colours for a new brand that I am building, called EVENT MINDS matter. My exploration inspired this story, as it could not have aligned any better with my vision.
Colour encapsulates the essence of motivational forces that drive us all.
For some, health and healing will be a priority, while for others discovery and travel will reignite the imagination.
The key colours moving into 2023/24, are Digital Lavender, Astro Dust, Galactic Cobalt, Sage Leaf and Apricot Crush. Why? Because of the need for a therapeutic culture of healing, discovery, transformation and pleasure. These colours capture the evolving behaviours that are sensitive to the shifting emotional states and changing lifestyles that we have all experienced.
Confidence will return and vibrant, energizing colours will resonate, connecting to travel and discovery, reigniting the imagination. In contrast, healing and settling tones will appeal to people seeking to calm and rebalance their body and mind.”
As new narratives emerge, the’ desire to live with intent increases; along with the right choices for yourself, the planet and other species. With a holistic overview of wellness, designing for emotion will be key, as people will need to feel supported while building their vision of the future.
We will explore new relationships and gender norms while being truly inclusive, reflecting the wonderful multiple facets of life. These colours stay closely connected to digital wellness and escapism. There will be a growing demand for health-boosting digital therapy and calm-tainment.
As the pursuit of mindfulness becomes embedded in our brains, wellness routines, immersive VR and micro-digital platforms will provide a gamified sensorial, self-care experience.
Digital Lavender
Digital Lavender has a soothing and balancing property which connects it directly to the growing mental health movement. It is seen as restful, gender-inclusive, and signifies that stability, serenity, and digital escapism are meeting the needs of the human race in recovery. This colour is part of the recuperative rituals to both protect and improve our lives in the future.
Astro Dust
Astro Dust is a captivating mid-tone red which connects to space exploration. As commercialized space travel evolves and space tourism becomes a reality, the colours of the universe will excite and inspire us. This deep mineral tone evokes the dusty and desolate landscape of Mars and captures the desire to explore remote terrains and planets. Astro Dust personifies a shift toward off-kilter colours that feel intriguing and forward-looking. This colour is gender-inclusive and a great red update for all types of applications.
Galactic Cobalt
In the fall of 23/24, hyper-bright galactic cobalt will step up, influenced by next-generation colour technologies, and it is expected that it will be the most dynamic and influential. This intense and digital hue takes inspiration from the new Space Age along with the evolution of the metaverse. Transformative, technologically driven experiences will push forward intense and dynamic blues, enabling us to connect to escapism and extended reality.
Sage Leaf
Slowed-down lifestyles have introduced us to new or forgotten concepts around rest. As our lifestyles adjust further, consumers will be sensitive to overstimulation and look to environments and colours which reduce anxiety and stress levels in the brain. Sage Leaf is a quiet and settling green that instils a sense of contemplation, rest and reflection. Sage Leaf will be an important colour for reductive, considered design.
Apricot Crush
By the fall of 23/24 oranges will step up, providing a fruity injection of energy to the season. Apricot Crush is an activating mid-tone with a restorative quality that aligns to balancing lifestyles and nourishing body and mind. This vitamin-balancing hue is a step up from soft, mindful pastels to brighter and more invigorating tones. This orange brings a warming luminosity and contributes to the soft sun-bleached nature that everyone is indulging in.
If you’re a creative, designer, idea hunter, or just curious, then keep these in the back of your mind, because I can guarantee that you will see these on the horizon soon. We still have to get through 2022, but this is part of the COVID legacy that will re-shape our aesthetic preferences.
Author: Janice Cardinale has been named a Woman to Watch, a Top 100 Entrepreneur by Smart Meetings magazine and a powerful woman by Reiimagine in 2022. She is a heart-centric leader, visionary, mentor, and change maker. As an editor, facilitator and speaker, she talks about mental health and is leading the newly formed EVENT MINDS matter, a community for event professionals, building brave spaces to amplify the industry’s conversation on mental health. She is the board chair for Seneca College’s event management and creative design program and has opened up her own charity under the name of “Giving Butterflies.” Janice is passionate about global trends, human connection, and the future of events and people.