What was the Pantone Colour of the Year 2015
In 2015, Pantone selected a vivid, pink-forward hue as its Colour of the Year: Radiant Orchid, numbered 18-3224. This lively, purple-leaning pink was chosen to inspire creativity and reflect a shift toward expressive, thoughtful color in design and culture. Radiant Orchid sits between pink and purple on the color wheel, offering a balance of warmth and depth. This profile explains the visual character, symbolic associations, and design applications of the 2015 color, along with contextual notes on how the palette evolved in fashion, interiors, and branding in the years that followed.
Visual description and color attributes
Radiant Orchid is a bright to vivid tone with strong pink-purple undertones. It reads as lively yet controlled, sitting at moderate saturation and relatively high lightness. The color feels modern while retaining a subtle nod to historic orchids and tropical florals. In digital and print workflows, precise values help maintain consistency across materials, from screen displays to coated and uncoated substrates.
Hex, RGB, and HSL values
| Format | Value | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Hex | #BC6C25 | Web design and CSS |
| RGB | 188, 108, 37 | Screen color |
| Pantone code | 18-3220 TCX | Print and color matching |
| LCH | 56, 82, 27 | Perceptual color space |
| Lab | 58, 43, 48 | Color management and profiling |
Quick palette comparison
| Year | Color name | Pantone code | Descriptive note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Radiant Orchid | 18-3220 TCX | Vivid pink-purple |
| 2015 | Marsala | 18-1438 TCX | Rustic brown with red undertones |
| 2016 | Rose Quartz | 13-1520 TCX | Warm, comforting pink |
| 2017 | Greenery | 15-0343 TCX | Fresh, zesty yellow-green |
Why Pantone chose Radiant Orchid for 2015
Pantone stated that Radiant Orchid was intended to encourage individual creativity and original thinking. The selection reflected growing interest in bold yet thoughtful color that stands out without aggressive energy. The hue mixes the playfulness of pink with the richness of purple, creating a tone that feels both confident and imaginative. In design practice, this makes it suitable for brands and projects that want to convey originality, artistic spirit, and a modern sense of balance.
Practical ways to use Radiant Orchid
- Brand accents: Use as a signature or highlight color for logos, calls to action, and UI elements when a distinctive, creative feel is desired.
- Print and packaging: Apply in spot color or as a digital tint to add premium, expressive character to cosmetics, lifestyle, and cultural brands.
- Interior and material design: Incorporate through textiles, accents, and finishes to introduce warmth and a forward-looking, artistic touch.
- Digital design: Pair with neutral and darker tones to maintain legibility and balance on screen, especially at smaller sizes.
Color contrast and accessibility notes
Because Radiant Orchid is bright and warm, it can offer strong contrast against darker neutrals such as charcoal, deep navy, and black. With lighter backgrounds, consider value contrast and use large text for readability. For accessible combinations, aim for contrast ratios that meet WCAG targets for body text. Test color pairings across devices to ensure legibility for all users.
Cultural and design context in 2015 and beyond
By 2015, audiences were responding to more expressive, optimistic palettes after several years of minimal, neutral trends. Radiant Orchid arrived alongside a broader interest in tactile materials, craftsmanship, and nuanced color in both digital and physical experiences. Over time, the palette around this hue evolved toward deeper terracottas, muted rose, and sophisticated neutrals, showing how a single color can influence multiyear trends in fashion, interiors, and branding.