"In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real [...] Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength."
-Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at Pantone Color Institute
At the beginning of each year, the experts at Pantone carefully select their colour of the year. These hues are intended to capture and distill the present 'esprit du temps' of a given year, encapsulating our collective desires and outlook for the year ahead.
For 2023, Pantone's colour of the year is 'Viva Magenta' – or PANTONE 18-1750 – a bold shade that's brimming with possibility and perfectly representative of the duality of our overlapping physical & digital worlds. In this article, we'll celebrate this vivid colour with design inspiration selected by the LIV Design Studio team, alongside works from our own portfolio and expert advice on adding Viva Magenta to your own interiors.
[Pictured in header: BAUX Panels at the IDS Vancouver 2019 VIP Lounge, designed by LIV Design Studio]
Designing with Viva Magenta
Even when used sparingly, the vivacious hue of 'Viva Magenta' brings a bold, energizing presence to any space. A so-called hybrid shade that balances both warm and cool tones, magenta is suited to both accents and centrepieces, immediately electrifying whatever it touches.
"Viva Magenta is the perfect accent colour in a minimal style space. As a component of a room, it can be found in sofas, armchairs, lighting or in cushions. A little dash of this trendy colour goes a long way towards enhancing the whole space."
-Rondo Leung, Interior Designer at LIV Design Studio
In spaces that utilize a more neutral, minimal colour palette, magenta injects a welcome vibrancy and a joyful warmth that's hard to replicate. Mingling with stone surfaces and gold trim, the magenta loveseat and chairs pop against their surroundings, immediately focusing guests' attention on the inviting corner. The otherwise pared-down furnishings offer a blank canvas on which the magenta elements can shine without overwhelming the room.
Another creative way to incorporate Viva Magenta is to allow its potent hue to ease into its surroundings as a neutral tone. Set against the bold colours and shapes of Len Furniture's Bauhaus-inspired seating elements, the magenta carpeting appears more subdued – making a confident statement without overwhelming the rest of the room.
[Pictured left to right, Photo by Haley Truong on Unsplash; 'Bauhaus' by Helen Kontouris with furnishings from Len Furniture]
Fusing the present & future
Much like LIV's own design ethos, Viva Magenta is firmly rooted in the here and now, encouraging us to design for the end-user with an eye on developing technologies and future trends. Its existence in both physical and digital worlds makes this shade profoundly attuned to its surroundings.
When designing for our myriad projects, The LIV Design Studio team is guided by our Visually-Led Design process. This innovative approach uses hyper-realistic CG renderings to capture interior spaces in vivid detail, allowing us to use technology as a tool to create freely, resulting in spaces that are not only timeless and visually appealing, but serve integral roles in the lives of the individuals who use them.
Examples of this intersection of TECH/DESIGN/CULTURE are everywhere in our work. In the recently completed Avenue One, a new multi-residential tower in Vancouver's Southeast False Creek, residents will find the Parlour Room – a refined space for games and convivial gatherings, bedecked in furnishings that lean towards wabi-sabi with a luxe feel. Here, richly red-toned chairs provide sumptuous comfort and a sophisticated infusion of colour to the rich, dark wood that surrounds them.
The lobby within Newton at Concord CityPlace poses another example of this intersection at play. Embodying the warmth and inclusivity of Viva Magenta, the heathered chairs in this spacious welcoming area combine with a vivid yellow rug to bring a joyful air to this common space.
When creating the opulent interiors at W1 Tower in Vancouver, LIV's VLD process was crucial in selecting the perfect shade for the hallway carpet. Reflecting the statement-making elegance of the ornate gold walls bordering the building's elevators, this magenta carpet is a plush representative of W1's premier address and a welcome jolt of colour amidst residents' daily routines.
[Pictured top to bottom: Avenue One by Concord Pacific, designed by LIV Design Studio; Newton at Concord CityPlace, designed by LIV Design Studio; W1 Vancouver, designed by LIV Design Studio]
A spirited statement
"Depending on the project's background, we can apply the Viva Magenta in furnitures, fixtures, and equipment, or within the lighting of a given space. In the right project, Viva Magenta can even serve as a main colour scheme to create a funky, playful environment."
-Rondo Leung, Interior Designer at LIV Design Studio
Magenta's vibrancy makes it the ideal candidate for temporary design or anywhere that deserves a special kind of statement.
For IDS Vancouver 2019, LIV Design Studio was asked to create a VIP Lounge that was at once regal yet relaxing. Merging timeless architectural elements & shapes with unique materials and colour palettes, various shades of rose, pink, and magenta are at the heart of this eye-catching design.
The half-circle motif that begins with the arched entryway is repeated ad infinitum along the back wall, culminating in a bright pop of colour aided by the vivid magenta. All this is juxtaposed against the many green elements found throughout, in the form of both art and plentiful live plants to bring an air of restful calm to the space. Custom-designed BAUX Panels were used to both sound-proof the space, keeping the spirited noise of IDS out of the relaxing VIP Lounge, as well as capturing the vivid magenta hues in rich detail along the back wall.
[Pictured above: VIP Lounge at IDS Vancouver 2019, designed & photographed by LIV Design Studio]
Conclusion
Viva Magenta is undeniably apropos for our present world, marked by its inclusivity, versatility, and representation of both physical and digital spaces. Though not to be applied with a heavy hand, its spirited tones bring exuberance and joy to any interior space when used sparingly, as in the designs we examined above.
A new year always brings the promise of fresh beginnings and limitless possibilities, but 2023 doubles down in this regard. As we set new goals and explore new projects this year, Viva Magenta serves as a symbol of resolute strength and open-ended potential – pushing us to bravely explore new avenues of design while reminding us to celebrate what makes us unique.
For more colourful design inspiration, view LIV's thoughts on Pantone's 2021 and 2022 Colours of the Year.
[Pictured left: Lunar New Year Floral Installation at Concord North York Presentation Centre, designed by LIV Design Studio]
