How does Pantone Color of the Year Impact Typography?

How does Pantone Color of the Year Impact Typography?

Pantone is really more than a colour- it is, indeed, a name greatly revered in design. This colour is chosen with the utmost taste and gives life to different kinds of fields, from interior design to fashion, but perhaps the most important field is visual communication. Typography is a basic design element that is especially reactive and responsive to various colour fads in very provocative ways. The interaction of colour and type creates powerful visual messages that appeal to the audience on both subconscious and conscious levels.

Pantone What is It and Why does It Matter in Printing?

In  1963 , Pantone revolutionised the colour industry with its standard colour-matching system. By ensuring that colors are consistent between media and materials, this is critical for designers and brands. The pantone what is not just some faddish selection, but rather a good commentary on our cultural moment, manifesting the mood and the ambiance of the collective mind.

Since the 2000s, Pantone has been selecting a single colour for outdoor exterior stands, sometimes two, that surround the spirit of the forthcoming year. Ranging from bold, vivacious choices such as Viva Magenta to more subdued tones like Ultimate Gray, each selection sends ripples throughout the design community, affecting aesthetic choices across industries.

Typography and Pantone: A Symbiotic Relationship

Typography and colour exist in a delicate symbiotic relationship side by side. Colour choices can dramatically enhance or diminish the weight, style, and character of typefaces. Similarly, the emotional impact of a Pantone colour can be reinforced or transformed by the typography paired with it.

When designers incorporate this colour into typography, they are not simply following a trend but tapping into a collective visual language. Headlines set in the current Pantone hue immediately communicate cultural awareness. This symbiosis also creates powerful branding opportunities, as typography becomes the vessel through which colour trends are most explicitly expressed in communication materials.

Consider how a sharp, minimalist sans-serif might appear authoritative and modern in one year's deep blue selection. Yet, the same typeface could feel approachable and optimistic when rendered in a sunflower yellow. The typeface hasn't changed, but its perception has shifted dramatically through colour association.

How Typography and Pantone are Connected?

What is a pms color and typography relationship? The relationship between typography and Pantone colours forms the cornerstone of effective branding strategies. Brands seeking consistency across all touchpoints rely on the precision of Pantone's colour-matching system. When combined with thoughtfully selected typography, these elements create recognisable visual identities that resonate with audiences.

Pantone provides the definitive reference point in print design, especially where colour accuracy is paramount. Typography treated with Pantone colours ensures that printed materials—from business cards to billboards—maintain visual coherence and brand fidelity.

This colour also offers brands an opportunity to refresh their visual communication without undergoing complete redesigns. Companies demonstrate contemporary awareness by updating typography treatments with current Pantone selections while maintaining their core identity. This subtle evolution keeps brands relevant without sacrificing recognition.

Impact of Pantone Colours on Typography

The psychological impact of Pantone colours on typography cannot be overstated. Each year's selection inspires new typographic treatments that reflect the emotional qualities of the chosen hue.

Pantone Colour

Typographic Impact

Industry Application

Mocha Mousse

Warm, earthy typefaces with subtle texture and rounded edges evoke comfort and familiarity.

Sustainable brands, eco-friendly products, home decor, and hospitality services.

Peach Fuzz

Soft, approachable typefaces with increased letter spacing

Wellness brands, beauty products, lifestyle publications

Viva Magenta

Bold, expressive serifs with dramatic weight contrast

Tech startups, entertainment, fashion-forward brands

Very Peri

Rounded sans-serifs with playful alternates

Educational internal billboard materials, creative services, digital products, and internal signage.

Ultimate Gray & Illuminating

Balanced geometric types combining light and bold weights

Corporate communications, infrastructure projects, financial services

Classic Blue

Traditional serifs with modern proportions

Legal services, healthcare communications, established institutions

Implementing Pantone Colours in Typography Design

Designers looking to incorporate the latest Pantone selection into their typographic work should consider several practical approaches. First, the colour can be applied directly to the text, creating an immediate visual statement. On the other hand, typography can be used as a background to establish authority and contrast.

Digital applications offer additional possibilities through gradients, shadows, and interactive colour shifts. Web designers often implement the colour in hover states, selection highlights, or animated type treatments, bringing added dimension to the user experience.

For maximum impact, consider using the What is Pantone Color of the Year in:

  • Logo typography refreshes
  • Headline treatments for campaigns
  • Pull quotes and callout text
  • Digital button text and navigation elements
  • Typographic patterns and backgrounds
  • Typeface designs

The key is balancing trendy colour applications with timeless typographic principles. To learn more about the usage of Pantone colour in various industries such as typeface and typography, read our guide on Everything to Know What’s This Typeface is About.

Pantone: Trending Colour of the Year

This colour is more than a trending colour scheme—it's a powerful tool for typographic expression that bridges cultural moments with visual communication. By thoughtfully incorporating these colours into typography, designers create work that feels both contemporary and purposeful, speaking to audiences through a shared visual vocabulary that transcends the words themselves.

Karishma
By: Karishma

An enthusiastic Graphic Designer professional with strong communication and organisational skills, who is passionate about creating and developing innovative ideas with the client to help them get their business noticed. I work to the highest standards and have an excellent eye for detail with skills in design and organisation. I am a dependable and productive worker whose honesty and integrity provides effective leadership and builds excellent relationships. I enjoy innovatively…

March 24, 2025