Pantone has just announced the color of the year for 2019 – and it’s been received with some criticism. Why?

Some believe that Pantone’s cheerful marketing of the color, “Living Coral,” is ironic in the face of the struggling state of coral reefs in our oceans.

Pantone’s official statement about the color said:

Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.

In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.

A writer at Slate complains:

Hold up—the color chosen as a tribute to a fast-dying ocean invertebrate is supposed to make us feel … good? Uplifted? …What a nice future this will be, with Living Coral coloring our ottomans and living coral struggling toward certain extinction.

However, Pantone’s intentions were good, even if their official statement seems a bit inconsistent. They are merely trying to draw attention to taking care of the environment –something that they’ve done before, in 2017, with the choice of “Greenery” as the color of the year. In fact, this year’s choice is the perfect complement to 2017’s color -both as a color, and by drawing attention to the care of our oceans, as “Greenery” did to the care of our forests.

What do you think – was “Living Coral” a mistake on Pantone’s part? Or it is the perfect color for 2019?