Pantone have announced the Colour of the Year, and this year it is Marsala. A dark red-brown colour which is similar to the wine from which it gets its name.
It’s quite subdued compared to last year’s Radiant Orchid; Marsala is described by Pantone as “the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness”.
It does have a luxurious feel about it and one of its highlights is that it can work within many different colour schemes as Pantone shows, ” This highly varietal shade combines dramatically with neutrals, including warmer taupes and greys. Because of its burnished undertones, sultry Marsala is highly compatible with amber, umber and golden yellows, greens in both turquoise and teal, and blues in the more vibrant range.”
How does the ‘Colour of the Year’ affect my business?
Now that it has been announced, we will begin to see ‘Marsala’ across fashion, make-up, home furnishing and graphic designers will be using it in creative design. Both large and small business across the Gold Coast may begin incorporating this colour into their marketing, so keep your eyes peeled!
Knowing what the Colour of the Year will be, small business both on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, can use this opportunity to reconsider their existing branding and colour schemes. Although Marsala might not be to everyone’s taste, the announcement of the Colour of the Year can also be used as an opportunity to think about logo design.
Re-branding can invigorate a business, give it a new lease of life, and open it up to a wider audience. However it is a tricky process, and your motivation for rebranding needs to be correct. Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why you should rebrand before you speak with your graphic designer.
Growth: You started off your business without any professional branding help; maybe you didn’t need the extra expense at that time. Now that your business has grown stronger, it needs to be able to compete in highly a competitive market. To sustain growth, it might now be time to call in a graphic designer who can talk you through a new strategy for re-branding.
Changes: If your business is going to make a drastic change, or you are going to re-launch in a new direction, then you should think about re-branding. Re-branding enables your brand to associate with the new business, and loses the associations of the old business. One popular change is for companies to become ‘green’ or ‘fair-trade’. Perhaps you need to shed negative associations from your old brand. Whatever your reasons, you need to show your customers that there has been a fundamental change and you are still relevant in a fast and changing market, especially on the Gold Coast.
Rationalisation: Over the years, and through the natural growth of your business, you have gained new products or developed new services which can lead to a confusing brand that is disjointed. Through re-branding, you can amalgamate and rationalise your existing brand into something more efficient, successful and better functioning.
Re-branding is not just about changing your logo; it also includes rethinking your business ethos and marketing strategies with the objective of growing your business. Having a successful brand is critical, so effective re-branding is worth doing and worth doing right.
If you would like a logo review, then please speak to one of our Graphic Designers on the Gold Coast for more information.
