So maybe the Vikings won’t get to sport purple jerseys in the Superbowl, and maybe it has been 34 years since Prince released “Purple Rain,” but make no mistake, Purple is back. Ultra Violet, to be exact.

The Pantone Color Institute not only publishes a palette of colors expected to trend in the year ahead, they crown one as color of the year, and for 2018, Ultra Violet or — dare we say — the color formerly known as “PANTONE 18-3838” is the winner.

While purple conjures images of velvet curtains and bohemian tapestries, this type-casting is unfair; Violet is a capable, versatile actor on the design stage. Enigmatically cool, calming, and powerful all at once, Ultra Violet, whether in small splashes or bold blocks, tends to pack a lot of punch in design schemes, and is no wallflower: you’ll always notice it’s there.

On the downside, purple doesn’t always play as well with others — it can take a good eye to find the right matches and avoid clashes. The effort pays off, however, with arresting, spectacular color schemes.

We’ve assembled some Ultra Violet (or similar) examples from around the web, below.

So bring us your Prince posters, your vintage “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” album art, your Minnesota Vikings jerseys and get a little timely, Ultra Violet exposure. No, not ultraviolet exposure — our frame glass protects your art from that stuff!

Also see:
Our article on Pantone’s Spring 2018 Color Trends
Pantone’s Color of The Year Announcement