How Living Coral can energise your hotel

800 580 Hamish Kilburn
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Hotel Designs’ recommended supplier Signbox explores how to make the most out of Pantone’s colour of the year, Living Coral… 

Since the 1960s, Pantone has been influencing creatives who rely on its standardised colour reproduction system for design and print continuity, consistency and inspiration. Every year it unveils a new Pantone Colour of the Year to reflect a new season of trends and influences that will fire the imagination of product developers and purchasers, designers and retailers; in 2019 that task falls to the incoming Colour of the Year: Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral.

Described by Pantone as ‘sociable and spirited…the fusion of modern life…a lively presence’, Living Coral looks set to make a rapturous impact on the work of the signage industry’s more ingenious manufacturers – and that means energised workspaces, invigorated teams and an altogether happier working environment.

This isn’t just marketing parlance; according to Pantone, there’s a psychological connection to be had with Living Coral and it could just be the game changer that business owners are looking for if the wellbeing and productivity of their workforces need a lift.

The Pantone Colour Institute is the unit that forecasts global colour trends and advises companies on product and brand visual identity colour palettes to leverage the power of colour – so it knows a thing or two about emotional responses to colour.

“Living Coral’s flamboyant, lively and effervescent shade will mesmerise the mind and create an aura of confidence, energy and positivity.”

“Vibrant, yet mellow Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment’, explains Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute. “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 Living Coral welcomes and encourages light-hearted activity. Symbolising our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”

Translate that to a workplace or hotel environment and Living Coral’s flamboyant, lively and effervescent shade will mesmerise the mind and create an aura of confidence, energy and positivity. Consider the impact of Living Coral’s hue on branding, wayfinding, environmental graphics and glass manifestation, for example, and it’s easy to see how powerful an interior design scheme can be as a motivating force. It’s a colour that encourages communication too, so expect to see leadership spirits fired and employees galvanised.

The power of colour when it comes to branding

Never underestimate the power of colour to create an emotional relationship with a brand and its physical space. With the capacity to affect us physically, intellectually and emotionally, colour is a critical component when it comes to applying a brand identity and an interior workplace scheme that reflects it.

Take digital wallpaper. It can be a big, bold and exciting step that can transform your office vista. But, don’t just choose a show-stopping image to project across your walls and place your order; consider first how your colour palette will influence your team, your partners and clients – the decisions they make and activities they undertake can have a serious effect on your business. Set them up for success with a colour that suits your environment, your market sector and the mood you want to induce.

A perfect colour for hotel and leisure environments

Take Living Coral. It’s comprised of red, yellow and orange – colours that can increase workplace productivity and inspire workforce wellbeing. What’s not to love?

  • Red is a physical colour that represents courage, strength and excitement – a great colour to use in work areas that demand physical exertion.
  • Yellow is an emotional colour that represents creativity, friendliness, optimism and confidence. Incorporate it when you want to stimulate positivity, creativity and happiness.
  • Orange blends the physicality of red with the emotion of yellow to create a sense of comfort and nurturing.

So, when you’ve assessed the impact that colours like Living Coral can have on the human body and its emotional relationships with space, you can apply it to the most appropriate areas. Living Coral can inspire transformative change in areas where creativity or physical activity needs an added stimulus – think design studios and gyms, for example. Since it also stimulates socialisation, it could work wonders in hotel and leisure environments – places where you want your clients to linger for longer and spend more perhaps.

If you want more advice on how to use colour to energise, inspire or motivate, talk to Signbox about impactful environmental graphic solutions on +44 (0)1784 438688, click here for our electronic brochure or send us your requirements. If you’d like guidance on what architectural signs or graphics will help your organisation perform better, an on-site consultation will give you the answers you seek.

Signbox is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

Hamish Kilburn / 26.02.2019

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.