Color authority Pantone, based in Carlstadt, N.J., announced today that "Tangerine Tango"—a "spirited, enticing hue"--is the color of the year for 2012. "Honeysuckle" was the 2011 color of the year.

"Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Read more about current popular color palettes in 2011-2012 in special events.

CHASING COLOR TRENDS

To determine the color of the year, Pantone looks throughout the world color influences, including movies that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists and popular travel destinations. "Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention," the institute said in a statement.

Pantone’s color of the year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in many industries including fashion and home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

Special event designers often follow the same industries when determining color palettes for events.