In design news, every January unveils the color of the year. For the first time, Pantone® introduced two shades, Rose Quartz and Serenity as their Color of the Year 2016. (FYI: Pantone is the standard language for color communication. It gives designers, printers, and clients a way to discuss color and have an accurate description. If you have heard me say “What’s your ‘PMS’ color?” that is referring to Pantone’s color system. I explain color breakdown here.)
But how does the color of the year affect your organization? Do you need to incorporate new colors into your marketing? The short answer is “No.” You definitely want to stay on brand with your corporate colors. But it’s nice to know what is trending for the year. The color of the year represents more than color, it’s the mood of consumers and that in itself is helpful for your marketing. For example, Pantone suggests that “Consumers are seeking mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern day stresses, welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent.” Knowing this, you might choose a different premium to offer in your next direct mail package or giving campaign. Or with that in mind, the food and music at your next gala will reflect this vibe. So whether or not you agree with Pantone for the colors they awarded 2016, it does make you stop and think.
Last Fall Moo.com launched Business Cards+. It’s pretty cool, it has an NFC chip embedded in it that enables NFC chip reading mobile devices, currently Android and Windows phones, the ability to tap the card and bring up content. What content? Anything from donation pages and signup forms from your website to videos and music. This isn’t just a business card. I see this as a way to increase donor engagement. Imagine having a place card for each guest at your gala? They tap the card with their phone and it shows them a video of your mission or perhaps you want them to land on a survey. The possibilities are limitless, check out their video. What do you think?