Goodbye Honeysuckle, hello Tangerine Tango, or as we prefer to call it 17-1463, announced today as Pantone's colour of the year for 2012

According to Pantone, "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" and they've helpfully provided us with this photo to underline their point:

It is a colour, Pantone go on to say, that is "a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way".

“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 Colour 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."

What has inspired this love of orange? Could it be the preponderance of spray-tanned reality TV stars on our screens? Or Blackpool's brief but entertaining foray into the Premiership? Who can say, but for the next 12 months the CR editorial team will be clad head to foot in tangerine, satsuma and a dash of clementine.

Regular readers will recall that last year's colour of the year was Honeysuckle. No? Us neither. Pantone's previous choices have been:

PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

CR in Print

If you enjoy reading the Creative Review website, we think you'll enjoy reading the magazine even more. The December issue of CR includes a profile piece on the independent creative scene in Liverpool, a major interview with Dutch book designer Irma Boom and a great piece on 'Poster King' Edward McKnight Kauffer. You'll also find articles on Dentsu London, a review of the Walker Art Center's Graphic Design: Now in Production show and a fascinating debate on the clash between design and advertising betwen Wally Olins and CHI's Dan Beckett.

And if that wasn't enough, the issue also includes a FREE paper toy for readers to cut out and customise.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.