AWESOME was ahead of its time when the color purple was chosen in 2013 to represent the organization. Throughout 2018, “Ultra Violet” has reigned as “Color of the Year,” selected by Pantone, a Danaher company that helps define, communicate and control color across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design.
“Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future,” according to the Pantone Color Institute.
An article on inc.com suggested there may have been an underlying reason for Pantone’s choice of purple: addressing the divisive political climate by combining red and blue. But AWESOME’s adoption of purple is more in line with apolitical purple qualities, symbolizing “experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.”
Participants of the 2019 AWESOME Symposium are encouraged to pack their purple when they come to Seattle.