Pantone Color of the Year 2008
The Pantone Color of the Year 2008 is Blue Iris (18-3943). Its HEX approximation is #5A5B9F. A blue-violet that bridged tranquillity and imagination, mirroring a year of transition and uncertainty.
About Blue Iris
A blue-violet that bridged tranquillity and imagination, mirroring a year of transition and uncertainty.
Pantone announced Blue Iris as its Color of the Year 2008 in December 2007, following the program's annual cadence. The announcement placed the shade within the broader cultural conversation of the year — from fashion and interiors to graphics and packaging — and was accompanied by coordinated product releases from partner brands who had pre-adopted the color. Like every Pantone Color of the Year, Blue Iris is a TCX reference (18-3943) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Blue Iris translates to a screen HEX of #5A5B9F and a CMYK print approximation of 43/43/0/38. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Blue Iris, the safest approach is to specify the 18-3943 TCX reference directly to your printer or textile supplier, and to verify with a printed proof on the target stock before committing to production.
Closest Solid Coated match
If you need to reproduce Blue Iris with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 6096 C (#5F5FA5), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 1.66. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2008?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2008 is Blue Iris (18-3943). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2008. Its HEX approximation is #5A5B9F.
What is the HEX code for Blue Iris?
Blue Iris is a Pantone TCX reference (18-3943), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #5A5B9F in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 90, 91, 159 and CMYK print approximation 43/43/0/38. These values are approximations and should not be treated as authoritative — the Pantone code is the actual specification.
What Pantone Solid Coated code is closest to Blue Iris?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Blue Iris (18-3943) is 6096 C at #5F5FA5, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 1.66. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Blue Iris in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #5A5B9F — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 18-3943 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (6096 C). For textile and fashion applications, the TCX code itself is the standard — no conversion is necessary if your manufacturer works with Pantone textile references.