Being misunderstood is a destiny when you're expressing yourself. We have to be really brave when we step into the world and show our true authentic selves, hoping the world does the same back to us. But it was hard. Thousands of years ago, the Tower of Babel made language an impeccable obstacle between people. Today, a phone or a Zoom meeting might also bring nuances. The color institute of PANTONE, the company best known for its Color Matching System used in a variety of industries, believes that color is a shortcut to self-expression. Color is born with that magical chemistry to conjure up an image of this very color in mind and send a certain message. Color is just the power and clout. Color can make a statement. That was why PANTONE has declared the "COLOR OF THE YEAR” since 2000. On December 1st, the newly revealed Color of the Year 2023 made a feast of vision with Viva Magenta and its Magentaverse.
(Credits_PANTONE official)
The pandemic has dragged all of us into a confusing era of chaos and variation and dragged what we thought for the faraway future just exactly in front of us. For GRADO, we never expect the hybrid working and a variety of its relative trends, including multifunctional, multi-flexible furniture and anti-office, to go that fast and to go that far. It’s both a challenge and an incredible opportunity for GRADO as a furniture designer, manufacturer, and producer. Without any hesitation, we just embrace the bold, the new, the boundaryless, the vigorous, the fearless, the empowering... All in all, in the spirit of Viva Magenta.
Having pursued a very "GRADO" aesthetics of elegance from the restraints, now it's time for us to head into the Magentaverse of experimentation and self-expression without restraints.
1. Magenta Swan
Wings Chair
Swan is always an embodiment of magical transformation for the very well-known children’s literature story, “The Ugly Duckling”. The great change of growing into a beautiful, graceful swan inspired our partner designer to architect this Wings Chair. A swan’s elegant neck and wing silhouette were translated into the seat shell’s unique contour. This eye-catching Wings Chair was a perfect match to the Viva Magenta, vibrating with vim and vigor. The color, so unbelievable, blesses the Wings Chair with a visual language, telling a story that this Magenta Swan is flapping her wings to start a brave new journey, looking for her new vision and chirping a new narrative. We can absolutely see her courage to act, and her strength to take an adventure. Instead of being elegant or graceful for others' expectations, for "you're supposed to or not", it's time to get wild and be your true self. Living in such an unconventional time, why don’t you be an unconventional person?
2. Lily Magenta
Lili Lounge Chair
The lily flower is a constant presence in literature, especially during the Romantic period, as a symbol of purity and modesty, love and romance, and femininity. Whereas, we are glad to see such an anti-stereotype scenario that the Lili Lounge Chair in the Magentaverse is manifesting optimism in joy. You need that sensitivity to find out that stereotype, and the courage to point out that in front of others. Sensitivity is the prerequisite for insight and the virtue of design. It’s hard to deny that color really has the power to galvanize this chair design’s spirit and even build up a statement with inner strength. This Lily Magenta encourages its users to stay on their feminine side and never be afraid to get dressed to be everybody's focus. This is a calling to be confident, arrogant, and opinionative. This is an invitation to experiment with the different and to share your feelings. The Lily Magenta stands on the platform, under the spotlight. She deserves to declare in a confident way that, "Viva Magenta. Viva la vida".
3. Magenta Ballroom
Skirt Table; Modo Pod Screen; Walker Screen
Skirt Tables in the Magenta spectrum are, of course, the most dramatic and gorgeous look in the ballroom. The ballgown-inspired Skirt Table and the instantly recognizable Viva Magenta are two loving partners, inviting your flabbergasted applause. This Magenta Skirt is prepared for those who are considered to be “chilled” and pushes them to be a little more “tricky.” Getting a vivid and vibrant new look helps to get you to think about your plan for the future with imagination and wisdom. Our Walker Screen with poufs in Viva Magenta is more of an assurance and motivation for its users to stay open and connected with each other. Thanks to the Magenta Screen, it’s such a chemistry to see this color of new technology, and human creativity could ignite the gray-toned office, and transform it into a place of dynamism and momentum. GRADOCONTRACT aims at empowering your workspace and letting your staff feel freer to get more inspired and more productive.
This pinkish-purplish-red or reddish-purplish-pink Viva Magenta 18-750 was described by the PANTONE Official as an unconventional shade for an unconventional time and a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative. From the perspective of furniture design, GRADOCONTRACT deeply knows the power of color: It highlights our change of perspective, spotlighting our need to feel empowered, and infusing strength and positivity.
