Spring green: an introduction
A color symbolizing life and rejuvenation
We are back!
It has been a busy couple of months - some big personal news to report in a second - but we will continue to be releasing articles and podcast episodes in the coming months, starting today with spring green - a color that many of you are hopefully now seeing out your windows as we reach the end of winter.
But first, some quick news to share:
Anna-Lena is pregnant! Which means some big life changes coming our way. But we’ve really enjoyed our Design Talk project and are planning on continuing work on it at whatever rate we can.
We’re happy to report that Anna-Lena’s holiday cards were a hit! Lots of happy customers, and several of the stores she worked with have requested more for different seasons. So stay tuned for some spring-themed cards, which she is planning on releasing in the coming weeks.
Make sure you’re subscribed, so you don’t miss our next podcast episode, where we dive into spring green in more detail.
Let’s get talking about spring green. German readers can find the original blog post here.
The Pantone Color of the Year in 2017 was “Greenery”. Here’s how they introduced it:
Greenery is a symbol of our newly sprouting hope, our longing for life in a challenging social and political environment. Greenery symbolizes our growing desire for rejuvenation, new life, reconnection with nature, and a closer sense of togetherness.
I decided to make spring green my color of the season while out on one of my walks, when I started to see small bursts of lush, fresh green color in the buds and tiny, delicate leaves slowly emerging on bushes and trees.
Fresh life, bringing hope - something we need more than ever, after a difficult year of marked by a pandemic and lockdowns.1
Of course, the quote above refers more to things like healthy eating, natural health and lifestyle trends, and vacations in nature, as well as the growing green movement to fight climate change. As for the difficult political environment, I don’t think it needs further explanation.2
Here are some emotions associated with green:
Natural
Harmonious
Balanced
Rejuvenating
Grounding
Calming
Uplifting
But also:
Poisonous
Greedy
Envious
A yellowish green not only symbolizes envy, but also represents hope - a hope for a fresh awakening and better times after a barren winter. Everything sprouts and thrives - a new beginning.
This is why many eco-labels and NGOs use this color: not just because of its obvious association with newness, but also because it naturally reinforces their connection to the environment. When we talk about ecology and sustainability in general, we often use the term “green thinking.”
But green doesn’t just stand for ecology—it also represents the economy! That might be surprising to some, although our society increasingly understands that ecologically beneficial decisions also turn out to be economically wiser in the long run.
Back to spring:
Are you familiar with the time-lapse videos - often used in nature documentaries, but also frequently shared on social media - where a tiny seed pushes its way out of its shell or bulb? And then works through a labyrinth of soil, before bursting out into the open air with all its might toward the sun, as if it’s shouting:
“HERE I AM! I may still have bits of soil on my head, but one day I’ll grow into a beautiful flower, so please don’t step on me…”
Believe me, there’s not much that’s more uplifting than that. So if you ever have a rainy spring day - perhaps literally - watch one of those videos or take a look around in nature. I guarantee it will boost your mood.
And on that note, I wish you a hopeful spring, full of fresh green color!
By the way: if Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite No. 1” kept popping into your head while reading this, I’m not surprised - it happened to me too.
If not, I apologize in advance for the earworm3 you will have after listening to it. 😄
Anna-Lena wrote this blog post in 2021.
Safe to say that since 2021, the political situation has not become easier.
Earworm is a fantastic German word (Ohrwurm), which describes when you can’t get a song out of your head. It’s regularly nominated as a word that people want to be adopted into English - like in this article from Babbel.