The Pantone Matching System is the cornerstone of color accuracy in design. The industry standard of color keys, the Pantone Matching System has allowed designers to ensure the integrity of the color in their work for decades.
Some designers and creatives, however, look beyond the color chart when utilizing the Pantone Matching System.
The projects below take the Pantone Matching System to the next level, showcasing out-of-the-box—and, frankly—pretty meta approaches to color matching.
Have you created something amazing with the Pantone Matching System or Pantone color chips? Let us know in the comments below.
Find all the Pantone resources you need to create your own stunning Pantone projects at the lowest prices in MyDesignShop, including the Pantone Plus Series Color Bridge Coated set (pictured right). Scroll to the bottom of this post to see more Pantone resources available in the shop.
9 Enchanting Projects Using the Pantone Matching System
Pantone Beer Packaging by Txaber
http://txaber.net/beer-colors/
This beer packaging concept by the creative agency Txaber pairs the color of the beer itself with its corresponding Pantone color—4975 C Stout and 1595 C Golden Ale, for example. See more of the packaging concepts at Txaber.net.
Match the color of your favorite beverage with the PANTONE® Plus Series Reference Library.
Pantone as Pixels: Color Mosaics by Txaber
http://txaber.net/pantone-as-pixel/
Txaber also created these amazing color mosaic posters that use Pantone color chips as pixels. See all of the color mosaics here.
“This work consists of constructing images from Pantone modules (color and its text reference). This unit is treated as a pixel. The process is to convert the images into color mosaics, then each color is replaced one by one by the corresponding pantone module. To show this process I have made several typographic images and known artwork and logos. It is a laborious process, but I think the result is interesting.”
Are your poster designs as good as these? Enter them into the HOW Poster Design Awards to earn the recognition you deserve. We’ll even sell your designs in our shop if you choose!
Pantone Food Match
http://www.griottes.fr/choose-your-color
The French website Griottes: Palette Culinaire features culinary color palettes with stunning photography. This display of fruits and veggies inspired by the Pantone Matching System is lovely. See more from Griottes here.
Tiny PMS Match by Inka Mathew
http://tinypmsmatch.tumblr.com/
We’ve featured Inka Mathew’s work (more at Green Ink Studios) before, but we just can get over how adorable her Tiny PMS Match blog is. Mathew uses the Pantone Matching System to pair tiny objects with Pantone color chips in their corresponding colors. It’s tiny and adorable. See more pairings at Tiny PMS Match.

Try matching your own everyday items using the Pantone Plus Series Solid Chips 2 Book Set.
Pantone Holiday Poster by Neil Brown
Designer Neil Brown created this stunning Pantone holiday poster. From Turkey Day to New Year’s Resolutions, this poster design offers a healthy dose of humor and more than a little holiday cheer. See Neil’s Behance gallery here.
Pantone business cards by Sam Winslow
Web designer and developer Sam Winslow created these personal business card designs based on Pantone swatches. See more of the design process here.
See more stunning business card designs here.
Pantone Street Art project by Michael Ifland
Michael Ifland created an amazing street art project in which he placed Pantone swatch-inspired frames around items he found on the street or in nature to create awesome street art that smacks of design sensibility. See more images from the project here.

DIY Pantone Chip Magnets by Jessica Jones
Graphic and textile designer Jessica Jones created these sweet DIY pantone chip magnets using spare chips from the Pantone Plus Series Solid Chips Set for her refrigerator. Learn how to make them at Jessica’s blog, How About Orange.

DIY Pantone Advent Calendar
Brit + Co. created this lovely Pantone Advent calendar featuring one Pantone color per day. Learn how to make your own here.

Share your festive designs—Pantone-related and otherwise—in the Print Celebrates Design competition, a competition for your gifts, invitations, cards and other festive designs.















