Design Trends That Will Define 2025: A Creative’s Perspective
As we dive into 2025, the design world will be evolving rapidly, blending new technology, eco-conscious values, and the desire for authentic human connection. Drawing insights from industry experts and forecasters, here’s a look at the key design trends reshaping the creative landscape:
1. AI-Powered Personalization
We set out to learn as much as we could after a few CVR creatives made their way to Adobe MAX in 2022 where they announced all their new AI (Artificial Intelligence) features. To be fair, we’ve been using AI in design for a long time, it has just become a more integral part of the design process.
Tools like Adobe’s AI-powered features unveiled at Adobe MAX are empowering designers to work smarter and faster. For example, Coca-Cola’s 2024 AI-generated holiday campaign demonstrated the creative potential of machine-generated content, sparking a shift in how brands approach storytelling. Their campaign showed it’s here to stay and we need to embrace it (backlash or not), we just need to figure out how it can help us make even greater work.
AI allow us to craft personalized imagery and messaging tailored to specific audiences in real time from responsive web layouts to AI-generated art. Think of it as a creative partner that helps transform ideas into reality at unprecedented speed.
Check out our work for Cummins, where AI helped us create cryptids in the wild.
2. Sustainable Design Practices
Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s a requirement. Brands are integrating biodegradable materials into their packaging and leveraging digital tools to reduce carbon footprints. For instance, Patagonia’s eco-conscious branding and use of sustainable materials resonate deeply with consumers who demand transparency and environmental accountability.
In design, this means telling meaningful stories about a brand’s impact through eco-friendly visuals. Whether it’s digital solutions that highlight energy savings or minimalist product designs that reduce waste, the future is green—and consumers are watching.
3. Minimalist Maximalism
The aesthetic of 2025 is a marriage of opposites: bold, statement-making elements meet clean, structured minimalism. This trend strikes a balance between simplicity and creativity. Imagine a website with vibrant, oversized typography layered over soft, gradient backgrounds—visually rich yet uncluttered.
A great example of this is Spotify’s bold branding updates, where large-scale, playful fonts blend seamlessly with their minimalist interface. It’s a harmonious fusion of “less is more” but with a twist.
4. Immersive Mixed Reality Experiences
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are transforming how we interact with design, creating a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. These tools aren’t just for gaming; they’re being used for marketing campaigns, e-commerce try-ons, and experiential installations.
For instance, IKEA’s AR app allows customers to visualize how furniture will look in their homes before making a purchase, offering a seamless blend of utility and experience. Similarly, at trade shows, mixed reality can bring products to life, enabling customers to interact with virtual prototypes in engaging ways.
Check out our AR project with Allison Transmission.
5. Sound Design
Imagine watching The Notebook and feeling the emotional weight of Ryan's heartfelt indecision... but instead of a poignant score, you hear "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. The entire mood would shift, wouldn’t it? That might sound like an extreme example, but it highlights how sound design shapes our emotional experience.
In 2025, sound design isn’t just a supporting player—it’s stepping into the spotlight. From subtle cues like footsteps quickening as someone starts running to the muted sound of music behind a closed door, sound design pulls us deeper into a story, making it more immersive than ever. It’s not just about what we see but what we hear that connects us emotionally. And in an increasingly digital world, sound bridges the gap when we can’t be there in person. Think about why ASMR TikToks captivate millions—they create a sensory connection that feels personal and real.
One standout example of great sound design is Apple’s AirPods Pro: Jump campaign. The ad used dynamic audio to bring the viewer into the protagonist's world. The sound design wasn’t just an addition—it was a storytelling tool, highlighting the product’s features while emotionally engaging the audience.
6. UGC (User Generated Content)
Whether you’re creating content in-house or featuring real voices from your audience, authentic storytelling is driving stronger reactions and engagement. Today’s audiences are craving relatable, real-life content over overproduced, polished visuals. This desire for authenticity means showcasing your community—real customers, fans, and peers—becomes a powerful way to build trust and foster connection. By focusing on genuine interactions and experiences, brands can establish a deeper, more meaningful bond with their audiences through storytelling.
7. Typography
We think it’s very important for a brand to have set guidelines for consistency., but the rise of typography is growing and using it tastefully in your creative can really make you stand out, let’s call it the UGC of typography when you are using something just a little funky for a campaign.
While your brand’s core creative should feel unified, each campaign needs to bring something distinctive to the table. If everything looks too similar, your message risks becoming repetitive. By experimenting with typography—like bold custom fonts or playful type treatments—you can maintain a strong brand presence while ensuring each campaign captures your audience’s attention in its own way. Stand out within your brand universe, not outside of it!
The design trends of 2025 are a testament to the mix between technology and humanity. By embracing innovation while staying grounded in purpose, creatives have an opportunity to redefine the boundaries of design, crafting experiences that resonate on both functional and emotional levels.
Are you interested in bringing some of these trends to your brands marketing? Let’s work together!
For more detailed insights, explore Adobe, Pinterest, Envato, Kantar, DepositPhotos, Adobe Trends 2025, Pinterest Predicts 2025
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