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Pantone has unveiled its Color of the Year for 2025: Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230), a warm, soft brown that exudes comfort and sophistication.

This selection reflects a cultural gravitation towards harmony and balance, offering designers a versatile hue to enrich their creative projects.

Understanding Mocha Mousse

Mocha Mousse is a light brown shade that evokes a sense of warmth and indulgence, reminiscent of its namesake dessert.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, describes it as a color that reflects the need for harmony, aligning with current global sentiments.

Applications in Design

Fashion: Mocha Mousse has made significant inroads into fashion, with designers like Fendi, Acne, and Gucci incorporating it into their collections. Its adaptability allows it to serve as both a foundational neutral and a standout feature, pairing well with a spectrum of colors from muted tones to vibrant accents.

Interior Design: In interior spaces, Mocha Mousse offers a calming backdrop that complements various styles, from modern to rustic. It harmonizes with soft hues like sage green and dusty rose, as well as bolder shades like burgundy and ochre, making it suitable for elements such as walls, furniture, and décor accessories.

Graphic Design: For graphic designers, Mocha Mousse provides a grounded and inviting tone, ideal for branding that seeks to convey reliability and warmth. Its neutrality ensures compatibility with diverse color palettes, enhancing both digital and print media.

“For Pantone Color of the Year 2025, we look to a mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and sensorial and comforting warmth extends further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”

Laurie Pressman – Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute

Incorporating Mocha Mousse into Your Designs

• Pairing with Other Colors: Combine Mocha Mousse with deep reds or gold accents to create a luxurious feel, or with soft blues and greens for a more tranquil ambiance.
• Textures and Materials: Utilize materials like suede, leather, or natural fibers in Mocha Mousse to add depth and tactile appeal to your designs.
• Seasonal Versatility: Mocha Mousse’s warmth makes it suitable for autumnal themes, while its softness allows for seamless integration into spring and summer palettes.

Conclusion

Embracing Mocha Mousse in your design projects can foster a sense of comfort and elegance, resonating with contemporary trends that prioritize authenticity and emotional connection.

Its versatility across various design disciplines makes it a valuable addition to any creative toolkit.

Official Pantone Website

In a world that often feels both hyperconnected and disconnected, Adobe’s 2025 Creative Trends Forecast captures the essence of what today’s consumers are craving.

It’s a fascinating mix of opposites—fantasy and reality, nostalgia and futurism, simplicity and immersion.

These trends, identified by Adobe, give us a glimpse into how art and design are shaping—and being shaped by—our collective psyche. Let’s dive into these themes and explore what they mean for creatives, brands, and anyone who loves design.

1. Fantastic Frontiers: Where Imagination Runs Wild

Have you noticed how much people are drawn to the magical and otherworldly these days? Whether it’s through fantastical movie settings or AI-generated surrealist art, there’s an undeniable pull towards the extraordinary. Adobe calls this trend “Fantastic Frontiers,” and it’s all about creating dreamlike experiences that offer an escape from the mundane.

Think of it as a response to the pressures of everyday life. After all, who wouldn’t want a moment to step into a world where gravity doesn’t exist, colors glow in unexpected ways, and imagination has no limits? Tools like generative AI are making this more accessible than ever, enabling creators to whip up visuals that feel straight out of a dream.

For brands, tapping into this trend isn’t just about visual appeal—it’s about creating an emotional refuge. Offering consumers a chance to escape, even for a moment, can be incredibly powerful.

2. Levity and Laughter: The Power of Play

Here’s something we all know deep down—life is better when we laugh. Adobe’s forecast highlights how humor continues to dominate the creative space. And it’s no surprise: studies show that funny ads stick with us longer and are far more likely to get shared. It’s the meme culture effect!

Brands are leaning into this trend big time, using clever puns, absurd scenarios, and playful designs to stand out in a crowded digital landscape. Think of those ads that make you chuckle and instantly want to share them with your friends. That’s the magic of humor—it makes us feel connected, even in a virtual space.

For creators, this trend is a call to not take things too seriously. Humor humanizes brands and creates authentic moments that resonate, making it a creative goldmine.

Explore the gallery

3. Time Warp: Nostalgia Meets Futurism

Isn’t it funny how we’re always looking back while moving forward? The “Time Warp” trend captures this perfectly, blending elements of nostalgia with futuristic aesthetics. It’s like pairing retro typography with holographic visuals—unexpected, but it works.

This trend speaks to our love for the familiar. Whether it’s the comforting vibes of 80s neon or the sleek optimism of mid-century modern, mixing past and future gives audiences a fresh perspective on the world around them. It’s like a remix of history, reimagined for today.

For brands, this is an opportunity to play with storytelling. How can you make something old feel new again? How can you give a futuristic twist to something classic? The possibilities are endless.

4. Immersive Appeal: Blurring Reality and Fantasy

Here’s where technology truly shines. “Immersive Appeal” is all about pulling people deeper into experiences through augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive design. It’s not just about seeing—it’s about feeling, touching, and engaging.

Imagine walking into a store and virtually trying on clothes before you buy them or attending a concert where holograms of your favorite artists perform right in your living room. These aren’t just futuristic fantasies—they’re happening now, and they’re reshaping how we interact with the world.

For creatives, the challenge is to push boundaries. How can you create something so immersive that people can’t help but lose themselves in it? For brands, it’s about building experiences that go beyond the screen and create genuine connections.

What Do These Trends Mean for Creatives?

Adobe’s 2025 trends paint a picture of a world that wants it all—magic and humor, nostalgia and innovation, simplicity and immersion. For creators, this is both exciting and daunting. How do you balance these contrasting desires? How do you use them to tell stories that resonate?

The key lies in understanding your audience. Are they looking for an escape, a laugh, a trip down memory lane, or a cutting-edge experience? Sometimes, they might want a bit of everything.

For brands, this is a wake-up call. Creativity isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about making people feel something.

Whether it’s the wonder of a surreal landscape, the joy of a clever joke, or the awe of stepping into a new reality, these trends remind us that emotion is at the heart of impactful design.

As we move into 2025, the lines between art, technology, and culture will continue to blur. The creative world is evolving faster than ever, and trends like these are just the beginning.

Explore the galleries at Adobe or Read the full report

Some animation can make things feel natural. Too many animations becomes distracting.

Some line spacing can help legibility. Too much hurts it.

Some alt text is contextual. Too much alt text is noise.

Some padding feels comfy. Too much padding feels exposed.

Some specificity is manageable. Too much specificity is untenable.

Some technical debt is healthy. Too much of it becomes a burden.

Some corner rounding is classy. Too much is just a circle.

Some breakpoints are fluid. Too many of them becomes adaptive.

Some margin adds breathing room. Too much margin collapses things.

Some images add context. Too many images takes a long time to download (and impacts the environment).

Some JavaScript enhances interactions. Too much becomes a bottleneck.

A font pairing creates a typographic system. Too many pairings creates a visual distraction.

Some utility classes come in handy. Too many eliminates a separation of concerns.

Some data helps make decisions. Too much data kills the vibe.

Some AI can help write the boring parts of code. Too much puts downward pressure on code quality.

Some SEO improves search ranking. Too much mutes the human voice.

Some testing provides good coverage. Too much testing requires its own maintenance.

A few colors establish a visual hierarchy. Too many establish a cognitive dissonance.

Some planning helps productivity. Too much planning creates delays.

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Striking the right balance can be tough. We don’t want cool mama bear’s porridge or hot papa’s bear porridge, but something right in the middle, like baby bear’s porridge.

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The Law of Diminishing Returns originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

For decades, Google has been the cornerstone of how we navigate the internet. Whether you’re searching for the best pizza in town or troubleshooting a tech issue, Google has been the go-to solution for nearly everyone.

But a recent WallStreet Journal article reveals a troubling trend for the search giant: younger audiences, particularly Gen Z, are skipping Google entirely in favor of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

For web designers, this shift has profound implications. It challenges how we think about search behavior, content presentation, and user expectations in an evolving digital landscape.

A Generational Shift in Search Behavior

For younger internet users, the way they interact with the digital world is fundamentally different from the habits of older generations.

Instead of typing queries into a search bar, many Gen Z users are turning to platforms where answers are integrated into visual and social content.

TikTok, for instance, has become a surprising hub for finding everything from restaurant recommendations to life hacks, with its algorithm-driven feed offering highly curated and engaging results. Similarly, Instagram’s visually driven content appeals to those seeking inspiration, advice, or entertainment.

This shift in behavior undermines Google’s traditional search model. Younger users expect immediate, personalized results often embedded in a visual and social context, whereas Google’s search experience—dominated by text-heavy links—feels increasingly outdated to this demographic.

Implications for Google’s Core Business

The decline in younger users’ reliance on Google doesn’t just impact search; it threatens the company’s core business model. Google Search drives a significant portion of the company’s revenue through advertising.

If younger audiences continue to migrate to other platforms, advertisers may follow, allocating their budgets to social media channels that better capture this coveted demographic.

This potential erosion of Google’s dominance in search has led the company to introduce new features, such as integrating generative AI into search results to offer more conversational and contextually rich answers. However, whether these adaptations will resonate with younger users remains to be seen.

Regulatory Pressures Add to the Strain

As if the challenge of shifting user behavior weren’t enough, Google is also navigating intense regulatory scrutiny. On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed antitrust actions against the company, targeting its alleged monopolistic practices.

These lawsuits could result in a significant restructuring of Google’s operations, further complicating its ability to innovate and compete effectively.

The legal battle underscores broader concerns about Big Tech’s outsized influence on markets and consumer choice.

For Google, the stakes are particularly high as its competitors—ranging from Meta to Amazon—are equally eager to claim a larger slice of the digital advertising and AI-driven services markets.

Adapting for the Future

To remain relevant in the face of these challenges, Google will need to embrace more aggressive innovation.

This might involve further integrating AI capabilities, enhancing its mobile experience, or even partnering with emerging platforms to recapture younger audiences. Additionally, Google may need to rethink its approach to advertising, ensuring its solutions remain attractive to brands seeking to engage with Gen Z.

The road ahead for Google is not without precedent. Microsoft faced a similar existential crisis in the early 2000s, when it transitioned from a software-centric company to a cloud powerhouse.

Whether Google can execute a comparable reinvention will determine its ability to stay at the forefront of the tech industry.

What This Means for Web Designers

If Google is becoming “old school,” how should web designers adapt? Here are a few takeaways:

1. Design for Visual Engagement

Web design needs to embrace more visual storytelling. Think beyond stock photos and static banners—users are drawn to short videos, animations, and interactive elements. If your site can mimic the engaging, visual-first approach of TikTok or Instagram, you’re more likely to keep users’ attention.

2. Prioritize Mobile UX

Younger users are almost exclusively mobile-first. A clunky desktop-first design isn’t just inconvenient; it’s irrelevant to how they browse. Ensure your designs are responsive, load quickly, and provide a seamless experience on smaller screens.

3. Rethink Search Interfaces

Search bars remain critical, but their presentation and functionality need an upgrade. Incorporate features like voice search, contextual suggestions, and conversational AI (similar to Google’s new generative AI initiatives). Users should feel like they’re interacting with a helpful guide, not just typing into a void.

4. Optimize for Social Platforms

It’s no longer enough to focus solely on optimizing for Google. Younger users are discovering content through TikTok, Instagram, and even Pinterest.

Designers and content creators need to think about how their work translates to these platforms—whether it’s a catchy video, a swipeable carousel, or a well-designed social ad.

For web designers, this means two things: adapting our designs to fit these platforms and reconsidering how we present information. A static website with dense blocks of text simply won’t cut it anymore.

Instead, we need to focus on creating designs that are fluid, interactive, and optimized for a social-first audience. Whether it’s integrating AI-powered personalization or adopting visual-first layouts, the goal is to stay relevant in an increasingly fragmented digital ecosystem.

Conclusion

The shift in digital habits among younger users highlights the ephemeral nature of tech dominance. What was once indispensable to one generation may become irrelevant to the next.

For Google, this reality represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a chance to evolve and redefine what search means in an age of social media and generative AI.

As regulatory battles loom and new competitors emerge, one thing is clear: the future of search—and Google itself—is being rewritten.

So, is Googling really for old people? Maybe. But if we embrace these changes in user behavior, we can design for the future—and stay ahead of the curve.

If you’ve ever owned an IKEA FRAKTA bag (yes, that iconic blue wonder that seems capable of holding your entire life), then you’ll want to check out IKEA’s latest design-inspired pop-up: the ‘Hus of FRAKTA.’

Located on London’s bustling Oxford Street, this pop-up isn’t just a retail space—it’s a celebration of the design innovation and cultural significance behind one of the most recognizable items in IKEA’s catalog.

A Design Icon Reimagined

Let’s talk about the FRAKTA bag. It’s not just a bag—it’s a symbol of IKEA’s democratic design ethos: practical, affordable, and surprisingly stylish.

With its bold blue color, durable polypropylene material, and minimalistic yet functional structure, the FRAKTA bag has been a staple for over 30 years.

It’s the ultimate in “form meets function,” designed to adapt to countless uses, from carrying groceries to serving as a laundry basket or even a plant protector (seriously, people have gotten creative!).

The ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ takes this humble design marvel and elevates it into an experience. Every corner of the pop-up is thoughtfully curated to highlight how a simple design object can inspire creativity and utility in everyday life.

Design Features to Explore at the Pop-Up

1. The Atelier: Customization Meets Craft

At the heart of the pop-up is The Atelier, a personalization station where visitors can transform their FRAKTA bags into unique design pieces.

The beauty of the FRAKTA lies in its simplicity, and this is a perfect blank canvas for creative expression. Think screen prints, patches, and embroidery—elements that allow you to make this everyday object truly your own. It’s design democratization at its finest: a high-end custom experience for just £3 (or free if you’re an IKEA Family member).

2. The FRAKTA Walk: Immersive Design Storytelling

Ever wondered what it would feel like to walk inside a FRAKTA bag? The pop-up features an immersive walkway inspired by the bag’s design. It’s playful, bold, and a bit surreal—an ode to the product’s larger-than-life status in the world of functional design.

3. Curated Collection: A Tribute to IKEA’s Best Designs

The pop-up also showcases a curated collection of IKEA products, with a focus on items that reflect FRAKTA’s bold blue aesthetic.

From the sleek RÄFFELBJÖRK vase to the versatile DOMSTEN stool, this collection highlights IKEA’s ability to balance form, function, and affordability. It’s a reminder that great design doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

Why It Works: The Genius of Simple Design

The success of the FRAKTA bag, and by extension the ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ pop-up, lies in the principles of democratic design.

At IKEA, every product is created with five pillars in mind: form, function, quality, sustainability, and affordability. The FRAKTA embodies all of these, which is why it’s such an enduring classic.

By focusing on this bag, the pop-up underscores the idea that even the simplest designs can have a profound impact. It’s a celebration of everyday objects that make life easier and better—and isn’t that what good design is all about?

A Fusion of Fashion and Function

What makes the ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ particularly exciting is how it bridges the gap between fashion and functionality.

The FRAKTA bag has already inspired countless memes, DIY hacks, and even high-fashion knockoffs (remember Balenciaga’s expensive tribute?).

By leaning into this cultural phenomenon, IKEA has created a space that’s as much about lifestyle and creativity as it is about retail.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in London, the ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ is a must-visit for anyone who loves design. It’s playful, inspiring, and a testament to the power of thoughtful design in everyday life.

And if you leave with a personalized FRAKTA bag, even better—it’s not just a shopping tote; it’s a piece of design history.

It’s that time of year again—Spotify Wrapped season is just around the corner, and this year, the streaming giant has found a new way to keep us guessing.

Instead of the usual hints, Spotify is teasing 2024 Wrapped with mysterious, cryptic logos, and the internet is buzzing with theories.

What’s Spotify Wrapped Again?

If you’ve somehow missed the Wrapped craze, here’s a quick recap: every December, Spotify drops a personalized, colorful snapshot of your music habits from the year. It tells you everything from your most-played songs and artists to the oddest hours you were up listening to your guilty pleasure tracks.

It’s a total vibe—and a major flex when you post your stats on Instagram or TikTok.

Wrapped isn’t just fun; it’s a whole cultural moment. Everyone’s sharing their playlists, tagging friends, and debating their “Top Artist” results. And now, Spotify’s teasing its 2024 edition in the most cryptic way possible.

What’s Up with These Logos?

Instead of a straightforward teaser, Spotify has dropped these wild logo designs that feel like a puzzle waiting to be cracked. They’re bold, colorful, and kind of trippy—think warped shapes, motion-inspired graphics, and colors that pop like your favorite album cover.

This year contained multitudes. So will your Wrapped. Coming Soon. #SpotifyWrapped pic.twitter.com/Po2764Ppyv

— Spotify (@Spotify) November 27, 2024

So, what’s the deal? Are these logos hinting at new Wrapped features? Maybe we’ll get more dynamic visuals or an entirely new way to interact with our year-end stats. Whatever it is, people are losing it trying to figure it out.

Fans Are ALL In

Naturally, the internet is doing what it does best—overanalyzing everything. Some think Spotify is gearing up to introduce community stats, like regional trends or playlists that show what your city’s been vibing to.

Others are hoping for AI-generated insights (think: “What song defines your 2024 energy?”). And there’s speculation about AR or 3D Wrapped experiences because those logos definitely look futuristic.

On TikTok, users are stitching videos with their predictions, while on Twitter, the theories are flying. And Reddit? Let’s just say the rabbit hole of Wrapped conspiracies runs deep.

Why This Works

Honestly, Spotify knows exactly what it’s doing. These cryptic teasers are brilliant marketing. They’ve turned a yearly recap into an event—and now, the mystery has everyone hyped. Instead of just waiting around for Wrapped, people are talking about it, guessing about it, and hyping it up even more.

This playful, design-forward approach is peak Spotify: it’s creative, engaging, and just cryptic enough to keep us on edge.

all spotify wrapped references; a thread #SpotifyWrapped pic.twitter.com/KHezxCZfiN

— vitudos (@vitudos) November 27, 2024

So, What Can We Expect?

Let’s be real—we won’t know for sure until Spotify officially drops Wrapped, but the teaser logos definitely suggest some exciting updates. Whether it’s next-level visuals, interactive features, or entirely new ways to relive your year in music, one thing’s for sure: Wrapped 2024 is going to hit differently.

In the meantime, why not revisit your favorite songs and playlists from this year? Who knows—your 3 a.m. summer anthem might just become your top track.

Keep your eyes on Spotify’s socials, and get ready to wrap up 2024 in style!