Color Signals 2025, Story 2
Story #2 of the Color Signals 2025 forecast is Keep it Real, Light it Up. This is only one of the four stories that were created to bring the 2025 forecast to life. Contact me if you would like to see the full report, at no cost, or if you would like to pursue a forecast for 2026-27. 2027 is already on the radar as it should be for most product and marketing planning right now.
Trend forecasting is an ongoing process and while there are seasons for forecasting events like Color Marketing Group’s ChromaZone workshops, my process continues all year long. As any forecaster will tell you, we are watching, listening and capturing the insights all of the time. I have a framework of historical influences and drivers for color/material/finish trends and that is the touchstone for ongoing observation and tracking. Most of the work is industry-inclusive, meaning I don’t limit it to any particular client or product. Once the basic bones of the forecast for the year are pulled together it can then be tailored to my client. These insights are not the directive for palette development but they are integral to understanding the end consumer and their future purchasing behavior.
NEW CITIZEN
As we move into 2025, the lines between physical and digital are no longer just blurred—they are redefined. Immersive technology and AI are pushing us into new realities, where trust and distrust exist in the same breath. Gen Z, a generation born into digital fluency, is demanding transparency, ownership, and inclusion. They are shaping the conversation, questioning who controls the narrative, and rewriting the rules of engagement in an AI-powered world.
We are witnessing a push-pull dynamic: a desire for hyper-connectivity paired with an urgent need for authenticity. We crave the infinite possibilities of technology but demand the human element within it. Keep it Real, Light it Up is about embracing the digital glow while staying grounded in what’s real. It’s about finding balance—leveraging tech without losing touch with humanity.
Color Direction
COLOR DIRECTION
This color palette reflects our dual existence—where digital and physical collide. Colors feel illuminated, weightless, and hyperreal, yet maintain a sense of warmth and tactility.
• Holographic pastels and diffused neons—symbolizing the glow of screens, AR, and immersive tech.
• Soft synthetic tones that feel almost touchable, creating a bridge between artificial and organic.
• Deep, anchored hues that restore balance and trust in an overstimulated world.
• Luminous metallics and shimmering sheens that hint at AI’s omnipresence and digital transformation.
Consumer Goods
Fashion
Home Interiors
APPLICATION POSSIBILITIES
Consumer Goods
Tech & Wearables: Softly iridescent finishes on gadgets, with muted, futuristic pastels for accessories like phone cases, headphones, and eyewear.
Beauty & Skincare: Luminescent packaging with holographic elements. Products featuring color-adapting technology, reflecting the hyperreal, ever-evolving digital world.
Automotive & Accessories: Metallics and gradient sheens for cars, bicycles, and personal transport, mimicking digital reflections and light diffusion.
Fashion
Apparel: Hyperreal colors with fabrications that shift and reflect light—think iridescent satins, high-shine finishes, and tech-enhanced textiles. Soft synthetic pastels balance the high-energy digital brights.
Footwear & Accessories: Translucent materials, gradient dyes, and high-gloss metallics will dominate. Expect sneakers and bags that look almost otherworldly, with AI-driven customization.
Streetwear & Activewear: Digitally inspired color blocking, augmented by reflective and glow-in-the-dark details, creating a futuristic-meets-functional aesthetic.
Home Interiors
Paint & Walls: Light-infused hues used to create soft, glowing effects, with matte finishes that still capture an almost surreal depth.
Furniture & Decor: A mix of sleek, high-shine surfaces and plush, textured fabrics. Think digitally inspired colors applied to sculptural furniture pieces.
Lighting: Neon glows, LED-infused furniture, and color-shifting smart lighting that adapts to mood and function, creating an immersive space.
Textiles & Materials: Synthetic-feel textiles that appear ultra-soft to the touch, juxtaposed with metallic finishes in furniture, fixtures, and accents.
This is only one of the four stories that were created to bring the 2025 forecast to life. Contact me if you would like to see the full report, at no cost, or if you would like to pursue a forecast for 2026-27. 2027 is already on the radar as it should be for most product and marketing planning right now.
