2025 Design Trend Predictions: The Aesthetics you’re about to see Everywhere Next Year

The time has come again to grant you with our yearly trend prediction report for branding, marketing and entrepreneurship. Last year’s predictions were a huge hit so many of you messaged to let us know where you saw these trends materialize in real life. So let’s get into it…

LOOKING BACK: OUR 2024

Q1 2024 The Bingo Card seen ‘round the world. In the first week of 2024, we accidentally started a BINGO craze, posing our goal setting Bingo Card on TikTok (1M views) and Instagram (800k views). So many of you purchased the Canva template and made your own versions that we offered our first ever accountability mastermind for 12 lucky applicants. We’ve met each month all year to share our goals, celebrate our wins and gameplan our challenges. Want to play in 2025?

Q2 2024 Spring gave us Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter and Taylor Swift’s double album The Tortured Poets Department, the latter of which inspired our viral merch drop for Dental Hygiene Nation’s Tortured Dental Department. Followed shortly thereafter by Sarbrina Carpenter’s song(s) of the summer Espresso and Please, Please, Please.

Q3 2024 Not long after, summer Olympics madness was underway in Paris, France (listen to: Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast ep. 173 Olympics Predictions) and stand out stars like Ilona Maher caught our eye and captured our hearts. Brat Summer was in full effect thanks to Charli XCX, whose neon green aesthetic was quickly co-opted by the Kamala Harris social team, who let memes flow faster than coconut water.

Q4 2024 The year rounded out with an anxiety-inducing Presidential Election that proved just how segmented our media sources have become, and how much Podcasts are as important as ever for reaching voting age audiences. Simultaneously, we were ‘holding space for the lyrics of defying gravity’ in anticipation for the record smashing musical-to-movie adaptation of Wicked starring Arianna Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

TREND 1: SERVING HUNT 🪵🌲🫎

I WISH I could take full credit for the name of this upcoming trend but in truth I found it from the comment section of this incredible video of @marksebastianf doing a fashion show through Bass Pro Shops. HOWEVER, it doesn’t negate the fact that I think we’ll see a full lean into this aesthetic in 2025, but not in the way you’re thinking.

The aftermath of the 2024 election & the reality of another Trump precedency left a lot of biiiiig lessons and possible paths for trend predictions (listen to: Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast ep. 186 Branding Lessons from Presidential Campaigns).

In 2025, get ready to see more women, LGBTQ, and minorities occupy conservative spaces and reclaim them. We saw this first with the Old Money aesthetic (very Lily Par, very Sistered States), & how that look brought people besides straight white men  into golf, tennis, pickleball and other country club sports. Then, the Trad Wife phenomenon and Ballerina Farms expose doubled down on the festish-ization of regressive conservative values, where straight white men stay at the top of the socio-economic food chain, excluding everyone else (especially childless cat ladies) from the possibilities of achieving the same.

Imagine the script is flipped (much like the #womeninmalefields trend). We’ve spent so long as a culture creating safe spaces for people who have felt othered (which should remain!) but imagine if strongholds of conservative culture became places for the girls, gays and theys to thrive. We’ve seen this happen already as more Women and LGBTQ+ people take up guns after Trump’s win: ‘We need to protect ourselves’ and creators like @tacticoolgirlfriend, a trans gun influencer & educator bucks all stereotypes of gun ownership.  While I’ll NEVER be an advocate for guns, I will always support ethical, safe, practical gun education and regulation for all.

When I envision the origins of this Serving Hunt trend, I go back to the Tyler Mitchell 2020 Vogue cover of Harry Styles in a dress – which sparked major backlash from many (including hyper-conservative mouthpiece Candace Owens). But what those images gave us was a way to challenge gender norms and make traditionalists uncomfy.

From there – we pick up  Chappel Roan in 2024 with her instantly iconic album Rise and Fall of the Midwest Princess – destined to be Spotify Wrapped Hall of Fame hits thanks to queer themed heartbreak ballads and earwormy pop anthems complimented with Camo Hunting hat later to be parodied? Copied? by the Harris Walz Team. Chappel has continued to wear the Bass Pro Shops-esque camo patterns in her campy glam way and so has her fellow indie pop comrade Remi Wolf with her own version “sexy villain” camo merch.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN = Think camo prints (read up on the History of Hunting Camouflage here), neon orange, tactical gear, antlers, utility pockets, plaid, boots, camping, fishing. Color palettes will be earthy, muddy, ochre-y, amber-y earth tones with pops of neon and sparkle. This trend relies deeply on pattern (plaid, tartan, houndstooth) and texture (wood, stone, wool, steel, clay, twine). You’ll find fonts that use an older rustic sign painter style lettering with a scottish/english pub feel AND/OR simplistic nostalgia for workwear brand aesthetics like Levi, Carhartt, Wrangler, Dickies, etc. that could be rendered as back pocket insignias.     

PHOTO & VIDEO = The photo and video style for Serving Hunt is based in rustic, moody, outdoorsy scenes with plenty of grungy texture which offsets the obvious sarcasm of the message. Think set design for Chappel Roan’s SNL Performance She Gets the Job Done. Almost all the subjects of these scenes play on obvious androgyny, gender-bending and disturbing conservative norms (think iconic drag queen Pattie Gonia). 

PRINT, OOH & IN-PERSON = In the apparel space, this trend could slip right in with the impending catalog renaissance, after brands like Amazon and JCrew saw success with real, printed catalogues in mailboxes in 2024. (Read: The Triumphant return of Physical Catalogues). In person events like gun safety classes, hunting weekends, mountain retreats, and shooting range outings might become more popular with the young & restless. Brands might also create more bandanas, patches, and hand tools to hinge on this theme. (Peek at our Pearly Whites Ranch theme box we designed for Dental Hygiene Nation). 

FASHION & CULTURE = Vivienne Westwood is the classic player in plaid (as seen most recently on Taylor Swift’s fits and possibly her lost album aesthetic?). Other high fashion notables in this category: Thom Browne SS 2025 & Chloe SS 2025. On a consumer level: Boys Lie, This camo purse, LL Bean, (remember 2023 and 2024’s What is the Ironic Boat Tote Trend?) and even Abercrombie & Fitch dropping their own Hunting Camo hoodie. As a continuation of 2024 – the Carhartt Barn Jacket and other blue collar workwear (Read: What’s Behind the Rise of the Barn Jacket?)

This hunting aesthetic could lean more english/scottish huntsmen when you consider that Outlander gets a new & final season in 2025. Same network Starz also greenlit another book turned series project called The Hunting Wives in 2025 which features a female protagonist who moves from the big city to small town Texas and takes up shooting with fellow socialites that leads to “obsession, seduction, and murder.”

Brands that should do this soon:

Food Packaging trends that are adjacent to hunting gear like 2024’s Snackle Boxes. Hunting snack alternatives like Vegan Jerky could shake things up with a woodsy makeover. Unisex Fashion brands wanting to play in a new aesthetic playground could embrace a more outdoorsman upset. Alcohol brands that have previously not catered to the female, minority, or LGBTQ audience (scotch, whiskey, beer, etc) could use this aesthetic to connect audiences they haven’t before.

TREND 2: CRAFTED COMEBACK 🧵🌸🧺

Not to make it political AGAIN, but here we are – Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported goods have the potential to drastically increase the cost of living for just about everyone and everything. So much so that Small Businesses are Scrambling to Buffer against Inevitable Price Hikes. If everything imported becomes more expensive, and supplies for small businesses become more expensive, we can anticipate a revival of the craft/upcycle/recycle scene & it’s corresponding aesthetic simply because Americans won’t be able to afford new things and instead will rework what they already own.

When we look back at American history there’s a strong correlation between economic inflation and craft-core. Three time periods come to the forefront:

1. Oil Crisis of 1973 and Stagflation (high inflation paired with stagnant economic growth), made many people look for more economical ways to obtain goods and simultaneously express themselves creatively. DIY became not only a method of saving money but also a practical necessity for many families. Coincidentally, 1973 brought us the chronicles of  DIY Craft Queen Martha Stewart’s Turkey Hill Home, as shown in great detail in Netflix’s Martha. Magazines, books, and television shows in the 1970s taught ways to live frugally and meaningfully with less.

2. There was another notable craft revival during 2008’s Great Recession when economic hardship led to a surge in up-cycle and handmade craft culture (For Craft Sales, the Recession is a Help). Etsy, which was founded in 2005 exploded during the recession as a way for buyers to connect with makers of handmade and homemade goods that were unique, affordable and personal which in turn helped support independent artists (How I Built This: Etsy).

3. This spilled into the Pandemic Crafting Boom in 2020 – when crafts became a mental distraction from the solitude of quarantine. Many of us picked up new hobbies simply because we had the time to – knitting, crocheting, quilting, painting, drawing, even sourdough bread making. 

In 2025, crafting (even upcycling thrift finds or Junk Journaling) becomes a response to over-consumerism (see Underconsumption Core) and an effort to bring sustainability to the forefront. The wastefulness of fast fashion and other consumer industries has a profound impact on the planet, especially climate change. Upcycling and crafting give new life to otherwise discarded items. Craft items also thrive on imperfection, collaboration, and the joy of making something instead of having stuff for stuff’s sake.

To get us into a Crafted Comeback aesthetic mindset, I first go to textiles and softness like @amberm.jensen’s woven looms and artful visible mending. Pinterest is reporting a huge uptick in craft related queries with small bead bracelet ideas +2000% and crochet bow bag +975% in fall of 2024. Credit where credit is due – Taylor Swift might have some influence here as well considering how much her friendship bracelets adorned the Eras Tour-goers. So raid your junk drawers, locate your needle and thread, and start stitching…

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN = A Crafting Comeback aesthetic in branding and design is a continuation of some popular 2024 design styles: funky pastels and garden adjacent color palettes, hand drawn and imperfect or intricate letterforms (see: @rosysignco), floral motifs, checkered and gingham patterns, ruffles, raffia, and yarn. This trend is about leaning into the eclectic collector’s drawer of treasures and putting any combination of little tchotchskies together to make something new. (Listen here: Kiss My Aesthetic Pdocast ep. 152 with Miniaturist Chelsea Makes). Craft core design is supposed to be intricate, layered, textured, and detailed. 

PHOTO & VIDEO = Photography and videography that emulate this crafty style will be derivatives of many forms of mixed media - drawings, sketches, video, animation, GIF, etc. Check out videos like  @elena_tea’s art journal layered over travel video clips or @imdaniellin’s tiktok process. Crafty photos and videos are visually maximalist, leaving no surface uncovered. Better yet, digital collages as launched by Pinterest’s Shuffles App launched in 2022 could become popular again (see: Everything you need to know about Shuffles App) which becomes an easy way to make dynamic visual content. Don’t be surprised if you see a 2025 version of The New Martha Stewart in all forms of media. Think Meredith Hayden’s Wishbone Kitchen, Brittany Jepsen’s @houselarsbuilt, and Kelly Mindell of Studio DIY and how they might serial-ize their content on their own channels to further cement themselves in the crafty hall of fame. 

PRINT, OOH & IN-PERSON = Since craft is about the tactile, anticipate that brands that use the craft aesthetic embrace physical print as well. These brands exist beyond the screen, and they’ll find every chance to push the materiality of their offerings (think stickers, patches, hand written note cards (like this restaurant that gives you a pen and card at the end of your meal to write a letter to send to yourself in 1 years time), embroidery, screenprinting, etc). A Crafted Comeback movement would leverage in-person events like craft workshops, community nights, makers markets, and barter options over traditional exchange of money for goods and services. Heck, crafting circles could also be the antidote to the dating app (Read: Gen Z’s new go-to NYC date night mixes booze with crafts, eliminating ‘awkward’ hangouts with activities, art and ‘liquid courage’).

FASHION & CULTURE = Alongside arts and crafts movements are arts and craft interior design & fashion aesthetics, which reject the machine made in favor of something maximal and ornate. Creator @milatextiles crafts exquisite hand embroidered ties, bags, hats, and more. Clothing rentals have also gained in popularity in recent years with services like Nuuly (with over 300k subscribers), Rent the Runway and others becoming a more practical option for swapping wardrobes. Nuuly is also launching a thrift option as part of their business model as a way of liquidating final sale clothing. The secondhand apparel market is predicted to reach $264 Billion in 2025 and rising. Reselling can also be an income generator for many, like this 22 year old who made nearly $100k from selling on Depop. Additionally, there are plenty of brands that are doing maximalist craft aesthetic… to the max.  The eye-bogglingly beautiful @villa.palladio.jaipur leaves no surface uncovered, similar to how fashion brands Farm Rio, La Double J, and @Ahluwalia whose SS 2025 runway featured pieces made of doilies. 

Brands that should do this soon: Brands that could benefit from craft-inspired rebrands would be the ones that lost their human-ness along the way. Dating apps come to mind as something that is so deeply personal that’s become algorithm-ed and impersonal. A Craft Comeback is also a way for artists to showcase their craftsmanship. Bring us more carpenters, ceramicists, textile artists, blacksmiths and leathersmiths in 2025. A craft resurgence could also lead to craft beer, craft coffee, craft everything but DIY at home a la hipster/tumblr era of the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. The thriftier we get, the more at home recipes for food, cosmetics, and other household items may rise – and the creators that can teach and educate others will gain major traction. Tech apps that celebrate independent artists and resellers like Pinterest, Etsy, Depop, Poshmark and others might also see a rise in popularity, which could lead developers to create competitive apps and platforms.

TREND 3: DO NOT DISTRUB DELUXE 🧘☁️🏛️

Doomscroll. Push Notifications. Group texts. Screen time. Eyestrain. Tech Neck. Like all addictions, the side effects of too much tech are taking a toll on our bodies, our minds, and our mental health so much so that Travelers are going to Extreme Lengths to Avoid Scrolling. The ultimate luxury in 2025? Turning it all off and going off the grid.

According to a recent study, adults check their phones an average of 58 times per day (way more if you’re an entrepreneur or social media manager) and 1 in 3 americans believe they spend too much time on their smartphones with 68% of people polled believing that too much screentime has led to a decline in their mental health. The antidote to this addiction might be sending yourself to tech rehab. Tech-free Trips Are on the Rise — From Hotels With No Wi-Fi to Multiday Retreats With No Phones Allowed  and Wellness Getaways Are Poised to Dominate Travel Trends in 2025. Although the American Psychiatric Association does not consider phone addiction a medical condition (yet), it wouldn’t be a far stretch to think that this could happen in 2025 and that more and more adults will turn to the travel industry to help them break the vicious screen time cycle & reset their nasty habits.

Medical tourism is not necessarily new (european elites in the Renaissance traveled great distances to enjoy healing properties of roman baths) but it saw a resurgence during COVID as healthcare costs increased and quality of care declined. More than 2 million Americans travel abroad for medical tourism every year and cite the cost of that care as being significantly cheaper than what they can find at home. Global medical tourism as an industry is set to reach $112 Billion by 2030 so it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that it will continue to grow in 2025.

For those who can afford to get a break from their devices, a Do Not Disturb trip could go very deluxe in 2025. Hospitality brands that already do this exceedingly well (for a high price point) already are Six Senses Hotels which allow you to enroll in Sleep Wellness Programs while staying on property, Aman Wellness Immersions, and Canyon Ranch’s Wellness reset programming.

Expect to see the Roman Bathhouse concept take off in 2025 with brands like Aire Ancient Baths gaining in popularity as phoneless places for relaxation. The bio-hacky Andrew Huberman and Peter Atilla worshippers could be responsible for why Oregon’s Sauna Scene Has Never Been Better. Across the pond, Auberge Resorts to land in London in 2025 with two-floor spa inspired by Roman bathing and most of the 25 Dazzling New Luxury Hotels Opening In 2025 will have wellness offerings.

Although wearable tech is still on the rise, companies like Oura Ring and Whoop that don’t have a screen display, and Yondr which allow you to offer screen-free experiences by placing smartphones in lockable neoprene pouches could gain in popularity as well.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN = Pinterest reports an uptick in serene color palettes (+110%) so you can expect brands embracing this trend to zen out neutrals, beiges, and textures like bronze, silver, water, stone, tile, earth, ceramic, marble. The Do Not Disturb aesthetic is biophilic in its design but also pulls inspiration from greco roman antiquities like statues, columns, baths, domes, and arches. Fonts and logo marks are clean, leaving lots of negative space to ‘breathe’ around them and corresponding linework and illustration are measured, symmetrical, methodical and pleasing to the eye. 

PHOTO & VIDEO = Photography and videography for a Do Not Disturb Deluxe aesthetic carry on the same themes of symmetry, purity, simplicity and stillness. There are no quick cuts, special effects, or harsh color edits but instead low contrast, slow motion, smooth camera maneuvers and an airiness that feels like floating among the clouds.

PRINT, OOH & IN-PERSON = To feel elevated and luxurious, print materials feature minimalist layouts and matte textures. These brands will find ways to take everything that we used our phones for and make them analog again – Wellness Journals, sketchbooks, written agendas, soundscapes, and reflective natural surroundings to look inward instead of onscreen in moments of boredom. In person wellness workshops ranging from yoga and meditation, to sleep and even silent retreats for the super hard core (Read: I went to a 7 Day Silent Meditation Retreat – Here’s what I learned).

FASHION & CULTURE = The wanderlust for being phone-less might hit an all time peak as  White Lotus Season 3 kicks off in 2025, set in Thailand and reprising spa owner Belinda as a connecting character from Season 1. Themes of wellness, relaxation, and luxury minimalism are evident in brands like Loro Piana which is known for its world class cashmere, vicuna and fine wools. Fragrance forward brands like Aesop, Necessaire, and OUAI are masterful at this look and feel.

Brands that should do this soon: 

Brands that should embrace a Do Not Disturb approach in 2025 would most obviously be the travel industry and travel creators (like Jetset Christina, Trusted Travel Girl). From large chains, to boutique finds, to luxe airbnb’s (like what we designed for Piano C) tech-free wellness experiences could be an absolute upsell for the traveler who is not interested in uploading 45 instagram stories daily. Social media apps could take note, by introducing more features that encourage healthy limits and boundaries with their tech and more devices could opt to be ‘dumb’ over ‘smart’ with less screen functionality. Event planners, communities and corporate retreat companies (like So Diego, Same Skin, With the Blinks and Bad Bitch Book Club) could create opportunities for connection sans phones. Lastly, fitness and wellness professionals can start to offer mindfulness and wellness options that encourage DND like In Light Hyperbarics various modalities for better healing.

TREND 4: MONUMENT OR MAKE-BELIEVE 🏢👛🎈

Now it wouldn’t be a trend report without touching artificial intelligence and augmented reality. In fact, I would be shocked to not see some variation of this in every 2025 trend prediction published here on the internet.

Our team’s first foray into AI image generation was back in 2021 for the San Diego Open “tennis taking over SD” campaign thanks to insights gained from my conversation with @thebemusedstudio on the Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast (listen: KMA Ep 117). Lauren has since returned to the podcast (KMA Ep 133 and KMA Ep 162) to teach us about the advancements of all the different apps and programming that can be utilized to make your visions come to life, blending reality with make-believe. In 2024, we used AI in just about every single branding project – from creating stock imagery, to GIFs, to video and more. Using these tools has helped us help our clients by showing them possibilities that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to create. See FRG’s Announcement Teaser, In Light Hyperbarics Videos, Dental Hygiene Nation Fictitious Chateau, and Morgan Eckroth’s Personal Rebrand. 

And the world’s biggest brands have been cashing in on this ability for a while now… suspending disbelief for just a moment - employing tromp l’oiel like scenes with cartoonishly oversized versions of their signature products in major cities around the world. One of the first to do it and do it well was Jacquemus back in 2023, with their driving bags through Paris, or Maybeline’s mascara tube on the tube video. While some consumers are annoyed by this type of content for ‘tricking them’, I think in 2025 we’ll see brands turn these comically gargantuan faux brand applications practical.

In fact, some already have. Ahead of the Eras Tour coming to Vancouver, the BC Place stadium added mammoth bracelets around their venue. On New York City’s famous 5th Ave and Paris’ iconic Champs Elyses, Louis Vuitton has sheathed their storefronts in their signature suitcase motif, complete with latch closures and handles. Also in NYC – the Highline Pigeon nests itself as another example of larger than life proportions. The hot new bombshell on the Las Vegas strip, the Sphere brings a 360 approach to the possibilities of brand advertisement. As we continue on into 2025, don’t be surprised if you all of a sudden feel like you’ve walked into a scene from “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.”

Generative AI gives businesses of all size the chance to flex their creative muscles and push the limits of what’s possible for giant brand installations. Although not practical in all instances, we predict that more brands will be able to use these tools to green light their vision for gargantuan practical builds in ways that evoke genuine shock and awe from spectacle seekers. Take the Wicked movie for example. Instead of using CGI sets, Director John M Chu had Shiz University, Munchkinland, Oz, and the Emerald City train built practically… an incredible feat for film making and a factoid that had audiences reeling for more

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN = In branding, expect to see more companies play with texture, size and scale. Like artists Christo & Jeanne Claude’s fabric wrap installation art from the 60’s and 70’s more brands will take creative licence to drench your most notable landmarks in their brand colors, fonts, styles, patterns and motifs. Creative Directors will seek out ways to make their brands’ products larger than life in commercial displays, pop ups, and in person experiences. Generative AI apps like Adobe Firefly and Krea allow users to create believable logo illusions that mimic real world textures, adding depth to digital design work like this reel of the Burberry Logo on different textures. What’s most important here is the consistency between what you’re making and the world your brand operates in… resist the urge to make something just because it looks cool, but because it contributes to the brand storytelling at large. 

PHOTO & VIDEO = Photographers, videographers and other content creators will play with proportions too, like @vine.fits who creates collages of their OOTDs unlike anyone else. Artists like Refik Anadol and @alva.skog have incorporated AI into their working process creating pieces assisted or entirely created by machine. AI assisted video is also growing at lightning speed and giving creators more ways to delight and surprise. We anticipate that this will lead to more brands experimenting with unexpected animation similar to this @ladoublej animation, this one from @hermes, many of the eyecatching architectural animations from @chinmayakotian or the absolute masterpieces coming out of @sucukundbratwurst. @jadkassis’s Adobe Firefly tutorials are a great place to start if you’re looking at achieve this kind of look for your brand.

PRINT, OOH & IN-PERSON = This trend takes over in 2025 when brands that have the funds to do so, make these gigantic installations happen. Putting the consumer within the context of the brand world being built allows for a heightened experience of the product at play and will continue to break barriers of traditional 2D advertising.

FASHION & CULTURE = Comically large and exaggerated features will remain at the forefront if we follow the lead of December’s 2024 Marc Jacobs led cover of Vogue featuring Kaia Gerber in cartoonishly exaggerated accessories and enhancements. In fact, the entire Marc Jacobs collection follows suit, showing uncanny proportions for clothing and accessories. As mentioned previously, almost all of the major fashion houses have attempted their take on larger than life marketing… but 2025 let’s see them put their money where their mouth is and make them real. 

Brands that should do this soon: Although exciting, the rapid changes with AI cause a decent amount of ethical, environmental and private security concerns. Cyber security hacks, personal identity biometrics, and digital exploitation (see Donald Trump’s AI Taylor Swift endorsement) are all on the docket for deep discussion and legislation in the new year (listen: Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast episode 168 with Claire Xue). There seems to be a lot of work to be done in the education space around AI, VR and AR. The first online educators that can create a comprehensive AI Media Literacy course in 2025 will make bank. Other businesses that could thrive in 2025 are installation artists, muralists, sculptors, and set designers who have the opportunity to meet the market needs by bringing those visions to life in visual merchandising, sculptural installation and event design.

IN CONCULSIOOONN…

These are just a select few trends and themes we’re anticipating in the new year, but by no means is this everything. I’ll be keeping this Pinterest board active with more sub aesthetics and trends as they come across my desk. The main takeaways being these consistent threads:

• DO lean into transformation and take creative risks that challenge the norm. Is your brand ready to embrace a bolder, more inclusive version of itself? Can you take traditionally exclusive aesthetics and make them a place where everyone belongs? The spirit of 2025 is all about reclamation and ingenuity…this is your invitation to be a part of it.

• DON’T shy away from materiality and human tactility. Whether it’s rugged camo, serene wellness textures, or elaborate handcrafted details, 2025 is a year to explore the physical, tangible side of branding and to bring your designs into the real world in a meaningful way, large or small.

If you made it all the way to the end of this blog post, you deserve all the accolades for staying curious and connected to what's next. Stay tuned for the accompanying podcast on Kiss My Aesthetic, which you can listen to anywhere you find your podcasts OR tune in on YouTube. You can also find @mkwcreative.co on TikTok and Instagram.

Ready to implement one of these trends for your brand in 2025? Let's make magic together.

Case Study: MKW Creative Co. for the San Diego Open Tennis Tournament

Imagine the vibrant scene of San Diego, alive with the energy of tennis enthusiasts and local businesses excited for the debut of the San Diego Open. In need of marketing support, this collaborative project began in 2021 when we joined forces with Katharine LiMandri and Troy Morrison of Torrey Pines Marketing to craft event branding, social media strategy, signage, and on-site event activations for this prestigious men’s and women’s tennis tournament.

Now, three years later, we’re ready to share the thrilling tale of growth, innovation, and collaboration that marked our partnership with San Diego Open. Get ready to make a racquet as we unpack every design detail!

Year 1: Setting the Stage with the 2022 San Diego Open

Our journey kicked off as we dove headfirst into the vibrant world of San Diego Open. With Katharine by our side, we set out to create a visual identity that screamed San Diego from every angle. Think 90s influences, bright colors, bold designs, and an unmistakable sense of coastal charm.

With the vision firmly in place, it was all hands on deck as we brought the brand to life across every platform imaginable. Our team created all the print, digital, and social media assets to promote the 9-day ATP250 tournament from September 17-25, 2022, and the 9-day WTA500 tournament from October 8-16, 2022. From eye-catching print materials to engaging digital assets to captivating social media content, our goal was simple: make San Diego Open the talk of the town. And boy, did we deliver.

WHAT WE DID

BRANDING & CREATIVE DIRECTION

• Full branding identity, including logos, color suite, font suit, and supporting illustrations

• Print & banner design

• Custom merch designs

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

• Teaser visuals

• Player lineup hype videos

• Amenity calendars

• Player cards

• Quote graphics

• Custom face filters

• On-site, real-time content production

At this time, San Diego Open was undoubtedly one of the biggest projects my team had ever worked on. From branding to social and on-site content creation over the course of two tournaments, it flexed our creative muscles. You can learn more about the behind-the-scenes strategy, planning, and execution of all things 2022 San Diego Open by tuning into the Kiss My Aesthetic podcast Ep. 96 Client Case Study San Diego Open with Katharine LiMandri wherever you get your podcasts.

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Year 2: Building Momentum with Cymbiotika for the 2023 San Diego Open

We were ready to kick things up a notch as year two approached. Enter presenting sponsor Cymbiotika, who brought a fresh wave of energy and inspiration to the table. With their support, we set out to reinvent the San Diego Open experience and take it to new heights.

Drawing inspiration from Cymbiotika's serene aesthetics and the vibrant spirit of San Diego, we embark on a creative journey unlike any other. From sleek event signage to dynamic digital marketing materials, every aspect of the brand got a makeover with updated logos, colors, fonts, styles, signage, banners, videos, merch, social media, and more for the 6-day WTA500 tournament from September 11-16, 2023, elevating the tennis aesthetic to be on par with a Wimbledon or US Open (shoot high, right?).

WHAT WE DID

REBRANDING & CREATIVE DIRECTION

• Full branding identity, including logos, color suite, font suit, and supporting illustrations

• Print & banner design

• Custom merch designs

VIP BRAND ACTIVATIONS

• Revamped VIP area into an Instagram-worthy, luxurious oasis

• Blended Cymbiotika’s brand elements with San Diego’s iconic imagery

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

• AI-generated graphics

• “Tennis is Taking Over” campaign

• Tennis players as Barbies concept

• San Diego coastal concept

• Tennis billboard reels

• Ticket sales announcements

• Player lineup hype videos

• VIP experience flyers

• Player cards

• Event calendars

• Order of play schedules

• Can’t miss match graphics

• Farewell graphics

• On-site, real-time content production

From rebranding a past portfolio project to welcoming AI technology in our design process, the 2023 San Diego Open project was one for the books. You can learn more about the behind-the-scenes strategy, planning, and execution of all things 2023 San Diego Open by tuning into the Kiss My Aesthetic podcast Ep. 126 2023 Cymbiotika San Diego Open with Ryan Redondo wherever you get your podcasts.

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YEAR 3: Meme Marketing was the MVP of the 2024 San Diego Open

In year 3, our 2022 rebrand identity was still in play, and we entered the project with aesthetic consistency. However, we faced a Herculean task: to elevate San Diego Open’s marketing prowess with an extremely limited budget and tight turnaround. With ingenuity as our compass, we crafted a marketing campaign that defied expectations and set pulses racing through meme marketing, using quick, trend-responsive content and AI graphics. 

Leveraging the power of meme marketing, our “Tennis is for Lovers” campaign took our social community by storm, transforming ordinary tennis balls into Valentine’s Day or love-related motifs. From viral memes to witty captions, each post was a hit, drawing fans into the San Diego Open's orbit.

WHAT WE DID

DESIGN & CREATIVE DIRECTION

• Limited edition merch suite & merch shop

• Print & digital flier design

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

• AI-generated graphics

• “Tennis is For Lovers” campaign

• Player graphics

• Player lineup hype videos

• Giveaway planning & execution

• Taylor x Travis merch campaign

• Cheeky tennis memes

• Real-time Super Bowl-responsive content creation

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Off-court Conclusion

And there you have it: the dynamic eras of San Diego Open. From setting the stage with a bold visual identity to building momentum with strategic partnerships and innovative activations, our journey with San Diego Open is a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and community. As we look ahead, we're excited to continue pushing boundaries, breaking new ground, and creating unforgettable experiences for our clients and their audiences! Which tennis era was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

New to MKWCC?

MKW Creative Co. started back in 2014 with not much more than a laptop and two very encouraging parents saying, “hey, try it!” Since then, the business has taken many shapes and forms, but the vision and dream have always stayed true — helping build brag-worthy brands that people are proud to be a part of and founders are proud to share with the world.

According to 966k+ Views on TikTok, Leveling Up Your Goal-Setting Game with Our Bingo Goals Template Is "In"

As we kick-start the new year, there's a familiar buzz in the air. New resolutions, new goals, new dreams. But how do you intend to tackle your goal-setting game this year? Do you have a game plan? A strategy? If not, it's time to level up your game. Picture this: your goals but in a game of bingo. Suddenly, you're not just writing down your aspirations for the new year, you're crafting a vibrant, interactive vision board. Instead of vague goals, you have clear objectives mapped out in a grid, ready to be crossed off one by one. Sounds fun, right? I thought so, too.

ICYMI: Bingo Cards > Vision Boards

About a week ago, I posted a video sharing that my team and I used an unconventional goal-setting strategy and made bingo cards (rather than a traditional list or vision board).

Instead of our typical team meeting, we brainstormed a list of our 2024 goals for our agency, from dream clients and branding projects to professional accolades to marketing milestones – together. Then, each team member used our collective goals list to fill in their bingo card, placing each goal in a unique spot. We discussed that the first person to make a bingo should win a prize (spa service, anyone??)

In under 24 hours, our video proclaiming "bingo cards > vision boards" reached 500k views and 800 saves on Tiktok, as well as a bunch of requests to make it into an editable Canva template...so I did! Fully customizable to accommodate your brand and aesthetic, our template is ready to help you knock off those 2024 goals.

Quick View

2024 Goals Bingo Canva Template

$2.24

From a "1-Mil Views on TikTok" Goal to the Road to Crossing Off our First Goal!!!

Our bingo card video may have started at just under 500k TikTok views and 50k Instagram views on day one, but now, just under two weeks later, we're sitting at 966k views and 17.4k saves on TikTok, 750k views on Instagram, and just under 350 Canva template sales.

Feel-good vanity metrics aside, it's incredible that our bingo video might also be our first TikTok to reach 1 million views, crossing off our first bingo square! It's a timely reminder that the day-to-day moments that feel small, mundane, or ordinary to you or someone else's content cup of tea.

The support for our goal-setting strategy and collective excitement towards shaking up the new year planning process goes beyond our one milly goal. Overflowing comments across Instagram, TikTok, and Threads were just the beginning, as articles like Smart Mommy's A TikToker Put Her New Year’s Resolutions On A Bingo Card, & It’s So Smart and Upworthy's Work team puts their New Year's resolutions on bingo cards, and it's a genius idea highlight that our idea has transcended our branding and marketing bubble.

Setting Up Your Goal-Setting Bingo

Ready to play? Step one is the bingo card itself. No need to design and sketch one out yourself; you can use my template. 

Instead of the usual numbers, you'll populate the bingo card with twenty-four aspirations for 2024. Whether you're a solopreneur or an agency, keep your goals succinct. The middle slot could either be a free space or filled with a goal that you are confident of achieving. Feel free to jumble up their placement on the card (especially if you're playing with others). The idea here is to strike a balance between easy-to-achieve and challenging goals. 

Now, it's showtime! With your bingo card in hand, it's time to work on crushing your goals throughout the year, crossing out each completed square as you go. 

As squares on your bingo card start filling up with triumphant checkmarks, take a moment to soak in your journey. Give yourself a pat on the back for the goals accomplished, and consider the unchecked ones with curiosity, not criticism. Recall the roadblocks you encountered along the way. What obstacles held you back? How can you tackle them differently moving forward? Remember, this goal-setting adventure isn't simply about arriving at a destination but also about the wisdom gained during the expedition. Celebrate every win, learn from every stumble, and keep pushing toward your 2024 vision. 

The Goals Behind B-I-N-G-O

With all the excitement around my team's goal-setting strategy, I realized that just like playing games, goals are best accomplished surrounded by community. Here's a closer look at some of our 2024 goals:

🧳 Hotel/Hospitality Brand Client: Some of our favorite portfolio work to date has been for luxe AirBnB properties/boutique hotels. We've done two so far: Peach Grove House in NY and Hemsley Ranch in Idaho. We would love to do more in '24!

🥂 Influencer/Founder Client: We'd also love to work with another influencer founder. In 2020, lifestyle influencer Lindsay Silberman came to us with the idea of starting Hotel Lobby Candle. We designed all the branding and packaging, and we oversaw creative direction. This brand quickly went viral, and we've designed over a dozen candles together since.

🧀 Food Client: I'm obsessed with food, so another "food client" feels *self-explanatory*! Our team designed the branding and packaging and briefly ran social for cowboy-inspired Rockhill Cheese. Working with a DTC CPG brand in 2024 would truly be epic!

🎙️ Podcast Milestones: We've reserved four of the bingo squares for the Kiss My Aesthetic podcast! We've recorded more than 140 podcast episodes on branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship over 3+ years. We're seeking guests (and sponsors) for KMA in '24!

❣️ 10K Members in the KMA Facebook group: My favorite corner of the world wide web is the Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook group, so adding 10k members to our bingo card was also a no-brainer. The KMA group is free to join and always has job apps, advice, resources, and BTS of my agency's process for binging. I am RUTHLESS about the quality of the group, so you're safe from bot (and human) spamming.

📱 Social Media Clients: We're ready for more social retainer clients! Our agency offers social media management for brands on TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, Facebook, and Threads. Comment if you want our rates!

🎾 Festival Branding: For the last two years, we've done all the marketing for San Diego Open, including branding, social, signage, merch, and IRL event content. In '24, we'd love to work with a food/music/culture festival of any kind.

💖 Another Team Retreat: In April 2023, our fully remote, three-continent team had our first-ever in-person retreat, and it was everything! Let us know where we should go in 2024…

🛍️ New Merch Suite Clients: Hear me out…merch is about to be really big in 2024! In 2023, we designed more merchandise than we could count. From birthdays to bach parties to subscription boxes – we’ve got our fair share of learning merch under our belt heading into 2024.

💻 Web Sales Galore: 2024 is going to be the year of reviving our digital resources. Here are a few of the ones live currently on our site:

• Canva Editable Italian Theme 30th Birthday Party Invitation Templates

• Canva Editable Social Media Profile Mock-Ups

• Kiss My GIFs - Part 1

• Kiss My Portfolio VI - Tanked Coral Cafe & Speakeasy

Alsooooo my team couldn't keep this sharing to ourselves! I created a carousel post round up our community's bingo goals so we can start to help each other knock out these bingoals (get it?!)

In Conclusion…

This bingo journey isn't just about completing a card, it's about your growth and evolution as a creative entrepreneur. Whether it's bingo or your own strategy, gamifying your new year traditions and planning processes is very IN. Stay tuned for the accompanying podcast on Kiss My Aesthetic, which you can listen to anywhere you find your podcasts OR tune in on YouTube.  You can also find @mkwcreative.co on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, and Pinterest. Happy goal setting!

But Wait, There’s More…

For the first time literally ever, MKWCC if offering our very own year-long accountability member/mentorship program! I wanted to create a small group for SERIOUS goal crushers (and give you and your biz some 1:1 time on my very crowded calendar). Ready to learn more?

New to MKWCC?

MKW Creative Co. started back in 2014 with not much more than a laptop and two very encouraging parents saying, “hey, try it!” Since then, the business has taken many shapes and forms, but the vision and dream have always stayed true — helping build brag-worthy brands that people are proud to be a part of and founders are proud to share with the world.

2024 Design Trend Predictions: The Aesthetics you’re about to see Everywhere Next Year

As we gaze into the crystal ball of 2024, a few clear narratives emerge to pick up where 2023 left off. In order to know where we’re going we must start where we’re coming from. In summary…

LOOKING BACK: OUR 2023
ERAS

WOMEN RULE ERA

We’d be remiss to not call them “Eras” after the chokehold Ms. Taylor Swift had on pop culture this year (like being named Time’s Person of the Year, hitting Billionaire status, and producing the highest grossing tour of all time). But she’s not the only female at the top of her game. From Beyonce’s glass-ceiling-shattering Renaissance Tour, to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, to the Rihanna Superbowl Halftime Show (most watched halftime show in history), these iconic moments cemented the year of the woman, and simultaneously ‘eventized’ the in-person experience. Almost all of these events ignited their own dress codes to match, giving super fans a chance to pledge their loyalty (and super fandom) in costume and flex their creativity online and off. More of that in ‘24, please.

APEROL SPRITZ ERA

Speaking of themes, in 2023 we said “andiamo a italia” for a summer of la dolce vita. After my over-the-top white lotus italian 30th birthday theme invites went viral on TikTok, it was no surprise we noticed tons of Italian design influence flooding our feeds (or hey, that’s just how the algorithm works). Photo dump carousels and compilation reels consisting of bikinis, boats, spritzes, stripes, pizza, pasta, and more pistachio gelato that anyone should have in their lifetime gave us an Italy hangover in the best way… but felt very 2023 in retrospect. (All recapped on Ep. 125 Bday Boxes and Aesthetic Themes).

R.I.P. TWITTER, HELLO THREADS ERA

Elon Musk’s $44 Billion dollar acquisition of Twitter and rebrand to X was like a dagger to the chest for all branding and marketing enthusiasts. The lackluster logo and seemingly nonexistent accompanying brand suite felt like bro marketing flop at its finest.. or its worst? (He should have tuned in to Kiss My Aesthetic Ep. 127 about Common Branding Mistakes). The silver lining (and polar opposite) was Meta’s rollout of Threads. Discussed on KMA Episode 121 with Ashli Pollard of Team AP Consulting.

EVERYONE’S OBSESSED WITH AI ERA

I mean, guilty as charged. From skeptic to superfan, AI totally transformed the way we run our agency this year. Personal sensei, guru, and self-proclaimed AI Auntie Lauren DeVane of Bemused Studio spilled it all on Kiss My Aesthetic Episode 117 & again on Episode 133: Midjourney & AI Part 2. Creators on Instagram and TikTok started popping off with their AI creations, like how @glamseasons transformed a soccer field into a mystical castle scene blending video and AI image generation or how I can’t stop making Faux-tels for Hotel Lobby Candle. Sitting out on integrating AI into your business in 2024 will the equivalent of choosing to run your business without using the internet in the dot com boom. Saving myself from writing an entire dissertation on the ubiquitous-ness of AI in the creative space, I just want you to know that in 2024 we are going to be seeing MORE AI, not less… and therefore each of the themes outlined in this article will hint at how that can be integrated.

TREND 1: CHERRY, CHOCOLATE, SILVER 🍒🍫🍴

Move over vanilla aesthetic, grab a spoon, and dive in to the chocolately deliciousness that is the 2024 version of Cherry Garcia. In both fashion and art a cherry chocolate color combo speaks to a broader cultural fascination with blending the tart, with the sweet and the sultry. These colors on their own carry such individually rich history and symbolism, but together create a combined palette that is warm, nostalgic, and decadent. You might recall this combo from late 90s & the early 2000s, where it was actually a revival of 1970s fashion trends that brought back chocolate browns into vogue: influencing attire, interiors, automotive, and cosmetic industries. The internet’s PR agent Girl Boss Town’s titular Red Nail Theory summarizes this on the cherry side.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

Embracing the Cherry/Chocolate/Silver trend in your brand aesthetics means going full bore moody, reflective, seductive, and fruity sweet. Here’s where you’ll see it most:

BRANDING & DESIGN - Color palettes will start to shift from dreaded beige, greige, tan and black to incorporate more richness like dark chocolate or espresso color tones. Typography will also start to look more fluid and sugary, mimicing a sense of thickness and viscosity reminiscent of these candy coated visuals (does the Wonka movie have anything to do with this?). Packaging designers can draw inspiration from old candy wrappers (see DumDums) and dive in to blind emboss effects to give physical depth to pieces they make. Anticipate playing cards and board games making a huge comeback in 2024, as more Gen Z and millennials are drawn to an alcohol-free lifestyle but still want to stay connected with friends.

PHOTO & VIDEO - The photography style for the Cherry/Chocolate/Silver trend carries the baton of flash photography low res grainy edit of 2022 and 2023 but peppers in the late 90s early 2000s white wall backlit studio headshots a la Christian Dior, Chanel, and Tom Ford. The Cherry/Chocolate/Silver brand brings their brightness all the way down, and saturation all the way up, yet counts on the hint and glimmer of chrome, motion blur, and sparkles to bring romantic mystery.

FASHION & CULTURE - From the runway to your timeline, Red Stockings and Tights have already picked up steam and chrome and silver jewelry are quickly replacing it-girls’ gold dainty chains. I’d guess to say that Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn set to come out next October has Cherry/Chocolate/Silver potential… and something about this moodboard is also very Taylor Swift Reputation (Taylor’s Version) coded… but also a hint of Shania Twain?

Brands that already do this well: Shop Natalie MCM What Happens in Vegas Fragrance which morphs on the skin and smells like nothing you’ve ever smelled before, trust me. Summer Friday’s Midnight Retinol Launch Campaign, Schutz Cherry and Silver Fiorella Pumps or even Chocolate brown Croc boots, Jacquemus Cherry and Silver, Rhode Lip Glosses

Brands that should do this soon: Imagine if department store Macy’s reinvented themselves with this look? They’re halfway there with the red star already, but a revamp of the brand to 90s/2000s mall rat nostalgia would crush. In fact, I’m very down for a revival of mall culture. Additionally, a Miley Cyrus x Lana Del Rey collab again is long overdue for this look, since their last team up was way back in the Charlie’s Angels reboot era and a Gucci (already cherry red) shoot on top… why not. Lastly, Coca Cola could save face by bringing back Cherry Coke after dropping it from their line up in 2023.

TREND 2: BOW ADORNED BALLERINA 🩰🦢🎀

It’s no doubt that bows are having their moment. You’d be hard pressed to find any influencers holiday tree sans-ribbon this season, but here’s why bows and ballerina-core are here to stay.

Bows, historically a symbol of femininity and grace, have seen various iterations in fashion over the decades. Prominently featured in the voluminous and elaborate dresses of the Victorian era, bows symbolized luxury and refinement. In the mid-20th century, bows were reimagined in a more subdued manner, often as accents on collars, waistlines, and hair accessories. The return of bows in 2024 continues the Barbie legacy of 2023, allowing women to embrace and celebrate their femininity not as an antithesis to masculinity but as its own asset; its own attribute to be proud of. In 2024, ballerina-core is poised to make a significant comeback filling a craving for fluidity, grace, and elegance and intoxicatingly sweet silliness. This trend will likely emphasize soft fabrics, flowing silhouettes, and a palette that includes pastels pinks and neutral tones.

This trend is also nicknamed the coquette aesthetic (and seen via personal favorite: the coquette trend on TikTok, or read Bustle’s snarky take here). The term coquette quite literally translates to “to deal with something playfully rather than seriously.” Don’t forget — Mean Girls reboot comes out in 2024, and we would bet that one of the plastics will be repping this style & attitude in the movie musical.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN - Where 2023 was the height of the hand written calligraphy, the Bow Adorned Ballerina brand is going to use classical style cursives and formal script fonts that feel more regal and prestigious. Edge embellishments on print invitations and monograms fit for monarchs will be popular among personal brands, luxury lifestyle products, fragrance houses, and confectioners. This style is about all things light, airy, and delicate, meaning that the color palettes and packaging designs would look just as natural on Marie Antoinette’s bed side table as it does in your favorite influencer’s GRWM. Textures will also be huge in carrying out this aesthetic to its fullest: lace, tulle, satin, silk, bronze, and pearl are all on our watch list.

PHOTO & VIDEO - The photography and videography of this Ballerina-core/Coquette aesthetic will undoubtedly be soft focus, hazy, monochromatic, with billowing clouds of fabrics framing feminine features. This aesthetic could take a turn for more grunge-y/less pretty in pink when toughened up with harsh flash, black accents, or unnatural posing, but overall the sweetness and innocence as seen in this moodboard will prevail.

FASHION & CULTURE - Ballet, with its fantastical settings and costumes, offers a form of escapism. The world of ballet is often seen as a magical realm appealing to those who seek a sense of wonder and fantasy. With the Paris Olympics taking place in the summer in the city of love, anticipate french culture dominating the fashion and aesthetics landscape. We can speculate that attending the a ballet, opera, or museum event will become more popular after the Met Gala 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' takes place the first monday in May.

Brands that already do this well: Christian Siriano SS24, Belle of the Ball Selkie, quickly followed by LoveShackFancy, creator @isa.bella.ricci or @thesandraduran

Brands that should do this soon: Van Cleef and Arpels should claim this space after Swarovski rebrand went more bold in 2023. This aesthetic could be reclaimed by pop princess Ariana Grande in anticipation for her role as Glinda the good witch in the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked slotted for November 2024.

TREND 3: NEON FAUVISM & SHEER SURREAL 🪲🍸🌀

The Aperol Spritz is to the Amalfi Coast what Chartreuse and Absinthe is to Copenhagen on an acid trip… or what I’ll coin “Neon Fauvism.” Different but not dissimilar to the Gen Z affinity for lavender purple and citrine green, this design movement will be as if that Gen Z-er got a job in a French/Danish fashion house or art museum.

Fauvism was a radical early 20th-century movement where vivid color reigned supreme. Spearheaded by visionaries like Henri Matisse and André Derain, Fauvism broke free from realism's reins and took an emotional, surreal and sometimes garish approach to the ordinary. These 'Wild Beasts' (‘Les Fauves’ in French) dared to use bold, unorthodox hues to express emotions, rather than replicate the natural world's tones. Their canvases were a riot of color, unapologetically loud and emotionally charged, making Fauvism a brief but blazing comet in the art firmament, forever altering the trajectory of modern art.

Envisioning Fauvism in 2024, we might expect a contemporary reinterpretation that blends its foundational ethos of bold color and emotional expression with modern artistic trends and technologies. In the digital age, Fauvism could evolve through new mediums like digital art/generative AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), where its characteristic vibrant colors and emotive forms take on a new life in interactive and immersive environments. Colors that were relegated beyond the pantone swatches (or only designated in the neon palettes) can be reintroduced thanks to the boundless limits of modern tech, pushing the boundaries of what we expect things to look like.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN - Expect a painterly approach to brand work, incorporating loose brush strokes with a wide range of funky color tones. This look will work best with products and services who don’t shy away from the weird and unconventional. They’ll use loosey goosey fonts like this free one called Donut, sheer shape-shifting textures like tulle, chainmail, chiffon and gauzy linens. These brands love a highlighter pop of color to bring emphasis to the emotions they most want you to feel.

PHOTO & VIDEO - The photography and videography styles that best encapsulates this trend are pieces that feel like a dreamscape — hazy, burry, sometimes garish, but all in the daytime. This aesthetic is NOT nighttime neon from Blade Runner or Pulp Fiction, but instead a fluorescent that feels herbaceous, floral, and otherworldly. Quirky architecture and street style fashion photography come to mind with this trend, especially when unconventional colors, textures, or materials are at play.

FASHION & CULTURE - In a nod to Fauvism’s dramatic flair, accessories in Fauvist-inspired fashion can be statement-making, with vivid colors and unique, sculptural designs that stand out as art pieces in their own right. This might manifest in unexpected drapery, asymmetrical lines, or unconventional garment construction that challenges traditional forms. Culturally, hoteliers, artists, architects, and interior designer will incorporate a fauvism approach as instagram eyecandy.

Brands that already do this well: The GOAT of this trend is Schiaparelli, especially Hunter Schaffer’s dress for the 2023 Hunger Games Premiere, also loving Glassworks and Homewares by Completedworks, Ganni, Artist Tiel Duncan, Delightfully Neon Illustrations by @theintuitivecreative, & @jw_horner ‘s Mirrored Florals.

Brands that should do this soon: Poppi Sodas (they’re sooo close as it is, we’d love to see them go full bore with this theme). Also in the food category, Altoids should bring back their Citrus Sours as a millennial throwback. Brands in the cannabis and psilocybin realm could have a field day with this theme, due to the trippy color combos and painterly aesthetics. Lastly, if Green Chartreuse could get whoever did Aperol’s PR, they’d be flying high all year long.

TREND 4: FOODIE-TORIAL 🍅🥒🥨

Permission to play with your food: granted. 2023 had its fair share of food induced themes from butter boards to flavored water, everyone’s cottage cheese obsession to girl dinner (which inspired my halloween costume). In 2024 however, you’ll see food in more of a high fashion context. Following the footsteps of Jacquemus and Loewe (Read: Food as a Status Symbol or the Culinary Team behind Luxury’s most Exclusive Dinners), integrating food into fashion, fragrance, homewares and lifestyle accessories will become mainstream in the new year to embody the “art of multi-sensory marketing”.

Our cultural obsession with food as status is not new. Renaissance and Dutch Masters made painstakingly accurate renditions of food-filled tablescapes until the invention of the camera in the 19th century. Yet it wasn’t until the mid-20th century, with the boom of advertising and print media that food photography started to gain significant commercial importance. The gourmet food scene of the 70s and 80s led to a more sophisticated approach to food photography emphasizing elegance, opulence, and authenticity. Today, in the digital and social media era, food photography is a blend of professional and user-generated content, reflecting both artistic expression and cultural trends in food consumption and presentation while also flashing to your friends and followers “look what I can afford”.

In 2024, the avant-garde depiction of food as high art is likely to transcend traditional boundaries, blending culinary mastery with innovative artistic expression. As the lines between art, technology, and gastronomy blur, we can expect to see food presented in ways that challenge and expand our understanding of aesthetics and taste. Interactive and immersive experiences, possibly utilizing augmented and virtual reality, will elevate the dining experience to a form of performance art. This evolution will mark a new era where food is not just sustenance or pleasure, but a powerful medium for artistic and social commentary.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on where you stand on the issue), weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Monjaro have already undoubtedly changed the way we look at food as a society. We predict that in the new year, you’ll see food presented as art objects & in avant garde ways. Mark my words butter pyramid towers are coming because Gwyneth Paltrow had one at her Goop holiday party (…its giving the party scene at the Capitol in Hunger Games). How is this possible when everyone else is feeling the crunch of economic downturn due to high cost of living? Read more in this fascinating Nylon article: Fashion’s Obsession with Bread is Recession Camp.

WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT

BRANDING & DESIGN - Don’t be shocked to see food used a as styling tool for selling goods and services unrelated to the food itself. Foodie Editorial or “Foodie-torial” craze as I’m dubbing it, across visual communications pairs well with bold, san serif, poster-ready fonts for max impact. Bold color palettes will be derived from the produce itself: tomato red, buttery yellow and leafy green. Patterns you’ll see accompanied with this look will be traditional restaurant tablecloth inspired like gingham and checker.

PHOTO & VIDEO - Food as prop seems to be the most obvious theme but food looking like things that aren’t food and vice versa also seems to be an impending trend. This photo/video style makes use of naturally lit UGC just as much as a high gloss studio setting. The primary ingredient in these compositions is fun and absurdity. You’ve got to be ready to take on the silly excessiveness of using food in this way in order to do the trend justice.

FASHION & CULTURE - As explained in CNN’s article Conspicuous consumption: Why the worlds of food and fashion are Colliding “fashion brands including Prada, Gucci and Ralph Lauren have opened cafes and restaurants, allowing shoppers to literally consume their favorite brands.” Expect more of this in 2024 as fashion and food are two industries that everyone does participate in (cue Cerulean scene from Devil Wears Prada). We also think that we’re overdue for a new era of celebrity chefs to hit the scene maybe due in part to the popularity of The Bear which is renewed for Season 3 in 2024.

Brands already doing this well:  Iconic food fashion hybrids Lisa Says Gah & PanacheBklyn, Food Artist @thisismold, @badtaste.biz, Jacquemus, Loewe, Schiaparelli again with the Lobster Dress, Oscar de la Renta’s Creative Director Laura Kim’s feed is half dedicated to food > fashion. Ultimate brand crush doing Foodie-torial right is Flamingo Estate. If you don’t know them you better… and you can thank me later.

Brands that should do this soon: We’ve seen fashion and food paired well together, but not as much with beauty, haircare, or skincare. Imagine DryBar did a campaign themed around hair food for a new product line launch. What if Ilia or Rare Beauty’s next shoot had juicy fruits and farm fresh veggies in scene? Additionally interior design brands should use this approach in their brand visuals to create quirky renditions of lighting setups, chairs, furniture installations, wallpapers and fabrics. Not that 2000’s tuscan kitchen trompe l’oeil or stuffed olive oil jars need to make a comeback, but interior rooms decorated for dinner parties with unexpected off the wall presentation & themes are welcome to stay.

IN CONCULSIOOONN…

These are just a select few trends and themes we’re anticipating in the new year, but by no means is this everything. I’ll be keeping this Pinterest board active with more sub aesthetics and trends as they come across my desk. The main takeaways being these consistent threads:

• DO double down on your brand adjectives to drive your aesthetic. Is your brand sweet or sultry? Quirky? Unconventional? Traditional and nostalgic or modern and avant garde? These descriptors should represent your home base (making any deviations from home a true experiment worth pursuing by the way!) and be something you come back to as a core tenant of what you offer in the broader communication of your visual style

• DON’T be afraid to push the envelope and create ART in your marketing… with food, with color, form, texture or messaging, 2024 is a year to embrace your frenzied creative mind and make something magical, either physically or with the help of your favorite AI tool of choice

If you made it all the way to the end of this behemoth of a blog post, thank you, and I want to reach through my computer and kiss you. Stay tuned for the accompanying podcast on Kiss My Aesthetic, which you can listen to anywhere you find your podcasts OR tune in on YouTube. You can also find @mkwcreative.co on TikTok and Instagram.

Looking to implement one of these trends with your brand in 2024?

How to Read Social Media Analytics and Optimize your Strategy Accordingly

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A post shared by Homemade Social | Social Media (@homemadesocial_)

Hi there! Allow us to introduce ourselves- we’re Homemade Social, a boutique social media marketing agency specializing in social + digital + influential campaigns for lifestyle brands.

Before putting any effort into your brand’s social media, it is important to establish goals as it will set the stage for the social media strategy to follow. Contrary to popular belief, social media is not a mindless game of just posting whatever, whenever. In fact, never post just to post. Behind every piece of content should be purpose backed by a strategy supporting set objectives.

So, what are you hoping to get out of social media for your business? The answer to this question will allow your digital marketer to know where to put most of their energy when planning content and what metrics to look at most when tracking analytics. 

Remember, the purpose of tracking social media analytics is to tie the metrics back to your goals and optimize your strategy going forward based on the insights found. Read on to discover the meaning of popular social media metrics and how to use them to inform your content strategy!

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SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS GLOSSARY

REACH - Reach is the number of users that have seen your post aka the number of users your post reached.

IMPRESSIONS - Impressions is the total number of times your post has been seen. It is not the same thing as reach because one user can view your post multiple times. Why would they do that? Likely because the content made an impression on them! While reach only accounts for the number of users, impressions accounts for the number of times the content was seen by those users.

ENGAGEMENT - Engagement is any form of interaction on your post. There are several ways a user can engage with your content, including:

• Likes = This is the number of users that double tapped or tapped the heart icon on your post.

• Comments = This is the number of comments your post received.

• Saves = This is the number of users that saved your post to refer back to later.

• Shares = This is the number of users that sent the post to another account for viewing.

These metrics then contribute to your engagement rate, which is a percentage revealing the level of engagement your post received from those who saw it. The more likes, comments, saves, and shares a post has, the higher that post’s engagement rate. 

To calculate the engagement rate of your post, use this formula:

Engagement rate = engagement / impressions OR followers

And remember: Engagement = total number of likes + comments + saves + shares on your post

So, why is this important? A high engagement rate signals to the algorithm that the content is valuable and that users enjoyed seeing it. Therefore, the higher the engagement rate, the higher the chance of the post being pushed to more users by the algorithm. This “push” is done both via users’ home feeds and the explore page. 

PROFILE VISITS - This is the number of times your profile was viewed.

WEBSITE CLICKS - This is the number of taps on the website in your profile.

FOLLOWERS - This is the number of accounts that follow you. It is also a vanity metric, meaning it’s a number that can make us feel good but doesn’t really tell us a lot. Regardless, it is a good metric to track routinely, especially if your goal is to increase brand awareness or grow your following.

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INFORMING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY 

While each metric discussed is important to track, here is a breakdown of specific metrics to pay attention to based on certain goals:

• If your immediate goal is to increase brand awareness, pay extra attention to and formulate your strategy around increasing…

  • Followers

  • Shares

• If your immediate goal is to foster a relationship with your current audience, pay extra attention to and formulate your strategy around increasing…

  • Engagement rate, which is influenced by:

    • Likes

    • Comments

    • Saves

    • Shares

• If your immediate goal is to increase sales, pay extra attention to and formulate your strategy around increasing…

  • Website clicks

Overall, when tracking analytics, take note of what is doing well and continue doing it. If something is not resonating with your audience as expected, consider trying out something else! Repeat this process each time when tracking monthly social media analytics to continue optimizing your strategy.

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HELPFUL TOOLS

This can be A LOT- we know! Luckily, we have plenty of resources available to help you. Here are a few of our most popular:

• For general analytics assistance...

  • Social Media Analytics Terminology and Definitions freebie

    • This freebie contains even more metric definitions, broken down by each social platform!

  • Social Media Analytics Tracking Spreadsheet freebie

  • Social Media Analytics Report Template download

• For increasing engagement...

  • 8 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram freebie

  • Tips for Writing Instagram Captions That Spark Action freebie

• For increasing brand awareness/growing your following...

  • Ultimate Guide to Hashtags on Instagram freebie

  • 30 Days of Reels freebie 

We hope this blog post was helpful for you in learning more about social media analytics! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram for more tips! See ya on the ‘Gram!

xx- The Homies of Homemade Social

How to Gracefully Quit a Client before they Quit You

It’s the situation you dread the most… You get excited about a project, feel like it’s a great fit, and slowly the whole cookie starts to crumble. Eventually, you’re left with a big ol’ mess of crumbs and it’s time to decide if you’re going to spend the time trying to mash pieces together to put the cookie back together again, or decide if it’s time to wipe the plate clean and move on.

Writing this blog today because this just happened to me.

With 5 years of brand design under my belt, I’ve got a pretty good feeling when I talk to a prospective client whether or not we will work well together. However, sometimes there are projects that start optimistically, and end up not working out.

In this blog, I am outlining how to identify when a project is going south, how to approach quitting the project with your client, and how to end things gracefully so you, the freelancer, come out unscathed.

Identify Red Flags

This can be easier said than done, but nonetheless is an important part of the process. I have a running list of red flags (that change often) that I keep close to the vest when speaking with a potential new client. My new project process goes a little like this…

If I get contacted for a new project via email or social media, I will direct them to my contact form. In my contact form, I have some pretty specific questions about the business/business owner regarding their brand. These questions include: mission statement, vision statement, ideal client avatar. If these three fields are left blank then it is a note to me that this person may not be completely dialed in on their business.

After I receive the contact form, I respond back to said client and send them a link to book a video call (via Calendly + Google Calendar). This is another quick test — how are they with technology. My ideal client knows their way around Google Drive, so making sure they know how to login, get set up on, and SHOW UP for a video chat is a major test.

During the video call, I also try and get a sense for what they know about branding. I ALWAYS give them the chance to talk first, and crosscheck their answers against these red flag Qs:

🚩 Do they struggle to talk confidently and consistently about their business idea?

🚩Do they say their ideal client is ‘everyone’?

🚩Can they accurately describe the aesthetic they’re after?

🚩Do they have a realistic budget and timeline?

Know when things are Getting Rocky

Say one slips through the cracks… Now you’re in the thick of it, so how can you tell when things are starting to get rocky? Here are the warning signs that you may not be the best fit:

🚩 Feedback is slow - when I notice that a client takes a long time to respond to an outstanding message this is usually a sign that they aren’t sure what they want, or are unclear on their business mission or goals

🚩 Feedback is contradictory - On this project specifically, we worked together on a brand design questionnaire where we came up with brand adjectives. When the first draft feedback came back, I was a little shocked to hear that the client was looking for something completely different than what she outlined in the questionnaire. This is a great time to have the questionnaire to circle back to.

🚩 You’re backsliding - if you’ve already locked in steps 1, 2 and 3 of your process and the client wants to go back to 1 when you should be on 4, you’ve got a problem

⚠️ BIG WARNING: Micromanagement
I notice that clients who micromanage do so because they don’t trust my expert opinion. Famous micromanagement statements are:

• “Can you just try______?”

• “Can I just see what it looks like if you ______”

• “I saw this online, can you copy that?” (uhhh no way jose)

It is my goal to present the BEST POSSIBLE solutions to my clients at every point in the process because I am a professional. Someone who wants to do your job for you doesn’t trust your expert opinion.

The Graceful Exit

If you get the sense that a project should be over, give yourself the opportunity to quit that client before they quit you. I know personally that I tie up a lot of my self-worth in my work (my love language is words of affirmation, through and through). Being in a creative field on the one hand can be so exciting and rewarding, and on the other can be totally crushing when things don’t work out. When you sense that a project is NOT going to work out, here’s how you can make a graceful exit.

✔️ Point out the friction - identify where the pain points are and offer a solution to talk things out

✔️ Remind them of the terms of your contract, why those terms exist, and why they hired you in the first place - sometimes a gentle nudge to why you started the project is a good reminder

✔️ Give them the out - explain what it looks like to quit the process at the current stopping point and what you can do make the ending easy on them. Will you issue a refund? Provide them with files? Connect them with another professional? Do what is right here, without selling your soul, and your conscience will thank you for it.

✔️Sign off Politely - end things positively! Try your hardest to bite your tongue, and keep emotions out of it.

Brush yourself off, get back in the saddle

Best thing to do when you’re down and out on a project is to channel your energy back into what you ARE good at. For me, that was taking the time to write this blog for all of you. Channeling the feelings of less-than-ness into creativity helps you to get back on the horse and ride off into the sunset.

Just a reminder that no matter where you are in your business, there are STILL projects that don’t go according to plan. Learn the lessons that you can, reconnect with the clients and projects that you DID succeed at/with, and then move on. Now, it’s your turn:

🤔When things don’t go according to plan, how do you get back in the groove?

🤔What can you learn about projects that don’t end up the way you wanted?

🤔 How can you ensure your client stays happy even when you’ve stopped a project?

🤔As a creative, what are your tips for checking your ego at the door?

Sound off in the comments or participate in the discussion over in my facebook group, Kiss my Aesthetic!

7 Books that Changed my Small Biz (for the better)

Being a small biz owner is no joke, and statistically, the majority of Small Businesses will fail within the first 5 years. As I approach my own five year mark (full of failures, lessons, big oopses, by the way) I wanted to take the time to share the business books I have read that really changed not only the way I thought about my small business, but changed the way I thought about myself as a business owner. Here’s a breakdown of my top faves!

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1. You are a Badass

2. You are a Badass at Making Money

Might as well start off with what might be the obvious choice here. These two books by Jen Sincero are great because you can literally read them in an afternoon. Jen’s writing style is friendly, approachable, and sometimes a nice kick in the …ass regarding treating yourself and your money with the respect they deserve. I love that she encourages ‘abundance’ mindset over ‘depravity’ mindset in not just financial facets of our lives, but in happiness, too. I think that these books helped me to consider how what I tell myself paves the path for what materializes.

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3. The Power of Habit: Why we do What we Do in Life and Business

I love this book by Charles Duhigg because it looks into the science of our habits and how habits become so ingrained that we forget that we are doing them. He breaks down in great detail about how our ‘keystone habits’ can trigger larger life changes so that we can change the habits that we feel stuck in.

The habits I am looking to break are my ‘unproductive’ habits… mindlessly scrolling instagram, falling into Pinterest rabbit holes, or spending too too long looking at a project without getting up, moving around, taking a break, and giving my brains and eyeballs a break. I like having this book on habits nearby to remind me that these ‘habits’ are all programmable in our own brains, and that we have the power to do something different about them.

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4. Think and Grow Rich

This book is an absolute classic. I love the old-timey sounding punctuation that Napoleon Hill uses throughout that makes it feel like a very enthusiastic college lecture.

My biggest takeaway from this one is the anecdote he tells in the beginning about his son who was born without the ability to heal. Instead of taking pity on his son, or treating his affliction like he was less than everyone else, Hill instead raised his son with the idea that he was more special than everyone else. Hill says he '“wished his son to hear, so he did” which is part confidence, part manifestation, and part stopping at nothing to find solutions… All of which are super powerful lessons in mindset and business. I think this book is a great read for anyone who needs a little oomph in their goal setting, financially and otherwise.

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5. Contagious: Why Things Catch On

The internet says there is no one else more well versed in why things go viral than Jonah Berger. When I read this book (back in 2015 by now, but literally picking it up again to re-read tonight) I remember enjoying how Berger explains exclusivity, social currency and social proof. For example, he talks about how airlines game-ified the points system, making their different membership levels into status symbols (I totally fall for bougie ‘insiders-only’ stuff like this and you probably do too).

Berger’s book made be think about how I can create these moments in the brands that I create for my clients. How can we add that extra level of detail, that extra hint or sprinkle that only the BEST of the BEST of that brand’s clients know about and appreciate? Like Disney’s hidden Mickey phenomenon… ideas that spread through word of mouth have much longer and stronger business legs in the long run.

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6. Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert is a great read if you’re down for a little kooky woo-woo in your life. I for sure dabble in woo-woo-ness so this book was another quick and easy read for me.

Although a lot of her book felt a little predictable, the one that stuck with me is her explanation of how ideas exist in the universe in search of a host, and that it is possible to sit on an idea for too long, and that that idea might just move on to the next host (which explains the phenomenon of seeing the infomercial for the exact invention you wanted to create, but never did). I like this theory because it encourages us to act on our ideas as they come to us, to brainstorm on them, flesh them out, then decide if they are meant to be, or meant to move on. I have ideas like this anywhere between 5-20x a day. I get so many ideas that I will write them in the steam on the shower doors, only committing them to paper or laptop if I am still thinking about them by the time I get out of the shower. I love that Glibert brings the idea, of ideas, and illustrates them as being energetic bodies instead of random synapse firings.

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7. The Art of Thinking Clearly

This last one came recommended by a good friend of mine who I think is particularly intelligent. :) The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli is not so much a business book as it is a life book. The best part about this one is that each little story is only a few pages, and leaves you with a good idea of why our brains work the way that they do, and what our inherent biases are towards others, towards our situation, towards ourselves, and towards the world as a whole.

The small anecdotes make this a great travel or beach read, because you can easily share the stories like “Why You Shouldn’t be Friends with Supermodels” and “Why you see Shapes in Clouds.” There are soooo many good nuggets in here that make you think “yeah, well duh” in a way that you wouldn’t have been able to put into words yourself, which I think is why I like it so much.

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Which ones am I missing? Let me know in the comments, shoot me a DM or send a carrier pigeon!