New year, new fun finds! We’re always looking for things that inspire joy, hope, and creativity and we’re often pleasantly surprised to find that there is always something to celebrate if you remain open. Today we’re turning our creative eye to our own industry. And we have to say, we’re excited about the possibilities! Here are a few of the trends in design and marketing that inspire us. How about you? What are you noticing?
Loving the Type (Wendy)
I love type. In fact it’s all over my house in artwork, upholstery, and other design elements. Fonts, while beautifully aesthetic on their own, help to define mood, establish identity, and guide perception. Typography isn’t just a tool; it’s a statement about our cultural and technological shifts. This year’s trends – and there are many – reflect a balance between innovation and nostalgia, where the organic past meets the digital future. We’re seeing a resurgence of handwritten and ephemera-inspired fonts, borrowing from vintage postcards, tickets, and packaging to evoke a sense of history in modern design. Meanwhile, kinetic typography (moving text) is pushing boundaries, transforming static text into immersive, dynamic storytelling.
From the sweeping elegance of embellished serifs or the raw, tactile presence of distressed letterforms, type continues to shape how we see and feel the world around us. Fontspring.com has a great article on trends and has hundreds of creative fonts to explore. Another very cool find is Monotype’s typeface pairing tool, which allows users to play with different headline and body copy fonts.
One thing is certain—the ever-evolving art form of typography is far from static. It’s an ongoing dialogue between brand and audience, redefining the way we communicate in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Color Trends and Inspiration for 2025 (Bethany)
There are so many possibilities with color! I love when our clients are open to exploring a variation of palettes during the visual branding or logo design process. Color is a great tool for communication and can set the tone for your business and branding materials. That is why we suggest colors based on our discussions with our clients. We want the colors we use to resonate with them and represent their brand well.
I thought it was neat how this company analyzed a sample of their customers’ color preferences from 2024 to predict the color trends they might use in 2025.
It’ll be interesting to see if, at the end of the year, we at insight180 find that these predicted trends are right for our clients as well!
The six colors trends predicted for this year are:
Creative Charts and Graphs (Elizabeth)
I’m a bit of a data nerd, and I just love when an unexpectedchart design makes complex data instantly clear. This McKinsey & Co. interactive chart does just that – it creatively visualizes the rapid growth of small businesses in the U.S. alongside stagnant employment trends using color, shape, and movement to highlight key takeaways.
Alternative chart types like this can be especially effective when comparing multiple dimensions of data, breaking from the standard pie or line chart to reveal connections or patterns that might otherwise be overlooked. However, they work best when the visual elements enhance comprehension rather than add unnecessary complexity. For simple data sets, a traditional bar, line, or pie chart may still do the best job.
Environmental Consciousness on the Rise (Andrea)
There is no such thing as ‘away.’ When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.”
– Annie Leonard, Former Exec. Dir. of Greenpeace US & creator of “The Story of Stuff”
This last holiday season, my family and I made a conscious effort to opt for more quality experiences and consumable gifts as opposed to plastic goods and “fast fashion” items. I also managed to do the majority of my shopping at local businesses instead of big box online stores like Amazon, a decision I came to after watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy documentary on Netflix. The documentary examines the tactics brands use to keep consumers interested in consuming, and the massive impact it has on our lives, health, and the planet.
With the major holidays behind me, I’m choosing to stay tuned-in to environmentally conscious and sustainable businesses that are committed to making an impact. Some companies do this by reducing plastic packaging, while others are focusing on their carbon footprint and cutting down on excessive use of water. Did you know that Patagonia has a repair process that customers can use to fix rips and tears to prolong the life of their products? Or that 7-Eleven’s “Brands with Heart” program places 26 purpose-driven emerging brands in their stores annually? Something to keep in mind during your next road trip!
What trends in your business have your creative juices flowing? We’d love to know more!
