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5 Visual + Design Trends Shaping Content Marketing in 2025

Published on Jan 14, 2025

5 Visual + Design Trends Shaping Content Marketing in 2025
Sonya Matejko
Sonya Matejko studioID

Consumers have a wandering eye, meaning brands must continuously vie for their attention. Year after year, becomes more challenging for marketers to capture consumers’ focus. So why not zero in on what’s already got their attention?

As Craig Davis, former Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson, once said, “We need to stop interrupting what people are interested in and be what people are interested in.”

Capture your target audience’s attention by leaning into 2025 visual trends that have already caught their eye. 

Eclectic Maximalism Comes Into Focus 

Source: World Brand Design Society

While minimalism will always have its place, brands are embracing their bold, mismatched side. 

Dubbed “eclectic maximalism,” the marketing design trend celebrates contrast and imperfection. Designers from 99designs by Vista describe the aesthetic as “bright colors, original fonts with lots of personality, clean branding,” and “funky bold wordmarks.”

Sites like Tony’s Chocolate, Blink Coffee, and MILK Makeup already use the visual trend, showcasing bright, contrasting color schemes and font styles.

🥤 Related reading: Pepsi embraces maximalism for first visual overhaul in 14 years

Looking ahead, Pinterest predicts more funky pairings of brilliantly bold patterns, eclectic prints, and delightful textures—driven by Gen X and Boomers. (Think: Iris Apfel, an icon of unapologetic style and fearless design.)

studioID Design Tip

Create attention-grabbing imagery without being unfaithful to your style guide. Even if your brand colors aren’t necessarily bright hues, use high-contrast visuals, playful typography, or unexpected patterns to reimagine anything from your social posts to your infographics to your event branding.

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Graphics Takes on a Surreal Form

Surrealism provides an escape from the mundane by using imaginative imagery to draw audiences into uncharted spaces. Campaigns like Georgetown Optician’s “Adventures in A-Eye” highlight how surreal, dreamlike imagery can cut through the noise of crowded digital spaces, boosting brand recall and engagement.

Pinterest data shows Boomers and Gen X are driving the trend, with searches for “modern surrealism” up 70% and “Salvador Dali aesthetic” up 40%. Meanwhile, according to AdAge, Gen Z gravitates toward surreal and unconventional content as a rejection of traditional marketing and societal norms. The shared affinity for the unexpected will bend 2025’s visual landscape.

Source: MINOR FIGURES

studioID Design Tip

Though commonly linked to B2C marketing, surrealism presents a powerful opportunity for B2B brands. Imaginative visuals can simplify complex ideas, present abstract data in compelling designs, and transform long-form content into engaging narratives. 

🚀 Related Reading: B2B LinkedIn Marketing: 9 Trends Leading Brands to Organic Success in 2024

Brands Engage Senses to Shape Experiences

Source: VentureBeat

According to Adobe, the demand for multisensorial experiences is growing. This trend goes beyond visual appeal—it’s a feast for all the senses, from sound to smell, that creates immersive connections. Brands are exploring this trend through AR/VR interaction, art installations, branding, and packaging. New experiential shopping experiences are also evolving, with brands like Valentino and Sonos seamlessly merging physical and digital spaces.

Airbnb’s Icons campaign, featured in springboard’s Top 50 Content Marketing Brands of 2024, is a standout example. These interactive experiences transported people into fully realized worlds—from Beetlejuice’s haunted mansion to Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse—effectively blurring the lines between imagination and reality.

studioID Design Tip

Audit your brand’s sensory footprint and assess how your content engages the senses—beyond sight. Does your video content incorporate subtle sounds that evoke emotion? Is your packaging textural or fragrant, adding an extra layer of appeal? Identify opportunities to add sensory elements that align with your brand—and are in good taste. 

Gradients Blur the Lines of Design

Source: GIPHY

Gradients are returning from their heyday, evolving far beyond their early applications. (Shout out to WordArt users.) Gradients are already widely seen in logos of major brands like Instagram, Asana, and Tinder—and now the trend is moving beyond just branding. 

Print Magazine predicts gradients will shift toward more nuanced, narrative-driven uses that capture moods, times of day, or cultural themes rather than simply being decorative. One example that brings that prediction to life is 2024 Spotify Wrapped, which showcased dynamic gradient pairings throughout the multi-platform campaign.

Source: Spotify Wrapped 2024 (Copyright © Spotify, 2024)

One particular gradient you can expect to see more of in 2025 is “the aura effect.” According to Pinterest, Gen Z and Boomers are loving this high-hue look, with searches for “aura effect” and “aura makeup” climbing. 

studioID Design Tip

Gradients don’t need to define your brand, but they can add a fresh touch where it fits. (Although, gradients do look great on brands like Kin Euphorics and Nike.) Try incorporating graduate hues into social media posts, article header images, or presentation slides to bring depth and vibrancy to your content. Platforms like Canva make it easy for small teams to experiment with ready-to-use gradient templates.

👍 Related Reading: 26 Predictions for Social Media Marketing in 2025

Cherry Red Makes a Bold Statement

Source: Glossier

Top off your visual branding in 2025 with a splash of cherry red. An early contender for Color of the Year, with Pinterest expecting Gen Z and Millennials to infuse cherries into everything from their mood boards to their menus this year. Searches for “cherry vibe” (+325%) and “dark red cherry” (+235%) have skyrocketed on the visual discovery engine. 

Brands are already embracing the cherry tone. Glossier has dubbed 2025 the year of Black Cherry, while fashion and interior design brands are also incorporating this vibrant color into their palettes.

studioID Design Tip

Tap into the cultural zeitgeist without straying from your color palette. Consider partnerships with content creators embracing cherry red in their social media content. Whether it’s a co-branded activation or influencer-led content, you can align your brand with the crimson aesthetic in a way that feels timely and relevant—without needing to overhaul your visual identity.

💼 Related Reading: B2B Influencer Marketing: 3 Essential Steps to Build a Strong Strategy

Design Support, Powered by AI

We can’t talk about graphic design trends without talking about AI. Once known for outlandish outputs, AI design tools are now known for enhancing creativity and streamlining workflows. As AI design tools become more intuitive, they complement human creativity, moving beyond hyperrealism and perfection. Designers increasingly embrace AI to make subtle, precise adjustments to refine their craft as a result.

Looking ahead, consider AI as your creative partner. Use AI to explore branding variations, balance color palettes, enhance illustrations, or ensure accessibility, adding efficiency and innovation to your design process.

🧠 Related Reading: The Human Element: 3 Brand Campaigns Demystifying AI + Advanced Tech

Seize early opportunities. Ditch defunct approaches. Boldly go into 2025 with a content marketing strategy tuned to the latest expert-led forecasts at our on-demand webinar.

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