Trend forecasting is far from an exact science. In this article, I offer my modest perspective based on insights from writers and creatives I came across on my visual research.
One of the most fascinating aspects of trend forecasting for me is observing the dialogue that unfolds between distinct creative voices, and to watch an idea evolve to becoming a dominant visual style.
Several leading curators have shared their insight on what to expect in the art world in 2025. Most predict that contemporary art will be significantly influenced by the international sociopolitical landscape. There is also a growing focus on environmental and social justice, with an increasing number of artists addressing global issues through a bold, activist lens.
Do Ho Suh – "Home Within Home" (2013)
Suh’s large-scale, fabric-based installations recreate houses and doorways from his life in Korea and the U.S., exploring themes of cultural identity, migration, and belonging in an increasingly globalised world.
In an interview for Artsy.net, Amy Smith-Stewart noted:
“I predict we will see more artists incorporating organic materials or materials collected, grown, and harvested from the natural world into their work.”
“Materials and methods carry meaning, and artists working in the diaspora are choosing materials that hold biographical and geopolitical significance specific to their homelands and heritages.”
There has been a noticeable rise in art that everyday people can identify with, capturing the narratives of people's daily lives and cultural identity.
At Bespoke & Co. we've had the pleasure of framing a series of drawings and paintings for the artist Mollie Douthit. Douthit explores themes of intimacy, domesticity, and memory in her work. Her paintings celebrate everyday moments and personal experiences, often infused with her singular sense of humour. Her depictions of interiors represent the sensory and remembered qualities of space and objects, drawn from the visual archive of her mind.
Painting by Mollie Douthit
Lockdown intensified a collective desire for nature and tranquillity. As a result, visual trends are shifting towards simpler, softer, and more whimsical aesthetics.
What’s Still Resonating: Playful Nostalgia
In what could be seen as a DIY, hands-on pushback against artificial intelligence shaping a new visual aesthetic, illustrators and artists are turning to childhood nostalgia. Initially emerging as a response to pandemic-induced ennui, this movement has now been embraced by major brands. Companies as diverse as Lego and Build-A-Bear have introduced merchandise specifically targeted at adult consumers.
I, for one, couldn’t resist buying a Lego set that reminded me of my tuxedo cat.
The Playful Nostalgia style is defined by a vibrant, spontaneous colour palette and the playful clash of patterns. It is a form of escapism, a light-hearted reaction against the minimalist, neutral-toned aesthetics that have long been regarded as the epitome of 'modern art.'
GUILLAUME GRASSET
For quite some time minimalism has dominated art, fashion and interior design. Clean lines, neutral tones, and simplicity reflected a desire for order in the chaotic world. However, after a long period of stress and uncertainty, minimalism now feels sterile to many.
While other microtrends have come and gone, dressing our house and ourselves in ways that delight the inner child remains popular. According to designers, youthful motifs will play an even larger role in 2025.
This entire movement can be seen as a contemporary revival of Naïve art—an approach characterised by childlike simplicity and honesty. Often, Naïve art disregards conventional artistic principles such as linear perspective, instead producing works with skewed proportions, bold colours, intricate patterns, and an unconventional sense of depth.
Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), often credited as the first Naïve artist, was a highly skilled painter who deliberately chose to depict the world in a whimsical, childlike manner.
The Football Players, 1908 by Henri Rousseau
A prime example of a painter who successfully defied artistic conventions is the influential British artist, David Hockney. He challenged traditional colour theory, linear perspective, and proportion, masterfully balancing serenity with dynamic disruption.
Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney
Maison & Objet: Surreal Narratives and Playful Aesthetics
Maison & Objet, the leading interior design trade show, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. With its January theme Sur/Reality, the event explored the boundless energy of surreal narratives and their lasting resonance with consumers.
Surreal aesthetics remain a key theme from A/W 24/25 into S/S 25, embracing cartoon-inspired visuals. This includes chunky silhouettes, thick contours, stylised designs, and an unapologetic use of colour—mixing bold brights with softer tints.
Maison & Objet website image reproduction
Designers at Maison & Objet showcased ‘Kidult’ narratives, incorporating playful motifs and padded forms that align with WGSN’s Playful Cartoonification trend for S/S 25. This approach injects humour into everyday homewares, transforming ordinary objects into whimsical design statements.
Bringing Playful Nostalgia into Your Home
If you're unsure how to incorporate this trend into your space, look to the multidisciplinary French collective Uchronia. Their studio designs immersive “places of experience,” removing barriers between technique and creativity.
As designers Leo Porto and Felipe Rocha put it:
“If you’re not meaningfully engaging with culture, which is always in flux, you’re going to fall behind.”
At Bespoke & Co., we are always seeking to align our new collections with the latest design trends. The Lumière Collection is a stunning new range that perfectly embodies the Playful Nostalgia movement. Infused with vibrant hues and a distinctive triangular shape, this collection celebrates joyful expression, encouraging creativity and individuality in interior spaces. The Lumière Collection offers a fresh take on framing, bringing a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and fun.
