Whiplash Team, January 10th 2025
The Color of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse
Pantone has spoken, and its choice for the Color of the Year 2025, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, is no ordinary hue. This soft, sophisticated brown makes a statement: embrace warmth, authenticity, and a reconnection with the essentials.
Each year, the Pantone Color Institute, a leader in color research and standardization, known for its Pantone color coding system, selects a “Color of the Year” that influences global color trends. In 2025, Mocha Mousse emerges as a visual motto that translates our longing for calm and elegance in a world overwhelmed by sensory saturation.
For Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the institute, which provides color management and consulting services to industries such as fashion, graphic design, printing, and industrial design, this shade “balances luxury and authenticity like no other.” She notes that it evokes the comfort of home but also the sophistication of meticulously crafted design.
“It’s a color that invites us to find beauty in simplicity and luxury in the everyday,” adds Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director.
A color reflecting sustainability
According to the Pantone Color Institute, this hue also strengthens our connection with nature and conscious consumption. More than just a color, they say, Mocha Mousse is a reminder that sustainability and design are not mutually exclusive.
“Harmony is the key to satisfaction and a deep connection with our surroundings,” states Pressman. This versatile brown symbolizes the collective search for balance and inner peace, uniting the modern world with timeless beauty.
Design and branding: mocha mousse’s visual narrative
Color, along with other visual elements like typography, plays a crucial role in how a brand is perceived. Colors are not just decorative; they carry a subtle message that impacts consumer perception.
Well-executed, coherent design establishes an emotional connection with consumers, allowing them to identify with the brand’s values and personality.
Color transcends the boundaries of graphic design. In branding, design extends to all facets of a product or service, from its creation to its marketing.
This includes not only packaging but also the way products are perceived and experienced. The pursuit of authenticity in design also translates into the creation of tangible experiences, including product quality and the emotional value attached to it.
A palette of possibilities
Mocha Mousse is not just for looking at. It is for feeling and living. Its applications span a wide range of creative disciplines, inspiring designers to innovate:
- Fashion and accessories: Adds sophistication to both luxurious materials like leather and velvet, and light fabrics that flow with elegance. Its neutrality makes it a must-have in accessories.
- Beauty and personal care: Enhances authenticity with minimalist looks that highlight natural beauty, a key trend in the industry.
- Interior design: From walls to furniture, this shade creates environments that balance coziness with exclusivity.
- Packaging and digital media: Its tactile warmth invites a sensory experience, perfect for brands prioritizing craftsmanship and sustainability.
Pantone and its global impact
The impact of Mocha Mousse transcends borders and disciplines. The launch of the Color of the Year 2025 was celebrated with a spectacular lighting display at the lastminute.com London Eye, marking the start of a global tour. From New York to Mumbai, the world will be immersed in its warmth.
Additionally, brands like Motorola and Joybird have integrated this color into products that blend nostalgia with modernity, ensuring that its influence lasts throughout the year.
