Pantone’s Colour of the Year: how Mocha Mousse is shaping the creative agenda

The wait is over! The colour gods have spoken, Pantone’s 2025 pick has landed, and designers across the globe are already scheming how to put it at the heart of their next creative breakthrough. It’s like the Oscars of the visual world. And with a knack for nailing it year after year, Pantone has unsurprisingly struck gold (or dare we say brown?) once again with this carefully curated selection of PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse.

But what’s the story behind this humble hue? And how will it shake up the creative agenda in 2025? Grab your swatches and buckle in, because we’re about to give you the lowdown.

Mocha Mousse takes the top spot for 2025

Whether you’re picturing decadent desserts, an espresso-based tipple, or an inviting colour palette for a laid-back abode, Mocha Mousse is the epitome of comfort, connection, and harmony. A sign of life’s simple pleasures, this hue is imbued with subtle elegance and sensorial richness, combining earthy minimalism with a delectable luxe that other colours simply can’t emulate. It oozes sophistication, yet remains unpretentious and inviting. And Pantone has delivered a suite of colour palettes that it nestles in perfectly.

How does Pantone choose the colour of the year?

Originally created to engage the design community and colour enthusiasts across the globe, Pantone’s Colour of the Year turned 25 this year. And throughout the last two and a half decades, thoughtful trend analysis and careful consideration have underpinned every thought behind the final pick.

From macro-level forecasting to in-depth market research, the team works year-round to inform the perfect selection. No commercial agendas. No personal preferences. “We love all of our colours equally,” as the colour matching expert likes to say. But with chocolate brown’s chokehold over 2024, and a growing movement to align ourselves with the natural world, this lighter, silkier, mellower shade of brown was a natural choice for Pantone. 

More than a mere palette influencer, Pantone’s Colour of the Year is significant. It shapes narratives, defines aesthetics, and sets the tone (literally) for campaigns and strategies across the globe. Whether you’re launching a bold rebrand, designing a standout fashion collection, or creating immersive, sensory-rich retail spaces, this singular hue becomes a guidepost, a conversation starter, and a way to tap into the cultural zeitgeist.

How to make Mocha Mousse work hard in 2025

Adaptable, expressive, and rooted in authenticity, Mocha Mousse is the perfect muse for the creative community in 2025. But how can designers rinse it with genuine purpose – crafting narratives, evoking powerful emotions, and challenging conventions – over the coming year? We have some ideas.

Channel sophisticated warmth. Make Mocha Mousse the centrepiece of a tonal brown palette, enriched with shades such as chocolate, chestnut, or sepia. Empowering timeless elegance, this humble yet striking combination evokes a sense of depth and refinement that feels both grounded and luxurious. It’s the inviting warmth that hooks people in.

Layer, layer, and layer some more. Mocha Mousse nestles effortlessly into multi-coloured palettes, offsetting brighter tones while adding depth. Use it to balance vibrant accents like floral pinks or muted greens, creating harmony without losing energy.

Accentuate everyday elegance. Combine it with subtle contrasts of blue and grey for classic, understated sophistication – perfect for editorial layouts, minimalist interiors, or branding that stands the test of time.

Make mouths water. Bring Mocha Mousse’s sensorial richness to the forefront, inspiring palettes that feel as indulgent as they are inviting. Pair with confectionery hues like caramel, soft peach, or creamy whites to evoke warmth and comfort, or opt for the velvety allure of espresso for a truly enriching experience.

Lean into organic serenity. Use Mocha Mousse to echo the natural world, blending it with botanical tones for wellness campaigns, eco-conscious brands, or spaces designed to relax and restore.

Get bold with contrasts. By pairing it with unexpected pops of jewel tones or metallics, Mocha Mousse becomes a statement of refined contrast. Think packaging that feels luxurious and opulent but never overdone, drawing the eye without overwhelming.

Thinking big beyond design

Of course, we know Mocha Mousse isn’t just confined to colour swatches or delicious designs. Its essence extends even further – into content, PR, social media, digital marketing, and beyond. Even if we’re not directly showcasing it, we can channel its rich, grounding tones in the language we use, the emotions we evoke, and the narratives we build, where we sit fit.

After all, meticulous research tells us this is the cultural pulse we should be riding on in 2025. Mocha Mousse’s calming warmth and sophistication can manifest in ways that reflect culture, connect with audiences, and elevate a brand's narrative – making it a versatile, strategic tool across every touchpoint.

Love it or hate it, Mocha Mousse is impossible to ignore, proving once again that Pantone has the secret sauce when it comes to setting the creative agenda. And our crew can’t wait to get our hands all over it.

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