Why I'm Ignoring The Pinterest 2025 Trend Predictions: An Essay
Inspired by Kira Klaas, here's how I'll be thinking about trends for next year
Grab a tea, settle down, we’re about to deep dive. And for my paid subscribers, there’s an exclusive treat for you at the end❤️
If you’re a creative—art director, designer, stylist, visual creator, or anyone in between—you’ve probably seen the buzz around Pinterest’s 2025 Predictions report.
It’s clear that the mood for 2025 is already brewing, and, if I’m honest, it’s tempting to dive headfirst into the latest aesthetic wave.
But honestly? I don’t like to pay too much attention to trend reports.
Not because they’re not valuable, but because I know how quickly they oversaturate our feeds, projects, and campaigns.
Trends come and go like fast fashion, so the actual trick, the real magic, lies in understanding why they’re trending.
What’s resonating with people? What’s the emotional or cultural undercurrent that’s fuelling their rise? That’s the insight worth holding onto—and the part I’m interested in.
The angle of this article was inspired by a brilliant piece written by Kira Klaas, “Who Really Creates Trends And Why?”.
Kira explored how trends aren’t random; they’re reflections of collective behaviours, anxieties, and dreams.
The line that stopped me in my tracks was this:
Don’t take trends too literally—see if you can extract the strategic insights that matter for your audience and the “why” behind emerging trends.
It was like she plucked a thought I’d never quite articulated and gave it clarity. She described a mindset I’ve been unconsciously practising but hadn’t fully acknowledged: trends are tools for strategy, not templates for imitation.
That’s the heart of this article—written from an Art Director’s POV.
So, let’s unpack it: What are 2025’s trends really about? And more importantly, how can we move beyond the scroll-and-replicate culture to create something that’s truly our own?
The 2025 TrendForecast—
The Trends + What You Can Take From Each
Recently, I wrote about how “I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Had An Original Idea In My Life”, and this feels like the antidote to that. This is my attempt to reframe how I think about trends—not as something to be followed blindly, but a chance to dig deeper, to ask better questions, and to reinterpret these insights in ways that feel fresh and original.
Cherry Coded🍒—How To Make It Your Own
Deep cherry reds are flooding my algorithms—beauty, fashion, home décor—you name it. Gen Z and Millennials seem to be leading the charge, weaving these rich, vibrant hues into their aesthetics like it’s second nature. The colour is bold. It’s confident. And, let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to ignore.
So, why it’s trending?
Why It’s Trending
Red isn’t just a colour—it’s an attitude. It screams passion, energy, and confidence (at least in Western culture—always check!!)
In times of uncertainty (and let’s be real, when isn’t there uncertainty?), bold colours give us this sense of control and power. It’s like saying, “I’m here, I’m loud, and you can’t ignore me.”
The Insight
In an oversaturated digital world, where everyone’s vying for attention, cherry red doesn’t just stand out—it dominates. Brands, creators, and designers are leaning into its intensity because it’s a shortcut to being noticed. It’s fiery, magnetic, and, honestly, just fun to work with. It’s unapologetic, and I kind of love that for it.
How To Make It Your Own
Understanding the trend is only half the story—what really matters is how you can take the essence of it, the why, and remix it into something that’s truly yours. That actually makes sense for your work.
Essentially—don’t go slapping cheery red into your project just to be on-trend.
So, before you dive headfirst into the crimson craze, ask yourself:
Is my project about passion, energy, or confidence?
If yes, is cherry red might be the best way to express it. But is there another way to evoke those feelings that feels truer to me?
Think beyond the shade itself. What does cherry red represent? Drama? Power? Bold self-expression? Once you’ve nailed the emotional core of the trend, the creative possibilities are endless. Maybe you evoke the same confidence through a bold shape, a daring texture, or even a rebellious typeface.
It’s not about copying the trend—it’s about distilling its spirit and expressing it in a way that speaks to your own creative DNA.
Sea Witchery🧜♀️—How To Make It Your Own
“Sea Witchery” is washing ashore in 2025 (sorry, I couldn’t help myself), bringing with it an air of mystery, ethereal beauty, and an unapologetically feminine edge. Think glowing underwater worlds, shimmering textures, and a palette straight from bioluminescent oceans. The allure lies in its escapism—an invitation to dive into a surreal fantasy where one can feel powerful, otherworldly, and untethered by reality.
Why It's Trending
I feel like our cultural obsession with fluidity (in identity, gender, and creativity) plays a role here. Sea Witchery embodies a boundaryless vibe—merging soft and hard, serene and dangerous. People seem to be drawn to oceanic mysticism; the sea is unpredictable, vast, and reflective of emotions we can’t always articulate.
The Insight
Culturally, the rise of this aesthetic coincides with an ever-growing desire for personal depth and complexity, a movement that’s rapidly gained traction over the years. In essence? People are bored of outdated stereotypes and singular labels. They’re interested in self-exploration and expression outside of these traditional norms.
This is more than just a look—it’s an archetype: the Sea Witch who is neither fully villain nor victim but someone who creates magic out of the unknown. This duality resonates in a world craving complexity over simplicity.
How To Make It Your Own
Before you start sprinkling pearls and iridescent textures into your creative work, think about the essence of this trend. Sea Witchery is about playful contrasts—soft femininity mixed with dark power, fluidity paired with strength. The goal is to channel the emotional depths of the aesthetic, not just mimic its surface.
Ask yourself:
What is my project trying to say? Is there a message of mystery, empowerment, or duality?
How can I represent fluidity or transformation in a way that aligns with my voice?
You don’t have to rely on literal seashells or shimmering blues. Maybe you play with flowing fabrics, glowing light effects, or visuals that feel vast and untouchable.
Trends like this are an invitation to go deeper, not just wade in the shallows. Dive in, explore, and see what treasures you can uncover that feel uniquely yours.
Goddess Complex✨—How To Make It Your Own
“Goddess Complex” is the ultimate reclaiming of divine femininity in 2025, a visual and emotional aesthetic that merges timeless power with modern self-assurance. Think gilded tones, celestial lighting, statuesque poses, and an unapologetic air of regality. It’s about elevating the self to something untouchable—a figure of reverence and inspiration, far above the mundane.
Why It's Trending
In a world that’s been saturated with relatability and raw imperfection, Goddess Complex flips the script, reminding us of the power of aspiration. It celebrates confidence, luxury, and the divine feminine, providing an antidote to an oversaturated casual aesthetic. It cuts through the noise, and is unusual to what we’re used to consuming.
The Insight
To me, the rise of the Goddess Complex speaks to a deep cultural shift toward reclamation—of power, of identity, of beauty. It aligns with the current push toward radical self-love and empowerment, particularly in Gen Z groups celebrating “being a muse moment”.
Rather than a return to the untouchable aspirations of the early 2000s, the "Goddess Complex" signifies a movement towards empowerment and self-expression. It encourages individuals to embrace their inner divinity and project confidence through their appearance.
How To Make It Your Own
Before you go full Olympian with gold drapes and ethereal lighting, ask yourself: is your project about empowerment, aspiration, or individuality? If it’s not, the Goddess Complex might feel out of place, like a marble statue plonked into a house party.
If it is about aspiration, instead of borrowing the surface-level visuals, dig into the essence of the trend:
How can you convey confidence or elevation in a way that resonates with your brand?
Could you use bold silhouettes, lighting techniques that cast your subject as larger-than-life, or even language that feels poetic and exalted?
Try to steer clear of literal replication. Ask yourself: what feels divine to you? Maybe it’s using textures that evoke strength or creating visuals that blend softness with intensity. Or it could be as simple as celebrating individuality through storytelling that positions your audience as the hero of their own narrative.
Goddess Complex is less about recreating the aesthetic and more about embodying its message: that you—and your work—are worth celebrating in a way that’s timeless, powerful, and uniquely yours.
Be the Interpreter, Not the Copier
The best art directors, creatives, and strategists aren’t trend followers—they’re trend interpreters. They connect dots others don’t see, weaving cultural insights into their work in unexpected ways.
So, here’s your permission slip to flirt with trends, but never commit to them blindly. Be curious. Ask questions. And remember: the best ideas aren’t born from replication—they’re sparked by reimagination.
What trends are you excited to see, and how will you make them yours?
But, if you’re sitting there wondering: But how do I convey passion without red? Or capture the sea witchery vibe without resorting to pearls and wet-look waves?
For my paid subscribers, I’ve added an exclusive section where I break down examples of work that nail the essence of these trends in unexpected ways—showcasing how to capture their spirit without following the obvious path. Let’s explore the magic of interpretation together.
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