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Research Revealing the Biggest

Research Revealing the Biggest Branding Trends for 2025

5 Mins Read
November 4, 2024
Branding

As seen in

Key takeaways:

Men are more likely to call AI branding interesting.
Mission-based branding is most interesting to Millennials.
Humanized branding (e.g., hand-written fonts and illustration) is seen as the most different (39%).
Branding featuring AI is now the most overused, and 43% now see it often (up from 38%).

Objective: Our mid-2024 branding trend survey revealed a preference for bright, bold branding and showed that consumers are tiring of absurdist and silly branding. With 2025 just around the corner, we’re checking in on consumer perceptions, expectations, and the trends they see the most.

Question one: Rank the following branding trends from most to least impactful for a brand you’re considering a purchase with.

Branding trends surveyed: Minimalism, Nostalgia, Mission-driven, Bright, bold branding, Humanized branding (hand-written fonts, illustration, etc), Playful or silly branding, Branding featuring AI.

Question two: How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

Overused
Different
Interesting
Uninspiring
Neutral

Question three: How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

Very often
Often
A few times
Rarely
Never

Audience: A representative panel of American consumers aged 18 – 64.

Overall Results

Bright, bold branding is still the most interesting (57%).
Humanized branding (e.g., hand-written fonts and illustration) is seen as the most different (39%).
Branding featuring AI is now the most overused, and 43% now see it often (up from 38%).

Rank the following branding trends from most to least impactful for a brand you’re considering a purchase with.

From most to least impactful, consumers chose:

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

Any questions? Let our research support your next article — completely free (some limitations apply).

Gender Breakdown

Men are more likely to call AI branding interesting, and less likely to call it overused.
60% of women vs. just 35% of men say they’ve seen AI branding ‘very often’ or ‘often’.
56% of women called playful or silly branding interesting, vs. 43% of men.

Men

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

Women

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

Age Breakdown

59% of 25 – 34s called mission-driven branding interesting, vs. 42% of of 45 – 64s and 43% of 18 – 25s.
36% of 55 – 64s called branding featuring AI uninspiring.

18 – 24

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

25 – 34

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

35 – 44

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

45 – 54

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

55 – 64

How would you describe each of the following branding trends? Pick up to two descriptors for each.

How often have you come across the following branding trends within the last 3 months?

Conclusion

We found that 25 – 44s, roughly corresponding to the Millennial age range, were substantially more positive about mission-based branding than all other age groups, including under 25s and over 55s. Meanwhile, men are more interested in, and less exposed to, AI branding than women.

Tracking these trends for your brand — and your audience — could help you connect with customers in 2025.

If you’re interested in digging deeper into our findings, or asking your own questions on consumer, branding and worklife topics, contact thom@atomradar.com to learn more.