Exploring the Potential of Pantone Color of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse in Branding

Pantone, the global color authority and provider of professional color standards, has unveiled PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse as its Color of the Year 2025. This warm brown hue evokes a comforting sense of familiarity, reminiscent of cocoa and coffee. In the official press release, Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, stated: “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe. Infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse presents a discrete and tasteful touch of glamour.  A flavorful brown shade, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse envelopes us with its sensorial warmth.” Pantone’s annual color choice has become a vital reference point for the global design community, offering digital solutions for diverse creative needs. To delve deeper into the potential of PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, Grafis Masa Kini spoke with Katarina Monika, Creative Director of SOSJ Design Bureau, about how designers can incorporate this color into branding strategies.

As a seasoned branding professional, Monika had anticipated that brown would be the color Pantone highlighted for 2025. She observed an emerging trend in the use of brown across industries, from fashion to branding, as early as 2024. “Vibrant colors had their moment in previous years. If you look at the cycle, trends tend to revolve and repeat. Warm and neutral colors like brown haven’t been trending for a while, and somehow, brown can bring a sense of calmness, which we need right now,” Monika explained. Aligning with Monika’s observation, Pantone conducts in-depth research before deciding on its Color of the Year. Each year, Pantone selects a shade that captures the global zeitgeist. The Color of the Year reflects the collective mood—encapsulating global needs in a distinctive hue. Addressing the global issues that influenced the choice of Mocha Mousse, Monika noted that economic, social, and cultural instability characterizes this era. Amid rapid changes, humanity is still recovering from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. From mental health concerns to environmental issues, people are navigating uncertainty and seeking stability. “I believe this color responds to all of that. When you look at its spectrum, Mocha Mousse exudes warmth. Psychologically, this shade of brown conveys calmness and stability. It’s also authentic, traditional, and evokes wisdom, fostering a sense of optimism,” Monika elaborated.

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Discussing today’s global concerns, it is impossible to ignore technological advancements, particularly the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has sparked unease for some. There is a longing for analog elements, steering people away from futuristic shades like silver and toward nostalgic, warm tones like Mocha Mousse. Regarding environmental issues, sustainability remains a key theme among global leaders in recent years. Monika pointed out that Mocha Mousse, rooted in brown, resonates deeply with natural elements. “Naturally, brown is present in the environment—soil, trees, and other elements of nature interact. I think shades of brown like Mocha Mousse remind us to reconnect with nature and heighten our awareness of environmental issues,” she added.

In branding, brown’s resonance with global challenges can address various design needs. Color itself is a crucial element in branding design. “Aside from the name, color is the identity people remember most about a brand. Sometimes, people forget logos or names but remember the color,” Monika noted. She believes that Mocha Mousse can support various branding concepts, strengthening a brand’s visual identity, particularly in the Food and Beverages (F&B) sector. Its name alone, Mocha Mousse, carries strong F&B connotations. With its neutral spectrum, Mocha Mousse serves as a versatile color that can complement other design elements seamlessly. “With a neutral color like this, it’s important to consider the context the brand wants to communicate and pair it effectively because Mocha Mousse is inherently versatile,” Monika explained. She envisioned how designers could use the shade for branding an organic restaurant, pairing Mocha Mousse with other organic tones like green. Alternatively, for branding an industrial-style coffee shop, Mocha Mousse harmonizes well with material-inspired colors such as gray, brick red, and wooden browns. Sophisticated branding for bars or five-star restaurants could also be enhanced by Mocha Mousse, lending a touch of luxury. When combined with monochromatic tones or contemporary colors like fuchsia or blue, Mocha Mousse offers the balance needed for a brand to appear warm and approachable to consumers. “This neutral color, Mocha Mousse, provides balance. When paired with other colors, it helps them stand out and appear clearer. Mocha Mousse can also function as a background color,” Monika added.

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Beyond F&B branding, the fashion and beauty industries can also incorporate Mocha Mousse into their visual identities and design elements. As a standalone color, Mocha Mousse takes on a nude quality, serving as a natural base akin to skin tones. With the right combinations, it can emphasize elegance in a genderless way, facilitating the creation of branding materials for a wide target market. “Sometimes, the challenge with clients is that their brand targets primarily women, but they don’t want to exclude potential male customers. Mocha Mousse is a great option for such flexible needs,” Monika said. In beauty branding, Mocha Mousse is a clean and natural shade, aligning perfectly with products promoting a no-makeup makeup look. Using Mocha Mousse in beauty branding can enhance the user’s natural character, allowing them to stand out.

While Mocha Mousse is a neutral color that pairs easily with others, designers must consider additional visual elements to maximize its use in branding and packaging design. According to Monika, medium collaboration is key. Incorporating effects and textures into the design can elevate Mocha Mousse by stimulating sensory experiences. “For instance, we can combine Mocha Mousse with material finishes like soft leather or suede. When touched, it feels incredibly smooth, much like the texture of mousse,” Monika explained. When blending textures with Mocha Mousse, designers must be sensitive to the brand’s intended communication. Each texture paired with Mocha Mousse conveys a different impression—raw, luxurious, organic, or contemporary. Additionally, designers should consider how Mocha Mousse interacts with other design elements like logos, typography, and supporting images. Monika concluded that Pantone Color of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse is a clean color akin to a blank canvas, ready to be integrated with various design elements.

With its strong elegance and natural nuance, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse can stand alone or serve as a versatile foundation that enriches design applications. More than that, Mocha Mousse brings harmony that inspires inner peace, offering tranquility and balance while aligning us with the world around us. As Leatrice Eiseman noted, “With that in mind, for Pantone Color of the Year 2025 we look to a color that reaches into our desire for comfort and wellness, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”

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About the Author

Alessandra Langit

Alessandra Langit is a writer with seven years of diverse media experience. She loves exploring the quirks of girlhood through her visual art and reposting Kafka’s diary entries at night.