Discover next year’s emergent aesthetics with Stocksy’s 2025 Visual Trends Report

In today’s fast-paced digital age, visual media is constantly evolving. Styles emerge, fade, and morph, shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world. Stocksy United, a pioneering artist-owned stock media agency, is at the forefront of this creative exploration. This year, their annual Visual Insights Report offers a deep dive into the emerging patterns defining the visual landscape, from ‘old soul energy’ to ‘food-onomics.’

“We’re always trying to get closer to understanding the drivers behind emergent phenomena,” Genevieve Ross, Stocksy’s creative director, tells It’s Nice That. Stocksy’s distinctive approach to analysis goes beyond spotting passing fads. “We’re looking at what is emergent but not obvious. At Stocksy, our cooperative structure lays the foundation for a unique, collaborative effort in shaping the Visual Insights Report,” adds Genevieve. “It’s very much a collective effort, and I think that’s what makes the insights we share feel so grounded and forward-looking.”

One of the most intriguing themes in the report is ‘bad form.’ This movement celebrates the raw and imperfect, embracing lo-fi aesthetics and user-generated content. “Artists are knowingly appropriating amateur production aesthetics,” Genevieve says. “This purposeful use of ‘bad’ technique can be a powerful narrative device.”

In contrast, the ‘down key shift’ focuses on a more introspective and calming aesthetic. This move towards softer, more muted tones reflects our increasing need for moments of peace in a chaotic world. “This tonal change is more native to how we experience somatic perception, embodiment, and memory,” Genevieve explains. “We’re biologically attracted to immediacy and vibrancy, but it gets tiring when everything is shouting at you.”

Turning toward the hand-crafted aesthetic, ‘old soul energy’ blends classic design sensibilities with modern values. It emphasizes quality craftsmanship, timeless design, and the idea that contemporary luxury is rooted in meaning and intention, not excess.

Meanwhile, ‘food-onomics’ showcases the growing importance of food in our lives, from farm-to-table experiences to the art of entertaining. This concept highlights a transformation in consumer behavior, with food becoming a creative tool and a signifier of identity and culture.

Finally, ‘an imperfect life’ embraces the beauty of flaws, focusing on connection, resilience, and joy in the everyday. “Be as real as you possibly can,” Genevieve says, emphasizing the value of authenticity. “Realness can be expressed in so many different tones: you can be frank, sincere, playful. It’s that bit of daring and depth that really resonates in today’s visual storytelling.” This approach responds to the reorganization of success into more attainable, inclusive, and communal ideals.

With the rise of AI, Stocksy remains committed to human-centered curation. “Authentic creative work isn’t going to disappear,” Genevieve affirms. “We’re focused on the qualities unique to human creativity: depth, nuance, and a genuine connection to societal changes.” By understanding the forces shaping our world, as outlined in Stocksy’s 2025 Visual Trends Report, designers, creatives, and anyone invested in the future of visual media can craft more meaningful work. “Stocksy is one of the only stock libraries that doesn’t allow AI-generated work, which keeps us focused on the unpredictable and layered nature of human creativity—those imperfections, complexities, and perspectives that algorithms can’t replicate.”