Top Visual Trends of 2025: What’s Hot, What’s Not, and What’s Totally Scroll-Worthy

If 2024 was the year of beige minimalism and AI “is this even real?” confusion, then 2025 is all about bold vibes, raw moments, and visuals that refuse to whisper. Whether you’re a brand, a newsroom, or just trying to win the group chat with your meme game, these are the trends you can’t ignore.

1. Maximalism is Back, Baby

Forget muted tones — 2025 is loud, colorful, and unapologetic. Neon gradients, clashing patterns, and graphics that practically shout at you. Think “Lisa Frank meets cyberpunk” and you’re in the right neighborhood.

2. Vertical Video Rules Everything

If it’s not vertical, did it even happen? TikTok, Reels, Shorts — the tall frame has taken over. Even newsrooms are cutting highlights to fit your thumb scroll. Horizontal is officially the landline of visuals.

3. The “Unpolished” Aesthetic

Raw. Real. Maybe even a little messy. Perfectly curated grids are out, and “I just shot this on my cracked iPhone and spilled coffee on myself” is in. People want authenticity, not Photoshop filters.

4. Climate Visuals with Punch

Big skies choked with smoke. Melting ice you can practically hear dripping. Climate visuals in 2025 are urgent, cinematic, and impossible to scroll past. The planet is the headline, and the visuals are making sure you pay attention.

5. Retro-Futurism

Thanks to gaming, AI art, and a wave of nostalgia, we’re living in a “future imagined in the ’80s” moment. Chrome, glitch effects, pixel throwbacks, synthwave palettes — visuals that make you feel like you’re inside a neon arcade.

6. Everyday Hero Shots

Frontline workers, teachers, delivery drivers, community helpers — the visual spotlight is turning toward the unsung heroes. These aren’t just feel-good images; they’re the heartwarming, shareable moments we all need.

7. Sports = Theater

Sports visuals are leaning hard into drama — slow-motion sweat drops, crowd chaos, and those priceless candid reactions. Every game feels like its own movie trailer.

2025 in a Frame

This year’s visuals are bigger, louder, and more real than ever. If it makes you stop, stare, or say “wait, I need to share this,” then it’s doing its job.

At Newscom, we’re here for it all — the bold, the raw, and the visuals that will define 2025.

Image Credits 2. Taidgh Barron/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom 3. DPST/Newscom 4. imageBROKER/Luca Gialdini/Newscom 5. LEGO Group/Cover Images/Newscom 6. Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom 7. Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom