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Brands Are Ditching Minimalism – Is ‘Loud’ Design Making a Comeback?

  • Writer: PAG
    PAG
  • Feb 25
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 1


ASICS logo in bold, black letters on a white background. The letter "A" is stylized. Mood is professional and sleek.









For years, brands have played it safe with minimalist design—neutral colors, sans-serif fonts, and clean, corporate aesthetics. But lately, something’s changing. Loud, chaotic, and personality-packed branding is making a comeback, and it’s showing up everywhere from packaging to digital campaigns.


Black sneaker with a white swoosh on left; white sneaker with orange-pink sole on right, colorful abstract background.



Why Minimalism Took Over




Minimalism wasn’t just a design trend—it was a branding strategy. Brands went stripped-down to appear sleek, sophisticated, and universally appealing. It worked for Apple, it worked for Nike, and soon, everyone followed. But in the process, many brands became indistinguishable from one another. The result? A wave of brands that looked… the same.




Who’s Leading the Loud Design Movement?




Oatly’s ‘Loud & Playful Packaging’ Movement

In 2025, Oatly doubled down on maximalist, chaotic branding, turning its packaging and advertising into a visual playground of bold fonts, handwritten doodles, and quirky messaging. Instead of clean, corporate designs, Oatly’s cartoons are packed with conversational copy, playful contradictions, and self-aware humor—creating a brand identity that feels more human, rebellious, and unfiltered.


Magazine spread with Oatly ad. Left page shows a milk carton with text "No Artificial Badness." Right page has a pink illustration of a figure with playful text about fiber and health effects. Mood is fun and informative.


Burger King

Their bold rebrand ditched modern minimalism for a vibrant, retro-inspired identity packed with playful typography and a saturated color palette. It feels fresh yet nostalgic, standing out in the fast-food space.


Grid with Burger King logos, a cartoon burger, ingredients icons, and text like "Hearty Melty" and "Home of the Whopper." Bold colors.

Gucci

From maximalist fashion campaigns to surreal advertising visuals, Gucci has embraced loud storytelling to create immersive, high-impact brand moments. Their campaigns blur the line between art and commercial messaging.


Three stylish individuals at a dining table, one in a turquoise fur, another in a green suit, with vibrant flowers. Retro, cool ambiance. gucci campaign


Tony’s Chocolonely


From eye-catching packaging to mission-driven campaigns, Tony’s Chocolonely has embraced bold, maximalist storytelling to turn chocolate into a statement. Their branding is a riot of colors, oversized typography, and chaotic layouts, making every bar feel like a protest poster. But beyond the visuals, Tony’s uses its branding to educate, provoke, and challenge the industry, blurring the line between activism and commercial storytelling. Every design choice reinforces their mission—making ethical chocolate impossible to ignore.



Tony's Chocolonely image with large red text on a blue background. Bars hold signs: "FAIR" and speech bubbles. Text: "jaarverslag 2023/2024".




What do we think about this?


Minimalism won’t disappear, but brands can’t rely on it as a default. The future of branding is about having a distinct voice—whether that’s loud and chaotic or quiet and refined, it has to be intentional. If everyone is still whispering, the ones who dare to be loud will get heard.


Branding today isn’t about fitting in—it’s about standing out. We’re entering an era where brands are turning up the volume, injecting more personality, and pushing creative boundaries. The question isn’t whether loud branding will last—it’s whether brands can afford to stay quiet.


So, next time you’re designing your brand’s identity, ask yourself: are you making a statement, or are you just another whisper in the crowd?



Thank you for spending time at the Trend Desk


Black text logo reads "ANTONIMA STUDIO" on a white background. Bold, uppercase letters convey a modern, artistic aesthetic.

 
 
 

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