A Little Romance Hun?

Described as “conducive to or characterized by the expression of love”, the concept of romanticism is becoming more flexible than ever.

While some claim to be against romanticism others prefer to call for the need of a new form of romanticism. In any case one fact is louder: Z-Gen is understanding friendship as romantic connection, your pet as a romantic connection… your music, yourself or any abstract connection becomes a romance that lasts this very moment. In this flexible context the aesthetics of romance change

Digital kinships are a form of non-sexual romantic friendships:

Through social media aesthetic subcultures, Gen Z is finding the community and support they're missing from IRL experiences. Subcultures operate with their own values and visuals and offer a sense of belonging; TikTok subcultures connect people in similar ways. With Gen Z deprived of human connection, they're enduring unparalleled loneliness, making digital community critical. Gen Z spend energy and money embodying aesthetics that connect them with others, forging kinships bound by shared interests and goals online.

With AI, reproductive rights and the adult creator economy conversations around romanticism and sex are changing:

Conversations around sex and sexual health have gained popularity online, helping to reduce the stigma around subjects that were once considered taboo. Brands have an opportunity to step in as knowledge curators to offer educational content that improves consumer confidence around sexual health, wellness and pleasure. Advancements in technology, from dating apps to AR and AI, are causing digisexuality to reach the mainstream with ample brand opportunities like investing in digital care (online sex ed), partnerships with adult creators, and creating digital third spaces for artificial intimacy and meta-explorations.

Brace for digisexuality to grow in the coming years, opening up new avenues for sex tech. PornHubʼs 2023 survey saw searches for “robot” jump while terms such as “sex robot” and “AI robot” grew as well.

The global sex toy market is set to reach $80.7bn by 2030, creating opportunities for new products and services in the sex industry

From light and airy to dark and moody color combinations, here I unpack five inspiring romantic palettes for 2025-26:

Romantic Neutrals: nature-inspired hues have a grounding and reassuring appeal when used for comfort driven styles – perfect for personal restoration.

Decadent Berries: Enticing and engaging all the senses calls for colours that are intrinsically connected with themes of decadence. Cherry Lacquer captures the essence of this sensual look and feel with its sense of luxury and timelessness, well complemented by the juicy richness of Plum Berry that here takes on sensorial qualities.

Seductive Darks: Rebellious and provocative attitudes drive this mysterious palette with a subversive undertone. Considered environments and perennial products get a seductive update via a large implementation of Monumental Black and near blacks enveloping designs, interrupted by luminous gleams.

Cherry Laqueur: like a “solo” color it has has a seductive quality that taps into our deepest, darkest desires, taboos and pleasures as a form of radical escapism and self- empowerment; finishes are pivotal to bring this alluring sensoriality to products and spaces.

Retro Darks: Dystopia and #DarkRomance themes are influencing a palette of subversive darks.

Hoping these palettes are inspiring some romance to your 2025/26 design decisions romance is empowering your creativity.

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Love,

Victoria