Escapism, nostalgia and cartoon aesthetics, where hyperreal materials and playful exaggeration define the CMF directions for the 2026/27 design direction SELF.
Faced with uncertainty about the future, SELF embraces escapism, nostalgia and the playful aesthetics of childhood. This 27-page report explores how hyperreal materials, bold graphics and exaggerated proportions are shaping a design direction rooted in fantasy.
This story draws on cartoon-inspired visuals, upcycled toys and plasticine-like surfaces, creating a world where objects feel malleable, oversized and joyfully artificial. A palette of saturated primaries and soft pastels enhances this sense of nostalgia, merging childhood references with a tongue-in-cheek take on contemporary design.
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