There’s a wholly human feel to the stories in this issue where prevailing social challenges manifest in diverse responses.

In TINY, the stress of zero-hours contracts, high expectations, constant connectivity and frantic activity is countered by the art of mundane living. There is little complexity in the message here; just the somatic pleasures of domesticity, collecting and making, rain on a window, planting in a garden. The repetitive certainty of specific routines and the joy of simply existing feel aspirational.

There is a more challenging response in STITCH. Capturing a sense of the unease and uncertainty of the original, this story updates Mary Shelley’s cult Frankenstein tale for a modern age. Channelling fears about digital fakery, filters and image manipulation, the artifice and politics of hyper-femininity and customisation are all presented in a jagged, deconstructed aesthetic.

In this issue you’ll find a focus on Emerging Talent from the latest graduate shows and a curated selection from Milan Design Week of work from designers and studios established in the past five years.

Also, in this issue

– Features essays, and interviews exploring the drivers behind the 2026 forecast.

– 40 pages of design and colour and material direction and analysis.

– Global colour palettes and geographic variances for Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America, Asia, India, Australia & New Zealand.

– Continuity Colours for 2026

– Early adopters of our 2024/25 directions STILL LIFE and HACK in retail, kitchens, wallpaper, lighting and textiles.

– Focus on Emerging Talent

For 2026 forecasts, geographic focuses, in-depth seasonal CMF forecast, editorial images and more, become a Colour Hive member today.