Is flawless a thing of the past?
In an increasingly digital world, the desire for authenticity, individuality, and tangible experiences is growing. The trend team at surface finishing specialist LEONHARD KURZ has explored how this societal shift is influencing colors, materials, and packaging.
At LUXE PACK Monaco, the company will showcase four current design trends, presented in the already multi-award-winning “60° number three – creative boxes to inspire” format.
Today, digital images and visual concepts can be created and perfected in next to no time. At the same time, there is a growing desire for the opposite: objects with character, materials that can be physically experienced, and designs that do not appear infinitely reproducible.
This shift is also influencing packaging design. The KURZ trend team has been studying societal and design developments for many years. For “60° number three,” the team identified four movements that point to a common development: design is becoming less focused on perfection and more focused on meaning.
From a new honesty to the desire for comfort
The four trends demonstrate the wide range of responses to increasing digitalization and complexity.
“A Place Called Culture” deliberately looks beyond the mainstream. Subcultures and alternative lifestyles inspire raw, dark, and imperfect designs that express individuality and attitude.
“Hive Mind” contrasts rapid technological development with a fundamental human need: genuine connection. Technology and humanity merge in design just as they do in everyday life.
“Néon Brutalism” moves away from flawless surfaces. Materials are allowed to reveal their origins, while textures and traces of the manufacturing process remain visible. Imperfection is not concealed but becomes a sign of authenticity.
“Soft Resilience,” by contrast, responds to feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty. Soft shapes, tactile textures, calming colors, and playful elements convey a sense of comfort and lightness.
“At first glance, the four trends look very different. But they are all driven by the same question: In an increasingly digital world, what do we still perceive as authentic and valuable? We are seeing individuality, the physical experience of products, and emotional impact become increasingly important. This is exactly what we want to make visible and tangible in packaging,” says Julia König, Head of Design Packaging and Print at KURZ.
Packaging with no defined top or bottom
KURZ demonstrates what this can look like with four so-called creative boxes from the latest 60° series. The experimental packages serve as three-dimensional canvases for the respective trends.
In developing them, the design team deliberately broke with a familiar principle: packaging is usually designed one side at a time. In the new concepts, abstract patterns instead extend across the entire package. There is no predetermined top, bottom, front, or back. The visual effect changes depending on how the box is viewed.
The designs themselves were also initially created by hand. In the age of generative AI, this was a deliberate choice: the human touch is not meant to disappear, but to remain an integral part of the design.
Premium papers from Fedrigoni
Fedrigoni makes a significant contribution to the distinctive tactile and visual quality of this year’s trend boxes. As the project’s paper sponsor, the Italian specialty paper manufacturer provided the premium materials used for the boxes and the four individual trend worlds.
With their distinctive surfaces, colors, and tactile qualities, the papers were carefully matched to the different design concepts. Fedrigoni Sirio Rough Perla 350 g/m² was used for the outer boxes. Each of the four trends has its own distinct paper character: “A Place Called Culture” features Materica Ardesia 250 g/m², “Hive Mind” uses Sirio Sale Rosa 210 g/m², “Néon Brutalism” features Tintoretto Ceylon Cumino 250 g/m², and “Soft Resilience” uses Freelife Kendo 250 g/m².
This makes each trend world an experience not only visually, but also through touch.
“Paper is more than just a surface—it gives color, texture, and character to every creative expression. For ‘60° number three – creative boxes to inspire,’ we carefully curated a selection of papers to bring each trend to life. At the heart of the project is Sirio Color, our iconic range of uncoated colored papers. We complemented it with Materica, with its distinctive mineral depth, and Freelife Kendo, with its soft, natural feel. Combined with KURZ’s finishing expertise, the collection demonstrates the creative possibilities that emerge when papers with distinctive character meet advanced finishing techniques. We are proud to be part of this inspiring collaboration,” says Charlotte Courtot, Senior Trade Marketing Manager & Luxury, Fedrigoni Special Papers.
Trend colors as a reflection of the times
In addition to the packaging concepts, KURZ will present eight new trend colors at LUXE PACK. The palette ranges from intense green and transparent Electric Blue to beige and earthy tones, as well as the pink-and-silver Bubblegum Dust.
The Bubblegum Dust trend color is a true innovation: pink, cloud-like structures meet a shimmering silver surface. With LUXOR® MTS-PC 111905 N, KURZ is presenting a LUXOR® product with its own distinctive decorative design for the first time. Its deliberately irregular appearance reflects the overarching idea behind the trends: imperfect individuality rather than perfect uniformity.
For KURZ, these colors are more than a forecast of emerging color palettes. They reflect broader societal moods—from the search for calm and security to the desire for provocation, optimism, or escapism.
KURZ has been exploring these societal and design developments through its Trend Colors program for ten years. This continuous trend research generates ideas for colors and surfaces, which in turn provide inspiration for new finishing solutions.
To mark the tenth anniversary, the trend colors are being presented in a new format. Visitors to LUXE PACK Monaco can look forward to something special at the KURZ booth: each visitor will receive a sample of one trend color as a “ticket” into the world of surface finishing. At the same time, the sample offers a first preview of an upcoming KURZ Collectors Box.
KURZ will present the new “60° number three – creative boxes to inspire” and the accompanying trend colors at LUXE PACK Monaco from September 28–30, 2026. The international trade show brings together brands, designers, and manufacturers from the premium packaging industry.
Visitors can experience the new surfaces and packaging concepts at the KURZ booth, DA09.