Sunday 06 / July / 2025
Asian Paints Berger, the recipient of Oman’s Most Trusted Brand award, announced ‘Cardinal’ as its Colour of the Year during ColourNext 2025 event held at the St Regis Al Mouj. The event served as a celebration of colour, culture, and creativity, drawing design luminaries from across Oman, Bahrain, and the UAE.
Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, the evening was attended by Joseph Eapen, Chief Executive of Asian Paints International, and G. Gopalakrishnan, General Manager of Asian Paints Berger Oman. The gathering brought together a vibrant community of architects, designers, and thought leaders for a first look at the ideas shaping the future of design in the region.
The centerpiece of the evening was the reveal of Cardinal, a rich and dusky hue that speaks to the growing importance of emotional resonance in design.
Complementing this announcement, Asian Paints also unveiled three influential design directions for 2025, each shaped by insights from the company’s extensive trend forecasting initiative, ColourNext. Now in its third decade, ColourNext continues to lead the way in translating global cultural shifts into actionable design themes, using the lenses of colour, texture, material, and mood.
The first of these design directions, ‘Bad Taste?’, is a bold commentary on traditional design norms. It challenges traditional ideas of beauty and balance by embracing things that feel awkward on purpose, are overly decorative, or express raw emotions. The centerpiece of this corner was the “Prince”, a colourful sculpture by famous Omani artist Hassan Meer.
The second trend, ‘Salt’, draws inspiration from one of the world’s most essential and symbolic minerals. Salt is ever-present—quiet yet indispensable—and its metaphoric richness serves as a foundation for this minimalist yet profound design approach.
The third trend, ‘Feel More’, champions design that not only pleases the eye but also nurtures the soul. This trend encourages the creation of sensory-rich environments and spaces that embrace softness, warmth, and emotional complexity. Through gentle materials, layered lighting, and subtle detail, Feel More cultivates environments that support vulnerability, reflection, and deep emotional connection.
Reflecting on the event and the larger vision behind it, Joseph Eapen, CEO of Asian Paints International, said: “At Asian Paints, we believe innovation must resonate beyond functionality—it must connect emotionally and culturally. Our mission is to inspire living spaces that are not only beautiful but meaningful, and ColourNext is our platform to lead that conversation.”
With the unveiling of Cardinal and the powerful narratives behind this year’s trends, Asian Paints once again affirms its position at the forefront of design thinking in the region. It continues to push boundaries and ignite inspiration—crafting homes, spaces, and experiences that are vibrant, human, and deeply relevant to the times we live in.
