4 Key CMF Trends for Consumer Electronics

As a craving for more sensory stimulation in our digital lives grows, new avenues for sensorial design are emerging to help stir the senses. In CMF terms, this is manifesting as dynamic colour, light and transparency play, as well as ethereal glow-in-the-dark effects.

British brand Nothing has incorporated a phosphorescent finish on the back of its Phone 2A Plus Community Edition (a limited-edition version co-created with five members of its community). Inspired by fireflies, the green glowing design charges via daylight and requires no additional power source to maintain its effect.

Meanwhile, innovative display prototypes that explore transparent and malleable properties offer entirely new interactions with technology. Chinese brand Lenovo’s Project Crystal laptop has a completely see-through screen for a borderless experience, while Korean tech company LG Display’s latest stretchable display can be freely transformed into different shapes and expanded by up to 50%. The latter’s material-like qualities could make it suitable for applications across industries, from fashion and wearables to mobility.

See our S/S 2026 Colour & Material Direction Enshrine for more enticing CMF.

Aluminium is gaining favour over plastic for product casings because of its timeless high-quality appeal and recyclability. Refined surface finishes and technical crafting define this premium yet pragmatic direction.

As demonstrated by French company We Are Rewind’s cassette players, precision CNC-machining and anodising in cool, striking shades brings a contemporary edge to retro-inspired products, while sleek, minimalist designs with modular constructions intend to ease repairs and enhance product longevity. Swedish brand Nocs adopts a ‘no frills’ approach for its Monolith Aluminium speaker, while the recently launched Brutalist Speaker from Transparent (also Swedish) is crafted from 70% post-consumer aluminium.

Bringing a more artisanal quality to monomaterial thinking is the Cast speaker by Australian designer Tom Fereday for Tasmanian brand Pitt & Giblin. It’s constructed from cast aluminium that is honed and wax-finished to achieve a raw, natural surface effect.

Aligning with our A/W 24/25 Direction Frolic, and feeding into the burgeoning merch boom, is a light-hearted, playful and inclusive direction that taps into hobbies and whimsical expression. Bold colour, friendly forms and characterful motifs feature alongside fantasy- and retro-inspired designs.

Gracing product surfaces and tech accessories, cartoon characters and graphic print and pattern are hugely varied, spanning florals, psychedelic artworks, manga, and Medieval-inspired monks and typefaces. Meanwhile, customisation options are more expansive (see Dyson’s OnTrac headphones) and decorative details more elaborate and embellished (see Susan Alexandra for Bose).

Elsewhere, positive child-friendly tech is growing in significance amid parental concerns around screen time. Simple interfaces and joyful colours combine to encourage engagement and play. London-based agency Morrama, for instance, has opted for a palette of saturated lavender, marigold, periwinkle and apple green for its Mindful AI tools for kids.

See our Colour & Material Directions Circus, Simplicity and Quirk for more on how this direction is set to evolve in 2025 and beyond.

While unobtrusive tech that blends harmoniously into contemporary interiors prevails, a more low-fi and mindful story is emerging to counter our digital dependence and screen time.

Minimalist devices, devoid of excessive stimuli, seek to induce calm via grounding materiality and simple black and white interfaces. E-ink and matt OLED screens evoke the analogue quality of paper while helping to reduce eye strain, and screenless products rely on organic, ergonomic forms that promote touch (see Terra by Modem Works).

New surface finish Ceraluminum, developed by Taiwanese company Asus, also seeks to encourage touch. Influenced by the reassuring tactility of ceramic and stone, the aluminium-ceramic hybrid is recyclable and scratch-resistant, and currently features in two subdued colourways (Zumaia Grey and Scandinavian White) for its latest Zenbook laptops.