– Diesel Spring RTW, 2025

Western Esotericism

A Color Board Analysis and Trend Forecast for Diesel’s Spring/Summer 2026

The Ask:

Tasked with developing a Spring/Summer 2026 color and trend forecast for a brand of our choosing.

Florence, Italy

Applied Skills:

MARKET Research & Analysis

VISUAL Storytelling

CULTURAL Communication

COLOR & MATERIAL Direction

BRAND Positioning

Process:

DIESEL BRAND Analysis

3. TEXTURAL IMAGE Curation

2. DEVELOPING the Color Story

4. TRANSLATING STORYTELLING into Visual Direction

A Collaborative Effort

Venice, Italy

This trend forecasting project was developed in collaboration with my close friend and roommate at Santa Reparata International School of Art, Kimanh Tran. Working together allowed us to merge our distinct creative perspectives while maintaining a unified vision.

Through this collaboration process, we were able to challenge one another, broaden our viewpoints, and produce a more forward-thinking forecast. Our combined approach resulted in a project that is both conceptually rich and visually compelling, reflecting the value of true creative collaboration.

1. Diesel Brand Analysis

While exploring Florence, Kimanh and I visited the local Diesel store to gather inspiration for our trend-forecasting project.

We analyzed textures, identified recurring color ranges, and spoke with sales associates about top-selling items. Engaging our senses in a brick-and-mortar environment helped ground our forecast in real, observable consumer behavior.

-Diesel Store, Firenze

2. Developing the Color Story

Our color story emerged from blending Pantone’s 2026 forecasts with Diesel’s signature hues, reimagined through a futuristic, experimental lens and accented with a range of metallic tones.

Our main shade, Rustic Amber, emphasizes a bold collaboration of rebellion and introspection. Rustic Amber embodies earthy warmth with a gritty edge. It channels the raw, grounded energy of summer while hinting at an unconventional spirit.

3. Textural Image Curation

This collection’s textural vision is driven by a desire to craft garments that invite touch and deepen the wearer’s connection to the pieces. Incorporating elements such as pronounced ridges, rugged surfaces, smooth and lustrous fabrics, metallic embellishments, and refined metal hardware, the collection creates a layered sensory experience. These textural choices not only elevate the visual identity of the garments but also encourage individuality and personal expression.

Image curation was conducted based on material choice:

-Diesel Milan Fashion Week, 2022

4. Translating Storytelling into Visual Direction

By layering rich, tangible textures and pairing warm, earthy tones with metallic highlights, the visual narrative invites the viewer to almost feel the fabrics, capturing a sensory experience that balances grounded authenticity with bold, forward-looking innovation.