welcome. welcome. welcome….2026.
We’re back for 2026 after a genuinely great break. Rested, recharged and ready. But refreshed does not mean louder, faster or busier.
It means clearer. And more intentional.
At Paliant Design, we are big on energy. We feel it in people, in brands and in the work itself. Reading the room, sensing momentum and knowing when to push or pause is part of how we do our best work. But high energy without boundaries quickly turns into noise, and that’s not where great thinking lives.
Which is why 2026 feels different.
Whether you believe in Chinese astrology or not, the shift in energy is hard to ignore. Last year felt heavy. Burnout was everywhere. Overwhelm became normalised.
This year, there’s a clear appetite for something different.
Less chaos.
More clarity.
More considered ways of working that actually feel sustainable.
For us, that means doing what branding specialists actually do: creating strategic clarity first, then building brand systems that hold together across every touchpoint. From identity and messaging through to campaigns, packaging and rollout, the focus is on consistency, coherence and work that performs long after launch, not just in the moment.
We’re stepping into the Year of the Fire Horse. Bold. Driven. Forward-moving. High energy, but only when it has purpose. At the same time, we’re still shedding the skin of the Snake year, shaped by reflection, recalibration and quiet transformation.
That shedding matters. Because Fire Horse energy does not thrive on clutter, overthinking or constant reaction. It thrives on clarity, momentum and direction.
Maybe it’s something we need to believe in to help shift the energy.
Maybe it’s how we make sense of why last year felt so tough.
Or maybe it’s simply a way to put it in a box, acknowledge it, and send it on its way.
Whatever the reason, one thing feels true: we don’t get stuck in what was. We decide what comes next.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
– Maya Angelou
And perhaps the same is true of momentum, clarity and luck. When we choose intention, we create our own.
Here’s to a bold, focused and forward-moving 2026.
Let’s do our best work yet.