Ubuntu 25.10 wallpaper

The default desktop features a line art quokka on a purple gradient with multiple variants and branding for the release.

Ubuntu 25.10 introduces Questing Quokka wallpaper and mascot

Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka shows off its new default wallpaper and official mascot artwork, posted by Canonical on Launchpad. The image centers a line art quokka against a purple gradient, with 3D shapes to add depth. A dashed line runs across a topographic map and passes the Ubuntu circle of friends logo, a nod to the questing part of the codename. The release keeps the familiar visual theme used since 17.10, while offering a light, dimmed, and dynamic variant that adjusts with dark or light mode. Canonical's team also prepared four alternate designs that extend the map motif across the full wallpaper. The new assets are not yet included in daily builds but have been added to the ubuntu-wallpapers source code for future packaging. The mascot and artwork will appear in the installer, in distro documentation, and marketing graphics. Daily users will see the wallpaper through a software update, and non developer users will download the designs from Google Drive when released, avoiding compressed versions in this post.

As with prior Ubuntus, the wallpaper is part of a broader branding strategy that ties the codename to a human touch. The design supports a consistent visual language across releases while giving designers room to experiment with motifs. The kit includes light and dimmed versions to reduce eye strain and to fit dark mode. The four alternate designs expand the map motif and keep the quokka at the center in different colorways. The preview of these assets on Launchpad reflects a stance of transparency about branding and user experience. The assets will also influence installers and documentation, signaling that branding and usability remain intertwined as the project evolves. Non development users will access the final images via official channels once packaged for general releases, while dev builds will pick them up through updates.

Branding matters in open source projects because a mascot and wallpaper become a quiet touchpoint for community identity. The quokka motif links Ubuntu to its codename in a playful, approachable way, which can help new users feel welcome in a space that can feel technical. The designs also show a careful balance between consistency and novelty, keeping a familiar map motif while offering new variants for different modes and contexts.

At the same time, the rollout reveals the practical side of open source branding. Some users may never see the new images if they rely on minimal installs or if the assets arrive only through updates that follow later in a cycle. The reliance on external downloads for non developers underlines how branding work sits at the edge of marketing and engineering readiness. Overall, the move signals that Canonical wants branding to be part of the user journey, not just a backdrop for the system.

Highlights

Branding meets function as Ubuntu grows with each release.