2025 Design Trends Forecast

12 Trends to Know

We’re absolutely thrilled about the fantastic design trends that will light this year. It’s a year that promises new trends with impressive visual styles, taking us from undesign and mismatched styles to an AI/analog crossover.

So, buckle up to discover these 12 graphic design predictions that await us in the next months!

1. Mismatch, Bright Colors & Undesign

This design trend brings bold energy by mixing fonts of different widths, styles, and sizes, paired with vibrant, contrasting colors. Think ‘90s magazine letter cutouts but reimagined with a modern, digital edge. It’s all about embracing contrast and imperfection for a quirky, eye-catching aesthetic that’s perfect for small businesses looking to stand out.

Font Variety: A playful mix of sizes, shapes, and widths.
Bold Color Contrasts: Bright hues that command attention.
Asymmetry & Irregular Spacing: Dynamic layouts that break the rules.
Expressive Wordmarks: Quirky, oversized typography that leaves an impression.

This trend channels the rebellious spirit of the “Not Quite Minimalism” vibe from summer 2024, infused with unapologetic #brat energy. Inspired by the resurgence of anti-design, it offers a raw, lo-fi alternative to polished, corporate visuals—unfiltered, expressive, and undeniably bold.

2. Collage Charm: Scrapbook

Designers are giving old-school scrapbooking a fresh digital twist, combining nostalgic charm with thoughtful structure and balance. The “Structured Scrapbook” trend is all about intentional layering and playful collages that feel polished yet personal.

Layered Design: Overlapping photos, cutouts, and stickers for a curated collage vibe.
Nostalgic Textures: Polaroid frames, tape, torn edges, and paper-inspired details.
Hand-Drawn Elements: Fun doodles, scribbles, and handwritten fonts add a personal touch.
Intentional Placement: A balance of structure and creativity keeps the chaos chic.

This trend is perfect for creative industries, event planners, or lifestyle brands looking to bring a nostalgic, personal edge to their visuals. To nail the look, mix Polaroid-style images with playful hand-drawn accents, layering them thoughtfully to fit your brand’s vibe. It’s flexible, fun, and brimming with personality.

This trend is ideal for conveying originality and personality and is suitable for a wide range of industries and niches.

3. Motion & Micro Animation

A touch of motion makes all the difference. This trend uses animations to elevate storytelling—picture flowing gradients and kinetic typography that bring rhythm and energy to your design.

4. AI Design

AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s quietly reshaping the design game. While it’s not a trend in itself, AI’s role has shifted from crafting over-the-top visuals to subtly amplifying designs behind the scenes.

Today, AI-enhanced designs feel less like “AI” and more like seamless, natural improvements. It’s no longer the star of the show but a skilled assistant, adding precision and polish without overshadowing the designer’s creativity. The flashy, hyperreal aesthetics of the past are giving way to a more understated, human-like touch.

Want to experiment with AI this year? Use it to refine your work in small but impactful ways: balancing colors, perfecting a sticker design, or subtly enhancing gradients. These little tweaks can take your brand, packaging, or marketing to the next level with minimal effort.

💡Learn more about the AI tools Placeit’s designers use to create the templates you love!

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Big With Maximalism

This design trend is the opposite of minimalism; it’s all about excess and no limits. Opposites attract in this striking trend, where balance is everything. Get it wrong, and you risk overwhelming your audience. Nail it, and you’ll create the perfect harmony. Negative space is your secret weapon, giving even the boldest designs room to breathe.

Strategic contrasts
Bold typefaces as focal points
Limited color palette for cohesion
Geometric shapes for structure
Overlays for depth
Vibey colors

Maximalism is a design style appealing to Gen Z, synonymous with rebellion, spontaneity, and expression.

6. Bold Shapes

Squares—and every other shape—are making a comeback. This modular style combines bold geometric forms for structure with backlit photography and warm tones for a welcoming, personal vibe. It’s where functional design meets friendly flair.

7. Mixed Media

Blending digital techniques with traditional art forms like painting, drawing, collage, and printmaking is taking the design world by storm—and it’s only gaining momentum.

This trend is all about making a big impact with thoughtful details, driving vibrant visuals in 2025. With advancing tech and user-friendly tools, it’s easier than ever to seamlessly integrate different mediums. So, why not let collage art supercharge your creativity and deliver designs that captivate on every front?

8. Retro Tech

While the Structured Scrapbook trend leans into analog charm, this trend takes us back mixing simple color schemes and clean layouts with a modern twist. It’s a perfect blend of old-school computer vibes and contemporary design.

Geometric Basics: Grids, stars, circles, and lines channel early digital aesthetics.
Muted Primary Colors: A nod to the classic hues of vintage computer screens.
Minimalist Layouts: Sleek, uncluttered designs that balance nostalgia with a fresh edge.
Retro-Tech Details: Pixelated fonts, ASCII art, and throwback icons inspired by early video games.

This trend is a natural fit for brands that want to blend tech nostalgia with a polished, modern look. It’s especially popular in skincare, beauty, marketing, and tech startups—industries that thrive on innovation and authenticity.

9. Opulence Era

Embrace the art of understated luxury. This trend blends minimalist elegance with intricate details, all set against expansive negative space. The result? A design that feels effortlessly glamorous and perfectly balanced.

10. The Human Touch

As AI pumps out perfect designs, human creators are flipping the script, embracing imperfection for a raw, personal, and tactile vibe. This trend is Anti-AI, anti-hyperrealism, and unapologetically human.

Human Imperfections: Smudges, fingerprints, and textures that celebrate the handmade.
Organic Imprints: Etches and subtle traces that add warmth and personality.
Hand-Drawn Style: Designs with an uninhibited, whimsical feel, as if drawn straight from imagination.
Go Analog or Hybrid: Incorporate traditional techniques like drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture—or mix them with digital tools to create designs with craftsmanship at their core.

Reject the polished perfection of machines, reminding us of the beauty in human touch and creativity.

The Human Touch rejects overly polished digital aesthetics.

In a world dominated by digital, the Human Touch is a refreshing reminder that imperfection is beautiful—and deeply human.

11. Contemporary Nouveau

Contemporary Nouveau takes the timeless elegance of 1920s Art Nouveau posters and gives it a modern spin. Think bold, classic typography, vibrant colors, and striking dark backgrounds—all reimagining a glamorous era with a fresh twist.

Bold Typography: Clean, striking fonts that command attention, inspired by early 20th-century design.
Vivid Color Contrasts: Bright, dynamic hues that pop against deep, dramatic backdrops.
Dark Backgrounds: Rich, moody foundations that make every element shine.
Stylized Illustrations: Hand-drawn-inspired graphics echoing the sophistication of the 1920s.
Ornate Details: Decorative lines and flourishes that add an air of refinement.
Minimalist Layouts: Sleek compositions that let bold typography steal the show.

This trend is all about blending history with modernity, creating designs that feel both nostalgic and undeniably fresh.

12. Botanical/
Rewilding Design: A Natural High

Rewilding Design is the digital world’s latest nature fix. It’s all about bringing the beauty of the outdoors, indoors—virtually, that is. Think soft, flowing lines that ripple like water, textures as earthy as forest floors, and color palettes that range from serene greens to vibrant pops of unexpected hues.

Nature’s Textures: Wood, stone, and foliage—the real deal, digitally rendered.
Flowing Forms: Curves and soft lines that mimic nature’s graceful movements.
Earthy Hues: Deep greens, warm browns, and soft blues, often paired with bold accents.

Brands that embrace Rewilding Design tap into a growing consumer desire for sustainability and wellness. It’s the perfect fit for eco-conscious brands, wellness companies, and sustainable fashion labels.

This trend is where biology and tech lock eyes. Think dreamy, natural textures paired with sharp gradients and negative space. It’s a beautiful contradiction, a harmonious blend of the organic and the digital.

And… That’s a Wrap!

Integrating these styles makes design fascinating! We always have a wide range of possibilities to choose what goes best with our brand’s ideals.

Want to learn more about what’s trending this year? Then, don’t miss out on our web design trends to elevate your website’s look!

Now it’s time for you to pick your favorite design trend and let us know which you’d like to apply to your business or brand. Indeed, at Placeit by Envato, we have a template to refresh your visual identity in an easy-peasy way. 😉