2026 graphic design trend report
12/29/25
design
2026 graphic design trend report
the vibes are going to be vibing in the new year
Circus-inspired maximalism
Bold primary colors, stripes, diamond checkers, scallops, and wildly unexpected color pairings are taking center stage. This trend feels so bold and experimental it borders on theatrical, like stepping into a modern circus. It’s classic but unapologetically loud, pulling from nostalgia in a way that makes your inner ’90s kid absolutely scream.
Cottage-inspired lace and texture
Soft, old-timey details are making a comeback in a big way. Lace trims, delicate borders, and tactile textures are being used as graphic elements, not just decoration. This trend taps into a craving for warmth, slowness, and craftsmanship. It feels heirloom, cozy, and romantic, like something you’d find tucked into a vintage drawer or passed down through generations.
Scrapbook aesthetic
Building on those cottage vibes, the scrapbook aesthetic is rising fast. Think handwritten notes, paper textures, stamps, torn edges, and layered ephemera, like writing letters in the 1950s but with modern color and energy. It’s colorful, cutesy, and slightly juvenile. Mixed media rules here: photography collides with illustration, glitch textures, doodles, and imperfect layers to create something deeply personal and nostalgic.
Expressive typography as the hero
Typography is no longer supporting the brand, it is the brand. Logos and type treatments are oversized, custom, kinetic, and wildly expressive. This is maximalism at its finest: dramatic letterforms, unexpected layouts, and type that carries personality and emotion. Extra, bold, and identity-driven… almost to the point where it’s semi-illegible.
Imperfect by design
As AI becomes more prevalent, design is swinging hard in the opposite direction. People want things that look like a human actually made them. Scribbles, loose linework, uneven spacing, and handmade textures are replacing sterile perfection. This trend prioritizes personality, warmth, and craft over precision, because realness now feels like the ultimate luxury.
Screenshot energy
Design is embracing the raw, unfiltered parts of our digital lives. Notes app brain dumps, half-finished Reminders, iPhone calendars, Gmail threads, and camera-roll chaos — and using them as the design. It’s intentionally unpolished, familiar, and instantly believable, making brands feel like they exist in the same digital spaces we actually live in. Less mockup, more “I actually screenshotted this five seconds ago.”
