Don't miss these design trends in 2025
1.Hyperrealism: When Reality Surpasses Imagination
Hyperrealistic design is not just a style; it’s an illusion as captivating as it is unsettling. It’s the art of deceiving our senses, making us believe that what we see could be touched, that a digital image could be as real as a 3D object, and that it could have the same effect as an immersive 3D website. In this digital universe, every detail is so meticulously crafted that the boundary between the real and the digital disappears. What we perceive is not just a simple visual representation but an invitation to explore, to interact with an altered reality where imagination becomes as tangible as matter.
Imagine, for example, a digital poster where every fiber of paper seems to breathe, where shadows, placed with extreme precision, play with light, and reflections are so perfect it’s almost impossible not to reach out to touch the image. This is the magic of hyperrealistic design: creating a parallel universe where reality is so present that we forget we’re navigating a digital world. Each texture, grain, and tiny detail is designed to elicit a sensory response, as if we were immersed in a dream where everything is within reach but entirely unreal.
This illusion works through subtle, controlled plays of light and shadow. Reflections on a mirror-like surface, the small irregularities of a texture, or even the depth of a shadow that seems to toy with our perception of space—every element contributes to the birth of this augmented reality. The shadow of an object doesn’t merely define its shape; it embodies it. The grain of wood on a virtual table isn’t there just for decoration, but to suggest that you could place your hand there and feel its texture. The shine of steel, the softness of a fabric, or even the roughness of a wall—all of this becomes an immersive experience where the eye is the first to fall into the trap.
The ultra-precise rendering of textures and 3D modeling are key elements for this kind of design, allowing us to recreate almost tangible surfaces. Hyperrealistic design is the ultimate meeting point of the real and the virtual.
2. Custom Typography: Your Message, Your Signature
Custom typography is like choosing your own accent in a room full of people. It’s the ability to speak without saying a word, leaving a visual imprint that speaks louder than any slogan or image. It’s a unique voice, a signature that allows you to say, “This is me,” while remaining visually consistent with the message you want to convey. Each letter, each curve, each space becomes a reflection of your visual identity, a distinctive marker that is instantly recognizable.
In the past, options were limited: you had to settle for what the market offered, adapting to standard fonts and generic types. But thanks to modern tools like Glyphs or Fontself, everything has changed. Now, graphic designers hold the keys to transform abstract ideas into custom fonts, creating typographies that are no longer simply functional but deeply expressive and personalized. There are no compromises. You no longer settle for what already exists; you create what represents you, what embodies your vision.
Do you want something unique? A typography that feels handmade, with perfect imperfections that add personality and character to each letter? Or perhaps you prefer something clean, minimalist, yet tailored to you, like a bespoke suit? It's possible. Digital tools today allow for limitless creativity, where every character can be shaped, modified, and adjusted to perfectly match your visual identity.
The value of custom typography lies precisely in this creative freedom. It allows you to step off the beaten path and reclaim one of the most fundamental elements of graphic design. Every detail matters—a slightly larger curve, a subtly tilted serif, or spacing that may seem insignificant but completely changes the atmosphere of a word.
Far from being a simple trend, custom typography is becoming a strategic tool to affirm a message or concept. You don’t create a font just for its appearance; you create it to communicate. Whether in branding or a personal project, it strengthens the impact of a design, making a message more intimate, more authentic.
And it's not just about appearance. By customizing your typography, you create a language of your own that will speak to your audience in a more direct, engaging way. It’s a visual identity that doesn’t go unnoticed; it aims to be memorable. A single word becomes a signature, a symbol, that will be etched into the minds of those who see it. You make sure to add value to your message.
Ultimately, custom typography is an act of creation and reinvention. It’s a way of saying, without a single word, “What you see is me. What you read is my voice.” The power of custom typography lies in its ability to transform a simple word into a visual experience.
3. Anaglyphs: Remember 3D Glasses?
Let’s take a trip back to the days when 3D glasses were essential to watch a movie. Do you remember that moment when every image seemed to leap out of the screen, that sensation of being pulled into a parallel reality? What if I told you that this retro effect, almost glitchy, is making a big comeback—not on the big screen, but in modern design?
Anaglyphs—those effects where colors seem misaligned or offset—are once again becoming a style element. Yes, you read that right: the illusion of depth, space, and unreality is making its way into visual creations. Imagine an album cover, a poster, or even a website animation, where the letters float, distorted, with a little glitch making them even more intriguing. This slight twist in perception, this distortion, not only adds depth but also evokes a sense of instability, as if the image is trying to escape the frame. It’s like a visual game of illusion.
This is the magic of anaglyphs in design: it’s not just about creating depth or space but infusing each creation with a bold, almost futuristic edge. That subtle shift in hues, that visual fracture, creates a sense of glitch, like an image that hasn't quite found its place, a bug that disrupts the expected perfection. It's like a nod to the early days of 3D films, but with a decisively modern twist. A troubling and avant-garde aesthetic that grabs the eye and holds it captive.
At its core, anaglyphs in design are about visual illusions that constantly play with the eye’s perception. It’s not just about giving depth; it’s about provoking a reaction, an emotion that intensifies with every glance. It’s like watching a 3D movie without the glasses, where every element seems to leap from the screen, twist, and reshape before your eyes. It’s a visual world that keeps reinventing itself, a dance between the real and the virtual, a digital wink to past illusions.
So, are you ready to dive into this visual depth? To let your eyes wander into this warped world where retro aesthetics merge with a futuristic experience, both unsettling and magnetic? With anaglyphs, design is no longer just an image—it’s a sensory journey, a constant play of perspectives and colors that defy reality.
4. Branding Characters: Create Unique and Endearing Brand Ambassadors
A colorful little character, a smiling mascot, or funky avatar elements that seem to come straight from another world. You want to smile, click, and learn more. It’s not just an image; it’s a brand ambassador.
Branding characters are in vogue, and for good reason. Why? Because they instantly give a brand that contemporary feel, that cool and accessible vibe you won’t find in traditional logos. These little characters aren’t just there to decorate; they breathe personality. They embody the brand, add a human touch, and make the company feel closer, friendlier—almost like a friend who knows and understands you. And believe me, when a brand connects with its customers like this, it becomes unforgettable.
But that’s not all. The real magic happens when these characters are custom-designed by hand, with a unique style that doesn’t look like anything else. These often quirky designs bring authenticity to the forefront, making all the difference. They’re not just created to fill space but to be seen, loved, and shared. A visual wink that becomes the soul of the brand.
So, if you want your brand to become a friend in the minds of your customers, to be memorable without being intrusive, maybe it’s time to create your own character. One that will embody your essence, that will make your brand truly human. And trust me, once you’ve found that character, you’ll never forget it.
5. The Northern Lights: Magic in the Blink of an Eye
This luminous aesthetic has taken over digital interfaces, adding a touch of modern magic to an increasingly interactive and immersive world.
Popular in web design, gradients with spectacular hues imitating the Northern Lights have flooded websites, transforming dull backgrounds into luminous, captivating landscapes that create a sensory experience as hypnotic as the natural phenomena themselves. Designers, like modern artists, now integrate these subtle movements and interactive light effects into their creative palettes. Every transition, every glint of light seems to breathe, giving life to the design and inviting the user on a sensory journey through the web. But it’s more than just mimicking a visual phenomenon: it’s about capturing an immersive experience.
And it’s not just an aesthetic trend. The use of Northern Lights in web design reflects a desire to escape, to enrich an experience that goes beyond mere functionality. Interaction is no longer just a utilitarian act; it’s an immersion in an atmosphere, a play between the user and the design.
Today, this approach goes far beyond simple backgrounds. Creators are pushing the boundaries, blending light effects and smooth animations to create interfaces that not only respond but also adapt to the user. It’s no longer just a graphical interface; it’s a moving experience: a living design.
6. Bento Boxes: The Art of Structured and Minimalist Design Inspired by Japanese Culture
Each compartment is meticulously arranged, a symphony of small portions where every ingredient has its place, its role, and a share of harmony. This perfect organization has transcended the boundaries of the plate and entered the realm of graphic and web design. The concept of the bento box, inspired by Japanese culture, has now become an essential metaphor for expressing the art of structured and minimalist design, where each element finds its place without overwhelming the whole.
In the world of modern design, this idea of a divided space—each section perfectly distinct yet complementary—has become a reference. Bento boxes have evolved into a model for thinking about user interfaces: each section serves a specific function, and every element must not only be useful but also contribute to the overall balance.
Structured design, inspired by the bento box, relies on a clear visual hierarchy and carefully organized space. Just like in Japanese cuisine, where each ingredient is measured and arranged to offer both beauty and functionality, every component of a website or interface is optimized to fit seamlessly into a cohesive whole. The colors, shapes, and typography must all be in harmony. Nothing should be left to chance; everything must be in its right place to guide the user’s eye without overwhelming them.
This minimalist approach, which aims to simplify the experience while preserving its richness, is a true return to essentials. Unlike other design styles where elements overlap and intertwine in a profusion of details, the "bento box" design strives to reduce each element to its purest form, while maintaining perfect balance. The aesthetic, while simple, becomes highly sophisticated. Every part of the interface has a precise function, and each compartment is designed to meet a specific need, without redundancy.
7. Neomorphism: A Visual Experience
Neomorphism, in all its three-dimensional splendor, is a trend that brings user interfaces (UI) to life by plunging them into a world where the illusion of depth and texture feels tangible. This modern approach plays with shadows and light to transform static elements into almost tactile objects, adding a touch of elegance and fluidity that invites users to touch the screen, interact as they would with a physical object.
Imagine a button that seems to gently rise from the surface, or a text field that appears slightly recessed, suggesting depth. The 3D aspect of neomorphism creates a delicately sophisticated ambiance, as if every element of the interface breathes, moving slightly under your fingertips.
Neomorphism finds its ideal playground in more creative or imaginative projects, where the visual aspect takes precedence over pure functionality. It excels particularly in typography, where letters seem to come alive, floating in an almost ethereal space. This use of 3D in typography is not so much about improving readability, but about capturing attention and playing with perception. The letters themselves become objects, inviting a visual exploration that adds an extra dimension to the interface.
However, even in this context, neomorphism should be used sparingly and with discernment. It’s not always suitable for projects where readability is paramount and where every detail must be clear and direct. Yet, when applied in an interface that aims to delight and captivate the user in a visual universe, neomorphism can become an elegant tool, capable of transforming an ordinary experience into a unique sensory moment.
Ultimately, neomorphism represents 3D elegance in its purest form: an experience where light, shadow, and depth combine to bring elements to life, as if they were emerging from the screen.
8. Dark Mode: Dive into the Mystery and Modernity of Dark Design
It’s the mystery of the digital world, a nocturnal universe where modernity meets a cosmic ambiance, illuminated only by the soft glow of a screen. Dark Mode is not just about changing the lighting on your OLED screen; it reinvents the way you interact with your digital space—much like soft lighting in a minimalist living room, creating an atmosphere of understated sophistication.
But don’t be fooled; it’s not just about saving energy on your screen. Dark Mode evokes something deeper, a visual mystique. When combined with touches of neon, for example, it creates a striking contrast between the digital world and a nearly futuristic nocturnal atmosphere. The intense contrast between the darkness of the background and the neon highlights creates a visual explosion that draws the eye while being incredibly immersive. It’s a dramatic contrast, where each pixel seems to detach from the black, like stars in the night, illuminating the screen’s sky with an almost magical glow.
Sometimes, beauty lies in minimalist effect, where one chooses to limit themselves to monochrome, playing solely with shades of gray or black. It’s a subtle play of light and shadow, a refined composition where each element becomes more precious, more thoughtful. In this context, design becomes a form of digital haute couture, where each button, each text field, is just waiting to be touched, revealing itself as you venture deeper into the interface.
In digital design, Dark Mode embodies this subtle transformation where the interface becomes not only a functional tool but also an emotional medium. It plays with our perception of space, providing visual comfort while establishing a deeper connection with the user. It’s a way to redefine navigation, to go beyond mere “display” and offer an immersive experience where the interface becomes a key actor in our environment.
9. AI: When Machines Inspire Humans
There is a fascinating moment when artificial intelligence stops being just a tool and becomes a source of inspiration. A creative catalyst that pushes humans to rethink their way of working, to refine their ideas, and to push the boundaries of creativity even further. Far from trying to replace human genius, AI positions itself as a partner— a technological ally that offers a new perspective, enriches the creative process, and optimizes work while allowing the human mind to focus on what matters most: invention.
Take, for example, moodboarding in the context of a photographic pitch. The creative process behind a moodboard is often long, tedious, and filled with obstacles. Choosing the right color palette, finding the visual inspiration that captures the essence of a project, selecting the perfect images that convey a specific atmosphere… It’s meticulous work, sometimes overwhelming. But with AI, this process takes on a whole new dimension. The machine, far from merely reproducing what humans dictate, suggests, proposes, and anticipates creative needs. It scans thousands of images, analyzes trends, and provides instantaneous proposals, as if a virtual assistant had dived into the infinity of possibilities to extract what resonates most with the original idea.
This isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a true revaluation of the creative process. AI frees humans from repetitive and technical tasks, allowing the mind to focus on more subtle and personal aspects of creative work: storytelling, emotion, the finishing touch. AI doesn’t replace the photographer, designer, or art director; it amplifies their potential, encouraging them to dream bigger, to think beyond the limits they set for themselves.
But beware, this relationship isn’t that of a mere digital assistant. AI offers infinite possibilities, but the human remains at the heart of the process—the one who gives meaning to the flood of ideas generated, who interprets the results and shapes them into something unique. It’s a dialogue between machine and human, a meeting between rationality and creativity. The machine can propose images, palettes, and concepts, but it is the human eye that knows how to read these proposals, to identify what needs to be amplified, transformed, or enhanced.
In the end, AI in the creative world isn’t an intrusive force but an essential partner, a tool of augmentation, not substitution. It’s an evolution toward richer work, where machine and human meet not in opposition, but in harmony, to redefine what we can accomplish together. Far from reducing the place of creativity, AI amplifies it, frees it, and pushes it to unexpected heights.
Accessible Design: What if We Went Further ?
Accessibility in design is not just a passing trend; it’s a fundamental responsibility, a moral imperative that every graphic designer should take to heart. Too often, accessibility is seen as a secondary concern, a box to tick off in a long list of criteria to meet.
Creating an accessible design means offering every individual the opportunity to participate in the experience, regardless of their physical or sensory abilities. A website, an app, a poster, or even a brochure are not static objects; they are living spaces that must be accessible for everyone who interacts with them. This is where the real challenge lies for designers: how can they ensure that their work is open to all, without exception, while maintaining its aesthetic and visual impact?
Strong Contrasts: Improving Visibility
Often, designers favor elegant color palettes, sometimes too subtle, which can create problems for people with visual impairments or color blindness. By using striking contrasts, designers not only create a more visible design but also a clearer hierarchy that helps navigate the interface effortlessly. A simple contrast variation between the background and the text can have a monumental impact on readability, and thus on accessibility. This is not just a concession; it’s a true enhancement of the user experience and an invitation to carefully engage with every nuance of the design.
Typography: Clarity and Readability First
Typography is not just about choosing a beautiful font; it’s about ensuring that it is legible, regardless of screen size or the user's visual capabilities. A well-chosen typeface is both a functional tool and an aesthetic weapon. If the font is too small, too thin, or too ornate, it can become an obstacle, an invisible wall between the user and the content. But with a clear, well-spaced, and properly sized font, you offer every user a smooth experience where reading becomes a natural action, not a struggle.
Layout: Logical and Intuitive Organization
Layout plays a central role in accessibility. Organizing space in a logical, fluid, and intuitive way means offering users a natural navigation experience, free from confusion or unnecessary mental effort. A well-structured design instinctively guides the eye by using spaces, margins, and alignments that organize information coherently and clearly. A well-designed page doesn’t overwhelm the user with too many visual elements; it prioritizes, selects, and presents information in a fluid and coherent way, whether it's text, images, or action buttons.
Accessibility: A Mindset and a Creative Challenge
But accessibility is not limited to these fundamental principles. It is a mindset, an invitation to always go further, to challenge our design practices and standards to ensure that no one is left behind. And this does not mean sacrificing style or innovation. On the contrary, creativity in accessible design reveals itself in how we manage to combine functionality and aesthetics. Accessible design is not a compromise; it is a creative challenge, a playground where we explore how to make interfaces both beautiful, functional, and universal.
In an era where inclusivity is more than just a trend, but an urgent need, it is imperative for designers to embrace this responsibility with passion and commitment. Accessible design is not optional; it is a way of saying "everyone is welcome." And if we, as creators, take this principle to heart, we will offer everyone the opportunity to navigate and interact with digital spaces with the same ease and freedom.
In Conclusion: Accessibility as a Human Act
Ultimately, accessibility is not just a technical concept; it is a human act. An accessible design is one that takes care of every user, inviting them to be part of the experience without restriction. It is not just about compliance—it’s a creative and ethical approach, a commitment to push the boundaries of design to create a truly open and inclusive digital world.