Design trends come and go quickly, and chasing every one of them isn't usually a good use of a small business's time or budget. But a few current directions are genuinely practical, not just decorative, and worth knowing about.
1. Bold, simple typography over decorative fonts
Clean, confident type — often just one strong typeface used well — is increasingly replacing overly decorative, script-heavy designs, especially for anything read on a phone screen. It's more legible and it ages better.
2. Consistent, real photography over generic stock images
Customers are increasingly good at spotting stock photography, and it tends to undermine trust rather than build it. Even simple, well-lit photos of your actual products, space, or team tend to perform better than polished stock alternatives.
3. Flat, geometric illustration for approachable brands
Simple, flat illustration styles (rather than photorealistic imagery) are being used effectively by brands that want to feel approachable and modern, particularly in sectors like education, healthcare, and services.
4. High-contrast, accessible colour choices
There's a growing (and overdue) focus on making sure text is actually readable — strong contrast between text and background, rather than trendy but hard-to-read pale-on-pale colour combinations.
5. Motion and micro-interactions, used sparingly
Small, purposeful animations — a button that responds when you hover, a subtle fade-in as you scroll — are increasingly expected on modern websites. The key word is purposeful: motion should guide attention, not distract from it.
The trend that matters most: consistency
Every one of these trends works best when applied consistently across your logo, website, packaging, and social presence — not just picked up for a single Instagram post. A trend applied once looks like decoration. Applied consistently, it starts to look like a brand.
If you're considering a brand refresh and want to know which of these actually make sense for your business, take a look at our design work or get in touch for a second opinion.