Next year’s theme will push design limits, break all the rules, and use design to immerse oneself into surreal, dreamlike environments.
As our world quickly changed over the pandemic, design shifted more than ever as new social platforms like TikTok have taken center stage. TikTok, in particular, provides its users with a sensory rush, which is exactly what we’re seeing in design. This sensory overload is responsible for the heavy emphasis on rainbow hues, retro styles, 3D design, bold experimental colors, and surreal design concepts.
Design trends are working to grab our attention quickly. They pull us into a sensory experience. Whether it’s interior, graphic, UX or brand design, here are the trends you can expect to see emerging in 2023.
3D Elements
3D design has taken front stage in design trends emerging in 2023. The Metaverse is a huge influence for this concept.
We see everything from full realistic graphics to a more subtle addition of depth within shading. 3D elements augment the flat design of environments and push the limits of what was once unrealistic.
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Not only is 3D design used in the virtual reality settings, but it’s being influenced in branding, UX design, and even fashion.
Flat Retro Design
In clear juxtaposition with 3D design, there’s still a fascination of nostalgic, retro themes. This was a big trend in 2022. And, it’s here to stay, with this flat retro design trend.
It’s all about peace, love, and saturated colors.
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Moving back to the ’60s and ’70s, we see these flat designs mix with brighter color palettes and more bold design elements. This trend usually shows up with a lot of typography, so there’s a big emphasis on fonts, which are rounded and often mixed with thick, dark borders.
Slight gradients are used to bring these flatter designs to life in a more subtle way. Everything is set with a border to give this design its retro appeal. This design trend can be best used in playful marketing materials and youthful brand design.
Surreal Worlds
Our interactions with augmented and virtual reality continue to rise. Surreal worlds inspire all areas of design.
There’s nothing subtle about this trend, as it embraces its shock factor. It transports the viewer into its new fantasy.
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Whether this is about escaping reality or creating a new one, this trend is all about playful elements, otherworldly imagery, asymmetry, and breaking the rules throughout it all.
Unexpected color palettes and pairings of unusual elements are ways you can embrace this concept.
Dark Mode
This trend is huge for UX/UI design this upcoming year. It’s no secret that we all spend more time on our screens, which is why dark mode is making a big impact.
As users favor this concept for its easier appeal on the eyes, we’re seeing this emerge in apps, websites, and branding everywhere.
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Dark mode for interface design is important if users are meant to spend an extended period of time on a device. This is becoming a major design preference, as it provides the user with a sleeker aesthetic.
Distorted Typography
Recently, we saw a rise of serif fonts that had a more minimalistic approach. Now, we’re heading toward more playful themes. It’s about altering reality, which means we’re also distorting our text.
This is done by creating glitches and making the viewer take another look. This trend is distorting typography in big and small ways with stretching letters, experimenting with different opacities, and mixing unexpected elements within the type itself.
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This can either be done with choosing a playful font or custom designing typography to distort it in unique ways. 2023 is pushing the limits—quite literally—with text itself.
Experimental Palettes
Everything about 2023 is about breaking the design rules. This means colors are being paired unexpectedly. Experimental palettes are especially being seen on the runway with neons paired with their bright and unlikely partners.
Bright rainbow palettes and bold hues are what this trend is all about. Unusual pairings can include green with orange and purple with black.
It’s all about defying what makes sense. Use colors you wouldn’t normally pair together to create something new.
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Color has always been important in every type of design, as it portrays themes that other elements cannot express.
Pairing unlikely colors together can work to create a magical, surreal visual experience. It has the power to escape from the boring or repetitive color palettes that have been traditionally used before. It’s a powerful way to experiment with the more bold elements of design.
These trends work together to transport us to push the limits in design and explore new worlds. As we venture out of an important time in history, design shapes our way forward into a new, inspirational, and futuristic time.
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