5 Popular Graphic Design Trends To Avoid This Year

Graphic design trends aren't just fleeting fads – they're powerful reflections of what's happening in our society right now. You'll find that understanding which trends to avoid is just as crucial as knowing which ones to embrace.

Here's the thing: while some trends can elevate your work, others can actually hurt your brand's effectiveness and user experience. Let's explore five popular design trends that you should steer clear of this year.

1. Neumorphism#

Bottom line: Skip this trend entirely. It looks impressive on Dribbble but fails spectacularly in real-world applications.

Why you should avoid it: Low functionality, poor accessibility, impossible to use in bright sunlight, and extremely difficult to implement at a programming level.

Check out neumorphic designs on Dribbble.

Remember skeuomorphism? Those design elements that mimicked real-world objects? Well, neumorphism emerged as its modern cousin by 2019, flooding platforms like Dribbble with sleek, sophisticated designs. People loved the real-life allusions with less visual noise.

But here's the reality check: try finding even one successful digital product using this style. You won't. The subtle shading that makes neumorphism look "cool" actually makes it user-unfriendly, especially for inclusive design. Plus, the development costs are through the roof.

<AcademyProTip>Before jumping on any design trend, ask yourself: "Can my grandmother use this easily?" If the answer is no, reconsider your approach.</AcademyProTip>

2. Generic Abstract Illustrations (Flat or 3D)#

The problem: Every website looks identical when using the same stock metaphorical illustrations.

Vector illustrations offer real benefits – they're lightweight, speed up loading times, and help service companies create engaging websites without showing specific products. That's all good.

What's not good? When your competitors' sites become indistinguishable from yours because everyone's using similar flat and 3D illustrations. Your brand gets lost in a sea of sameness.

The solution? Custom, authentic illustrations that reflect your unique brand personality. Think children's drawings or hand-crafted elements that can't be replicated by your competition.

3. Overuse of Organic Shapes#

Why it backfires: Breaks page hierarchy, confuses your audience, and leads to higher bounce rates.

Rounded corners work brilliantly for buttons and contact forms – we subconsciously find them more inviting than sharp edges. They can guide users through your site effectively when used strategically.

But moderation is key. Overuse organic shapes throughout your entire design, and you'll create a shapeless mess that confuses users. They won't know where to look or what to click.

The fix: Use rounding only where you need to capture attention or drive specific actions. Less is more.

<AcademyQuote>Good design is about knowing when to stop. Every element should have a purpose – if it doesn't guide the user or serve your business goals, it's just decoration.</AcademyQuote>

4. Extreme Brightness and Contrast#

The risks: Creates visual fatigue, appears dishonest, and increases anxiety levels.

High contrast between interface elements and backgrounds does improve visibility and navigation. That's basic design theory. However, according to the 2021 Visual Trends Report by Depositphotos, muted colours are performing better this year.

Consider this: Pantone Colors of the Year 2021 (Ultimate Gray and Illuminating) and Dulux Color of the Year 2021 (Brave Ground) are deliberately soothing and muted.

Why? Your clients have experienced persistent anxiety over recent months. They're craving calmness and support – something that overly bright, contrasted designs can't provide. Show some empathy in your colour choices.

5. Dark and Customisable Themes#

When they fail: Non-mobile designs, outdoor viewing, and extended reading sessions.

Dark themes work perfectly for specific use cases – night mode on messaging apps, energy saving on mobile displays, or projected presentations. No argument there.

The problem comes with larger text blocks. White text on dark backgrounds causes eye fatigue much faster than traditional black-on-white layouts. Users leave sooner, and your message gets lost.

Customisable backgrounds face a different issue: most users ignore customisation options entirely. This phenomenon is called the default effect. You're investing development time in features people won't use.

<AcademyDadJoke>Why don't graphic designers ever get lost? Because they always know which way is trending! (Even when they shouldn't follow it.)</AcademyDadJoke>

The Bigger Picture#

Your main challenge this year? Grabbing user attention when everything's moved online and competition has intensified dramatically.

Users have changed too. Their attention spans have shortened, and they're less inclined to engage with static content. While AI-powered technologies can help identify your most likely audience, you're still facing new professional dilemmas.

The ethical question looms large: should you manipulate users by evoking fear, confusion, and despair? Especially against the backdrop of a global pandemic, these tactics feel particularly questionable.

The answer lies in choosing design approaches that serve your users' needs while achieving your business goals. Sometimes that means avoiding what's trending and focusing on what actually works.

Your designs should solve problems, not create them. When you're tempted by the latest trend, ask yourself: does this serve my users, or am I just following the crowd?

More on the ethical considerations of design manipulation coming soon.