Graphic Design Trends Shaping 2025

As we reach the midpoint of the 2020s, graphic design in 2025 is evolving rapidly – driven by advances in AI, a renewed appreciation for human touch, and a global desire for both bold experimentation and grounded authenticity. Understanding the visual language of today is key to staying ahead. Let’s dive into the top graphic design trends making waves this year.

Neo-Brutalism Meets Soft UI

Neo-brutalism, also known as neubrutalism – characterised by stark layouts, raw HTML aesthetics and minimalist elements – continues to dominate. But in 2025, it’s merging with “soft UI”: rounded corners, blurred backgrounds, and subtly animated interfaces. The result? A compelling tension between harsh structure and user-friendly design.

Look out for: Monospace fonts, grid-heavy layouts, subtle glassmorphism (the appearance of frosted glass), rounded corners and contrasting colours.

AI-Assisted Surrealism

AI-generated design is no longer a novelty. Designers now embrace AI tools like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and DALL·E to produce surreal compositions that blend reality and imagination. These visuals are being used to tell layered stories where the line between organic and synthetic is intentionally blurred.

Look out for: AI-generated surrealist imagery mixed with human generated content.

Maximalist Typography

Minimalism still has a place, but in 2025, loud, expressive typography is stealing the spotlight. Designers are using oversized type, distorted letterforms, and kinetic motion to create centrepieces out of text itself. Fonts are no longer just for readability; they’re meant to provoke emotion and curiosity.

Look out for: Pop art and Art Nouveau inspired design, Y2K nostalgia, large extravagant letterforms and text-focused design.

Analogue Revival

In reaction to digital overload, there’s a growing hunger for tactile, hand-made visuals. We’re seeing a resurgence of collage, risograph prints, doodles, and imperfections, especially in indie branding and packaging. This analogue revival brings a deeply human feel to digital platforms.

Look out for: Hand-made design, or digital design made to look hand-made, manual printing aesthetics, collage, hand drawing, imperfection and a revival of late 20^th century aesthetics.

Responsive Branding

With screens of all shapes and sizes, following the trend of responsive web design brands are moving toward “living” identities – logos and visual systems that shift based on context. Variable logos, modular icons, and colour schemes that adapt dynamically across platforms are now standard rather than innovative.

Look out for: Shapes, colours and element sizes that change depending on context.

Final Thoughts

Graphic design in 2025 is about balance – between machine and maker, local and global, simplicity and complexity. It’s an exciting time to create, especially with tools and inspirations more diverse and accessible than ever. The future of design is as much about intention as it is about aesthetics.