Trends like AI-generated artwork and minimalist branding are making waves, and they can be great for sparking creativity or exploring new styles. They’re also a reflection of where technology and society are heading, which is something we, as designers, should pay attention to.
But that said, AI learns from what’s already out there, does it generate anything ‘new’ or is it all machine learned from existing pieces, that dilutes it’s authenticity.
That said, chasing trends blindly can be a trap. If a design is trendy but doesn’t serve its purpose, or worse, doesn’t function properly in production, it’s not doing its job. As PrintDriver mentioned, the technical side of design, like ensuring files are print-ready or adaptable for various platforms, is often overlooked, especially by those who are just starting out. This is where the ‘Fast, Cheap, Quality. Pick Two’ rule tends to rear its head.
But I don’t think trends and fundamentals are mutually exclusive. Trends are tools, not destinations. They can give projects a fresh edge, but only if they’re grounded in solid design principles. For example, minimalist design might be trending, but understanding why it works, its focus on clarity, balance, and hierarchy, is what makes it effective.
As for AI and emerging technologies, I see them as extensions of creativity, not replacements. They’re incredible for speeding up workflows, generating ideas, and even challenging how we think about design. But, like any tool, they’re only as good as the person using them. If a designer lacks the foundational skills, no amount of AI is going to make their work truly stand out.
So maybe the real conversation is about balance, how we use trends and tools to push boundaries while staying true to the craft of design. For those newer to the field, experimenting with trends is great, but it’s just as important to learn how to build designs that last beyond the latest fad.
Personally, I don’t find trends inspire my work at all, I don’t follow any trends and probably because I see them as more of a distraction from mastering the essentials.
It’s like learning to read, write, and speak. You start with A, B, C the basics then you form words, then sentences, then paragraphs. Eventually, you craft stories, essays, or even novels. But imagine if someone tried to skip straight to writing a novel just because ‘novels are trending.’ Without a solid grasp of the basics, the result wouldn’t hold up; it might look like a novel on the surface, but it would lack depth, coherence, and quality.
In design, the same applies. Trends like AI or minimalist branding might inspire a flashy ‘cover,’ but the underlying structure things like hierarchy, typography, and functionality needs to be solid for the design to truly work. Otherwise, it’s just decoration, not communication.