Design trends to look out for in 2025
7th January 2025 •
7th January 2025 •
It’s time to bid farewell to 2024 and thank it for its contribution to design. In years to come we may look back fondly at its 3D bubble type and punchy colour gradient backgrounds. But now, as we enter 2025, the design world is (as ever) poised to embrace fresh, innovative ideas. Here’s a look at the trends we think will define the year ahead:
Design in 2025 will prioritise accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that products, websites, and apps are usable by people of all abilities. In fact, when the European Accessibility Act comes into play in June, brands wanting to sell products or services in Europe could be fined for not making them more accessible. As the year progresses, expect to see more adaptive layouts, diverse imagery, and clearer interfaces that cater to a wider audience.
While minimalism only took root in the latter part of the 20th century, maximalism can be traced back to the Baroque period. But enough of the past. The immediate future suggests a blend of these opposing styles. Minimalist maximalism combines sleek, simple layouts with bold, expressive elements. Think clean designs with bursts of vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and strong typography, balancing minimalism with maximalist energy.
While the once futuristic concept of Artificial Intelligence is already getting a bit old hat, AI will continue to revolutionise design. From generative art to AI-assisted workflows, expect AI tools to streamline processes, inspire creativity, and help designers craft highly personalised experiences with efficiency and precision. Fortunately for Torpedo’s Creative team, it can’t think as conceptually as we can.
In 2025, abstract and geometric patterns will make a bold comeback. And about time, too. (Bridget Reilly, anyone?) These designs will offer a dynamic, futuristic aesthetic, breaking away from traditional shapes and embracing asymmetry, layered textures, and vibrant colour schemes.
If you want to move your audience (and some product) get your graphics to get a wiggle on too. Motion graphics will dominate digital experiences, adding dynamism and interactivity to everything from websites to social media. Expect smooth animations, scrolling effects, and transitions that engage users and create an immersive, fluid experience.
They say nostalgia isn’t what it used to be, but let’s talk about what it will be – a significant trend in 2025. That’s because we’re expecting scrapbook and collage-inspired designs to make a return. Layered textures, torn edges, and mixed-media visuals will offer a creative, personal touch, evoking a sense of playfulness and authenticity.
Dark mode isn’t going anywhere. With its sleek, modern look and energy-saving benefits, dark mode will continue to thrive across apps, websites, and devices. Expect designers to innovate with dark-themed interfaces that balance readability and style. And maybe look forward to charging your laptop less.
You can spot a decade by its most popular typeface. In the 1960s it was Univers, in the 1990s, Arial. And some designers may remember the 1980s with its s p a c e d l e t t e r i n g. But while sans-serif will no doubt continue to dominate the web, typography will become more fluid and dynamic in 2025. Custom fonts and animated typography will add personality and creativity to design projects, with letters that shift, interact, or change based on user behaviour or context, creating a more engaging experience.
Of course, predictions are always an area to tread carefully in, especially when you’re committing them to print – or in this case a website. But whether or not you revisit this page in 2026 to check back on just how insightful we folks at Torpedo were (or weren’t), the above trends are the ones we think it’s useful to know about now.
Especially if, like most designers, you want to be ahead of them.