3 Design Trends on the Rise

Graphic design is an industry that is always evolving, with new styles emerging constantly. New trends come in and out quickly. This year, as we continue into 2025, three specific trends are gaining momentum for their unique, striking appearance:

1. Bold Minimalism

2. Earthy Naturalism

3. Y3K Futurism

Bold Minimalism

Picking up as a trend in 2024, we continue to see Bold Minimalism everywhere. Combining the simplicity of minimalism with modernized visuals, it strips designs down to its essential elements while making a statement. Through bold color choices, strong typography, and strategic use of negative space, the result is eye catching yet elegant. 

The balance between empty space and interesting visual elements ensures that the message will not be missed. Bold Minimalism uses a variety of elements to enhance user engagement while maintaining clarity:

• Mismatched or unexpected color palettes

• Bright neon hues

• Playful yet readable typography

  • San-Serif

  • All Caps

• Simple geometric shapes

• Doodles

• Subtle animations, like hover effects

Bold Minimalism can be used across various mediums and is widely seen in branding, website design, and product packaging. For example, Slosh Seltzer uses Bold minimalism beautifully, from their interactive website to physical can package designs, their visuals are very well executed. From a business perspective, Bold Minimalism can be cost-effective, as it requires fewer design elements to be produced and loads quickly on digital platforms. With its organized yet experimental style, it is timeless, engaging, and clear with intentional uses of its design elements.

Earthy Naturalism

As environmental awareness continues to grow, Earthy Naturalism has become a major design trend. Using a variety of organic elements such as muted earthy tones and fluid compositions, this style creates a prominent connection with the nature around us. It highlights sustainability, and creates a sense of comfort, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious businesses.

Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s Color of the Year, perfectly showcases this design style with its minimalistic brown tone. Popular color palettes in Earthy Naturalism often include calm, muted greens or blues and warm neutrals to add a pop of color. The use of hand-drawn or asymmetric shapes, natural textures like wood and stone, and high-quality imagery of nature reinforces this organic yet neat style.

Earthy Naturalism is particularly popular for sustainable packaging and branding. While effectively communicating the brand’s commitment to environmental values, it also creates a modern, aesthetically pleasing look for the brand identity. In terms of typography within this style, it is often clean and balanced, ensuring that the design remains readable and continues to flow within. This trend reflects a growing appreciation for simplicity, authenticity, and nature’s beauty in current day design.

Y3K Futurism 

Y3K Futurism is an edgy, high-tech design style that shows a futuristic, dystopian-inspired world. The name references the Year 3000, and its aesthetic draws heavily from Cybersigilism, maximalism, and online gaming culture. With the rise of AI and digital surrealism, this style is gaining popularity, especially in Asia, where it has made a significant impact on the music industry. Given its growing popularity there, it is likely to become a worldwide trend this year.

Y3K Futuristic design incorporates lots of bright colors, with interesting textures and effects: 

• Silver metallic

• Bright chrome finishes 

• Holographic textures

• Iridescent hues 

• Liquid effects

• Pixelated/distorted elements 

• 3D typography or shapes

• AI-generated or digital imagery

Creating an immersive, ‘out of this world’ experience, these unique uses of design make this style stand out and work for creative companies looking to be different. Y3K Futurism thrives in digital media, from album covers and concert visuals (Artists like Aespa and XG) to website designs and fashion branding. Its futuristic, experimental approach allows for lots of room for creativity, making it an exciting trend to keep an eye out for in 2025.

As these three trends continue to be on the rise, they highlight the creativity and innovation in the design world today. Bold Minimalism offers a fun, impactful approach; Earthy Naturalism fosters a deep connection to nature and sustainability; and Y3K Futurism pushes the limits of digital aesthetics in a new way. 

Envato Elements. Graphic design trends. Retrieved from https://elements.envato.com/learn/graphic-design-trends#mixed

Envato Elements. Y3K aesthetic: K-pop and cybersigilism. Retrieved from https://elements.envato.com/learn/y3k-aesthetic-k-pop-cybersigilism

Mockplus. A guide to bold minimalism in design. Retrieved from https://www.mockplus.com/blog/post/bold-minimalism-guide

Piktochart. (2025). Graphic design trends 2025: Key takeaways. Retrieved from https://piktochart.com/blog/graphic-design-trends-2025/#key-takeaways-

YesStyle. (2024, August 29). The ultimate guide to Y3K aesthetic. Retrieved from https://www.yesstyle.com/blog/2024-08-29/the-ultimate-guide-to-y3k-aesthetic/

Zekagraphic. Natural and organic graphic design: The ultimate guide. Retrieved from https://www.zekagraphic.com/natural-and-organic-graphic-design-ultimate-guide/

Zekagraphic. Bold minimalism in graphic design. Retrieved from https://www.zekagraphic.com/bold-minimalism-in-graphic-design/

Hey, I’m Ashley!

I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.