Design Trends in 2023

December 22, 2023

23 min 24 sec

Every December the design world fills up with 'trends to watch' roundups. Martin Sully thinks most of them point you in exactly the wrong direction.

This end-of-year episode looks back at 2022's predictions, reflects honestly on what actually happened, and shares six design trends to actively avoid in 2023. The broader argument: trend-chasing is a fundamentally flawed approach to building a brand that lasts.

Common branding misconceptions

What's Covered in This Episode

A look back at 2022's predictions and what actually happened
Why junior designers look at trends to build portfolios – fine for portfolios, wrong for brands that need longevity
The cautionary tale: are brand driven by design agency preference rather than customer insight
Six design trends to avoid: piggyback branding, sovereign-inspired colour palettes, generic sans serif fonts, metaverse-inspired design, mascots, off-the-shelf Canva logos
Why trends fade quickly and can land your brand exactly where everyone else is
Why custom typefaces are one of the best ways to set a brand apart

Our Podcast evolved

This episode was originally recorded for an earlier version of the podcast. The audio intro references a previous name – the content is all still the good stuff.

If this episode has you thinking about whether your brand is built to last, the How I Think About Branding page is a good place to start.

How I Think