Well it’s better (slightly late) than never. Art Director Luca and myself have taken a look at the most reported (and evidenced) design trends for 2023.

The findings of which proved rather sobering for me (Andy) at least, as it turns out that the design vernacular of my childhood (90’s / rave) have now returned – nothing makes you feel so old as the confirmation that your not-so-long-ago childhood is now a fit subject for nostalgia.

Luca has transformed some of these into animations to help bring to life the full flavour of these trends and how they manifest visually, and within a time-based media. Enjoy.

Y2K

2023’s Y2K aesthetic pays homage to the early days of the internet boom, infusing nostalgic optimism and energy from the early 2000s with modern technological capabilities. This aesthetic features low-fi design, metallic elements, pastel color palettes, and dynamic iconography. In the realm of web design, the Y2K influence is reflected through the resurgence of color gradients, vintage UI, low-fi design, and background textures and images.

Websites inspired by this aesthetic incorporate decorative elements such as bold lettering and dynamic features in the form of GIFs and scrolling text.

90’s

The 90s Nostalgia aesthetic takes us back to the pre-web era with its emphasis on grainy film photography, stretched geometric shapes, primary colors, and cartoon styles with playful animations. This trend incorporates layering and type-on-type elements that recall the album covers, posts, and television show title cards of the era.

Brutalism

The Brutalism aesthetic, which draws from the minimalist approach of architecture, emphasizes functionality over decoration, providing a simple alternative to the notion of “more is more.” This aesthetic employs black and white color palettes, size duality, and text-heavy pages, complemented by minimal design elements, overlapping images, and buttons that add depth and dimension.

Metaverse

The Metaverse aesthetic, based on the multidimensional elements of virtual reality, immerses users in realistic and story-based experiences. This aesthetic features 3D shapes and lettering, such as liquid metals and techy fonts, along with highly choreographed and interactive moving graphics. The Metaverse aesthetic offers a futuristic and technology-focused perspective on online spaces.

Rave

The Rave aesthetic draws inspiration from the vibrant, electric pulse of the club scene, featuring bold visuals, electric colors, glitchy effects, and liquified imagery. This trend is reflected in web design through experimental and bold fonts, psychedelic imagery, and a neon color palette.