Summer’s creative design trends

It feels like the world is moving faster than ever. Trends are coming and going at lightning speed. So, while previous template design trends like warp and wonder, halo effect, press start, and plastic fantastic are still going strong, we’re excited to unveil a few new microtrends to incorporate into your designs. Whether you’re creating eye-catching social media content, designing impactful posters and other print materials, or developing engaging websites, building something that grabs people's attention is the goal.

As we move into the depths of summer, the presence of AI and tech is as relevant as ever, but now it brings with it an over-the-top, bold, and playful aesthetic. Stay ahead of the curve by adopting these four microtrends in your designs and thank us later.

Overview

Explore Gilded Age 2.0

The Gilded Age 2.0 trend is inspired by the ornate, playful, and maximalist Rococo style of the 18^th century. It’s a style where opulence meets fantasy. Visual style supports maximalist aesthetics — intricate patterns, pastel tones, and pink and gold accents. It’s wildly ornamental and lacy. Typography uses decorative serif fonts with flourishes paired with clean, modern sans-serifs. Ornate frames, floral motifs, and historical references overlaid with modern or digital elements like holographic overlays is the kind of imagery that brings Gilded Age 2.0 to life. Layouts are symmetrical compositions inspired by classical art with a twist of unexpected pops of color or modern textures.

This creative inspiration works well for aspirational experiences like for a garden wedding venue’s informational rental package, which would include examples of descriptions and details of the rental policy as well as FAQs, social presence, and wedding day checklists. A tea house may also use this design for place cards, menus, event invitations, and social media.

Be bold with Cherry on Top

As the name suggests, bold cherry red hues add vibrancy and fun to designs, making them visually striking and inherently playful. Cherry red is the centerpiece of the visual style alongside dynamic shapes and playful patterns. Typography consists of chunky retro fonts or handwritten styles — all amplifying a fun, energetic vibe. Imagery includes illustrations, patterns, and photography. Layouts use bold, eye-catching compositions with striking contrast and vibrant color blocking.

This creative design is tailor made for a local cherry festival and shows up perfectly for festival posters and flyers, email headers, as well as Facebook stories and Instagram carousels. It also works for trendy thrift shops to catch people’s attention as they scroll through Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.

A hint of nostalgia in Chainmail

The chainmail microtrend has a medieval-inspired design for a nostalgic reinterpretation of historical aesthetics. The visual style has earthy tones, rich textures, and intricate patterns conjuring tapestries that bridge the past and future with shiny metallic finishes or neon highlights. Typographically, this trend uses serif fonts with ornate details contrasted with futuristic typefaces. Medieval motifs of castles and knights that are reimagined with a futuristic twist (think: holographic effects or tech-inspired details). Layouts combine symmetrical, grid-based designs with layered, futuristic elements to create a balanced yet dynamic composition.

Marketing a comic convention is a great example of Chainmail in action. Eye-catching event posters with necessary details of the comic con time and place, IG stories calling for vendors, panelists, artists, and speakers, and Facebook posts for ticket sales are all ways well executed design can entice audiences to participate in your event.

Green, earthy tones of Eco Tech Future

Eco tech future focuses on immersive designs that connect audiences to sustainability and the future of our planet. The visual style blends nature and technology to create futuristic, eco-conscious designs. Earthy tones paired with metallics to symbolize the integration of organic and artificial. Typography is minimal sans-serif fonts with organic, textured typefaces that mimic natural patterns like vines or wood grain. Imagery showcases sustainable innovations, agriculture, biophilic design elements like leaves, moss, or flowing water. Layouts balance futuristic tech interfaces softened by organic shapes and textures.

A holistic resort and spa that’s branded with earthy tones and natural patterns could use Eco Tech Future in everything from its logo design to TikTok or IG reels to postcards for guests and even for an entire website.

The bottom line

There are so many opportunities to put these microtrends into your designs. Whether it’s for a garden wedding venue immersed in Gilded Age 2.0, a cherry festival or thrift shop using Cherry on Top, a comic con featuring Chainmail, and an Eco Tech Future-branded resort and spa, these microtrends are adaptive and attention grabbing. Give them a try by exploring the templates and making them your own this summer.

Try Adobe Express today

Explore more related posts