What is weirdcore? Explore glitchy nostalgia designed to creep you out on purpose.

Summary/Overview

Weirdcore is a visual aesthetic blending lo-fi imagery, surreal editing, and nostalgic tones to create something that feels strange, unsettling, and oddly familiar. It’s designed to tap into feelings you can’t quite explain—like an eerie memory or a dream that doesn’t make sense but still feels real.

You’ll often see old computer graphics, distorted photos, and strange captions that look like they’ve been pulled from early internet forums or forgotten websites. It plays on nostalgia but adds a darker, disjointed twist.

For content creators, weirdcore is a great way to grab attention. It works well for personal projects, creative branding, or business social content that stands out from the usual styles. Adobe Express makes it easy to experiment with weirdcore elements and start creating your own offbeat designs fast.

Common themes in weirdcore imagery.

Weirdcore draws heavily from early 2000s internet visuals, analogue tech, and low-resolution photography. The aim is to feel like something from a half-remembered dream, or from a memory that doesn’t belong to you. You’ll often see images with artificial lighting, empty rooms, corridors, or places that feel familiar but are hard to place. The mood is disorienting—sometimes comforting, sometimes creepy.

Text is another big part of weirdcore. Phrases might be oddly phrased, misspelt, or unsettling, like “you shouldn’t be here” or “wake up.” Fonts are lo-fi and glitchy, echoing early computer screens or video game UIs. For solopreneurs and marketers, these themes can be perfect for eye-catching digital campaigns, website content, and email newsletters. It’s a style that stops the scroll on social media and gets people to take a second look.

What makes weirdcore different from dreamcore?

Weirdcore and dreamcore share similar origins in surreal internet culture, but they’re not the same. Both lean into nostalgia, dreams, and surreal visuals, but weirdcore is darker, more distorted, and intentionally more off-putting. Dreamcore, by contrast, tends to be more soothing, with ethereal tones, floating objects, and soft light. Weirdcore feels like a glitch in your memory. Dreamcore feels like a fantasy you just woke up from.

Here are the key components of weirdcore design.

Unsettling visuals.

Weirdcore designs use grainy textures, strange angles, and glitch effects. Photos might be blurred, overexposed, or artificially coloured. You can try combining stock images with your own low-res shots to create something unique. Even something as simple as a hallway or empty car park can be turned into a weirdcore scene when you use the right filters and edits.

Nostalgic digital elements.

Old tech is a key part of the weirdcore aesthetic. Think low-quality graphics, retro UI buttons, or early 2000s fonts. You can recreate these with overlays, stickers, or typography styles that mimic early websites or DOS screens. Adding outdated design elements makes your work feel like something from a broken memory bank.

Strange or cryptic text.

Weirdcore thrives on short, confusing statements. Use phrases that come across as oddly personal or out of context. You can add captions like “don’t look behind you” or “it’s not real” to add intrigue. Play with distorted typefaces or pixel fonts to make it feel even more disconnected from reality. Experiment with different font styles and overlays using Adobe Express, starting with pre-made social post templates.

Editable templates for weirdcore art.

How to create a weirdcore mood board.

Mood boards are a great way to define your take on weirdcore. It helps to gather visual references, test textures, and combine elements before diving into design. You don’t need to be a designer to start—just pull what speaks to you and build from there.

Choose a colour palette.

Start with muted tones, greys, faded blues, or browns. You can also add bright, clashing colours in small amounts to heighten the surreal effect. Save samples from old tech images, lo-fi videos, or glitch art for inspiration.

Find lo-fi photos.

Look for images that feel dated, eerie, or empty. Liminal spaces like hallways, lifts, or petrol stations at night work well. The stranger, or more unplaceable, the better. Use the Adobe Express image editor to crop, blur, and layer your photos for a stronger mood.

Pick out type styles.

Find fonts that echo old websites or video games. You could also use distorted or pixelated fonts; experiment with text effects to see where this takes you. Keep text short, cryptic, and slightly wrong on purpose. Add these samples to your board to test out how they work with your images.

Add textures and effects.

Grain, noise, VHS overlays, or glitch effects help tie everything together. Search for static textures, scanlines, or warped shapes. With Adobe Express, you can layer these over your images to test how they feel in context. You can also create Pinterest moodboards to share with your community and encourage it to contribute too.

Craft weirdcore-themed templates with Adobe Express.

Tips for designing weirdcore-inspired social posts.

Weirdcore works well on social platforms, especially in Facebook posts and Instagram content, but only when used with care. Keep things simple, visual, and short, following these key tips.

1. Use bold visuals first.

The image is your hook. Choose something that feels off or eerie to catch attention quickly in a scroll. Pick one core focal point in your image and try not to overcrowd it with other competing aspects. Instead, use subtle details to create the mood and grow the feelings weirdcore is so good at evoking.

2. Add one strange phrase.

Use short, cryptic text. One sentence is often enough to make people pause, think, and look again. You can add this to the image or add it to social captions.

3. Keep colours muted.

Stick with washed-out or lo-fi tones. Avoid bright, polished colours, as these don’t go with the weirdcore feel.

4. Layer effects carefully.

Grain, blur, and overlays add impact, but don’t overdo it. Let your base image shine through, and use your effects sparingly to keep things edgy.

5. Test on different platforms.

Check how your design looks on mobile, desktop, and in different aspect ratios. Weirdcore is often about atmosphere, so viewing size matters. Use the Adobe Express image resizer to help get the right finish.

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Curious about weirdcore?

Use Adobe Express AI Art Generator to experiment with AI and generate stunning weirdcore-inspired design templates. Dive into the creative process and bring your unique vision to life with our easy-to-use tools.

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Useful things to know.

What kind of content suits weirdcore best?

Weirdcore works best for artistic content, personal branding, music, or anything experimental. Use it where you want to grab attention or express emotion visually, such as on an album cover or YouTube video.

Is weirdcore design good for business content?

It can be, especially if your brand leans into edgy or alternative aesthetics. Use it sparingly for bold campaigns or niche audiences. If it doesn’t feel quite like it fits your brand, look into other art styles that might be more suitable instead.

Can weirdcore be used for personal projects?

Yes. It’s often used in art, social posts, or concept designs. It’s ideal if you want to explore moods or visuals that feel a bit different.

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