It’s that time of year again. Twinkling lights are starting to appear on neighbors’ houses. Takeaway coffee cups feature red, white, and green holiday doodles. And people are starting to forecast trends for 2026. What will the fashion industry come out with next? Who’s going to have the best music? What will Pantone’s Color of the Year be? And what trends can we expect to see in graphic design?
A Little Bit of Everything
Ever since ChatGPT made AI a household term in November of 2022, artificial intelligence has appeared in conversations about technology, creativity, innovation, and design. Some are embracing generative AI and utilizing it like another creative tool. Others are pushing back against it, opting instead to emphasize the human element. Because of this push and pull, some predicted trends are driven by AI while others are driven by a rejection of it. This gives us an interesting list featuring a little bit of everything:
- AI Generation
- Nostalgia and Retro Futurism
- Mixed Media and Collage
- Naïve Design
- Blueprint Design
AI Generation
From Midjourney and DALL-E to less advanced image generators, AI generated images have certainly made a splash. Despite the polarizing nature of them, it’s very likely that generated images will continue to hold a place in the design world. Many AI adopters appreciate the ease and speed of image generators, and most—if not all—of the major design programs, such as Adobe, Canva, and Affinity, offer AI-based tools within their programs. For better or for worse, AI will follow us into 2026.
Nostalgia and Retro Futurism
This trend is interesting because it’s partly fueled by AI and partly fueled by a rejection of it. Certain image generators have been known to produce interesting, sometimes uncanny sci-fi-like scenes. Some of these have a retro futurism feel to them. You may also encounter the opposite of this: designers and illustrators leaning into the comforting nostalgia of a style based on older visions of the distant future. Think 1960s meets space. There are lots of warm colors, thin outlines, and optimistic depictions of funky cities and robots walking among people. Retro futurism, despite its futuristic depictions, elicits a nostalgia because of its more vintage roots.
For examples of retro futurism, check out this article on Lummi.
Mixed Media and Collage
With this trend, we’re moving further away from AI. While there are technically ways to incorporate generated images into mixed media and collage style designs, most designers who are utilizing this style will likely do so to reject AI. Mixed media and collage are often layered, textured, and visually interesting. They combine photographs, magazine clippings, stamps, handwriting, and other textural elements. Mixed media and collage can still utilize some of the core principles of design while doing so in a way that says, “A human made this.”
Naïve Design
Naïve design takes mixed media one step further. Instead of relying on polished imagery or minimalistic typography, naïve design relies on handcrafted elements. In some cases, it takes “handcrafted” to the farthest degree, leaning into an almost sloppy aesthetic. You may also see a combination of naïve design and mixed media (this is common in punk or grunge styles). Naïve design is a bold rejection of both AI generated images and polished or minimalistic designs that were popular in years past.
Blueprint Design
For the final trend we’ll be looking at today, we have blueprint design. As described by Kittl, blueprint design is a fun way to overexplain products. It pulls from cyanotype printing and technical drawings to create a kitschy breakdown of anything from a cheeseburger to a new pair of shoes. This trend, too, is thought by some to be a rejection of AI, as AI often can’t compete with highly detailed drawings (at least, not yet). Whether or not AI has any baring on this trend, keep an eye out for blueprint design in 2026.
Here are some examples of blueprint designs.
Here’s to 2026
This concludes our look at some of the graphic design trends we can expect to see in 2026. If you’re interested in graphic design services to promote your small business, contact Bold River Marketing. We can design logos, stationery, t-shirts, and more. Reach out today to get started.