What Are The Top Graphic Design Trends To Watch In 2025?

It’s Monday morning, and you’re staring at your blank design brief. Your client wants something fresh, bold, and future-proof, but you still need to appeal to real people in the present. Sound familiar?  

At Printingprogress Ltd, we’ve been supporting businesses just like yours with design, print and web solutions for years, and one thing is certain: staying ahead of the curve matters. If you’d like to discuss your next project, call 0800 999 1094 or email info@printingprogress.co.uk. 

In this blog, we’ll dive into the most exciting graphic design trends to watch in 2025, why they matter, how you can apply them to your printed and digital materials, and how we at Printingprogress can help make them a reality. 

Stay ahead with the top graphic design trends of 2025. From bold typography to sustainable print, get expert insight & fresh ideas from our design team.

 

Why Graphic Design Trends Matter For Your Brand

In an era of scrolling feeds, digital saturation and short attention spans, your design must work harder. By aligning with current graphic design trends, you ensure your materials feel contemporary, fit with consumer expectations, and stand out from competitors.

For brands working with us, whether for graphic design projects, branding, or print service, integrating the right visual trends is a key part of staying visually relevant and commercially effective.

The Top Graphic Design Trends Of 2025

Gone are the days when subtle sans-serif was always the safe choice. In 2025, bold typography is making a comeback as a central design element. Look for:

• oversized type that dominates layouts
• expressive, custom-drawn fonts (rather than stock)
• high contrast in size and weight of text

When we at Printingprogress design your logo or branding materials, we often emphasise typography as the hero. Big impactful fonts draw attention, particularly on printed materials like flyers, banners or packaging.

Trend 2: Digital-First Colour Palettes & Vibrant Gradients

The digital world is influencing print in a big way. Vibrant gradients, high-contrast palettes and “screen-inspired” colours are increasingly used across print and web. For your brand, this means:

• choosing colours that pop both on-screen and in print
• using gradient overlays and duotone effects
• ensuring colour calibration (CMYK, spot colours) for print accuracy

Given our print expertise, we always manage the transition from digital design to physical output. You don’t just get a good design, you get the colours right.

Trend 3: Mixed-Media & Hand-Drawn Illustration

Consumers crave authenticity. That’s why hand-drawn illustration, mixed-media (photo + sketch) and collage styles are becoming more prominent. These create a human touch in a world of slick digital visuals. Here’s how you might apply them:

• Combine an illustration with a product photo on a brochure
• overlay a hand-drawn sketch on a banner or signage
• Use textured backgrounds and collage elements in web design

At Printingprogress, we have in-house illustrators and designers who can turn these ideas into real print-ready files for business cards, packaging and more.

Trend 4: Motion & Interactive Design (Even In Print)

While “motion” suggests digital, its influence is also reaching print: think lenticular effects, QR codes leading to animations, and augmented reality layouts. This creates a bridge between physical materials and digital experiences. For example:

• a brochure that features a printed QR linking to a motion graphic
• exhibition stands where graphics hint at movement or interactive elements

If you aim to engage users both on- and offline, combining print and interactive design is a powerful way to embed your brand in the real-world experience.

Trend 5: Sustainability, Minimalism & Eco-Sensitive Design

A huge and ongoing shift is towards sustainability and mindful design. In 2025, we’ll see more brands using:

• minimalist layouts to reduce waste
• eco-friendly paper stocks and inks in print
• designs that emphasise “slow” visuals rather than fast digital flashes

At Printingprogres, we not only deliver award-winning graphic design and print, but we also commit to responsible production and sustainable options. Your brand can benefit from both aesthetic and ethical credibility.

Trend 6: 3D-Style Graphics & Depth Effects

Another strong trend is the use of 3D-style elements, depth, shadows and layered graphics. These create dimensionality, making designs feel tactile and immersive, especially useful in large-format printing, packaging, and signage. Consider:

• designing z-axis shadows on posters or banners
• using isometric 3D elements in web and print graphics
• combining layers for depth in brochure spreads

As a full-service design & print agency, we can implement these visually rich designs and ensure they print well, with correct bleed, resolution and finishes.

How To Choose The Right Trend For Your Business 

With so many options, how do you decide which design trends align with your brand? Here are some pointers: 

• Define your audience: Are they tech-savvy younger customers? Then vibrant colours and 3D might work. More traditional? Perhaps minimal, clean and sustainable. 

• Review your brand identity: Consistency is key. A trend should complement your existing logo, colour palette and values, not clash. 

• Select your medium: For print materials (business cards, flyers, signage), you’ll want a design that meets technical requirements, such as bleed, resolution, and CMYK colour space. 

• Budget and lead time: Complex illustrations or motion-interactive elements may require longer production times. Plan ahead. 

• Think across touchpoints: Combine your print materials with your digital presence (web design, mobile). The trend should live across media. 

When you work with us at Printingprogress, we’ll review your brief, discuss ideas, and translate them into effective print and digital deliverables that align with your brand and budget.

The Top Graphic Design Trends Of 2025 

Trend 1: Maximalist Typography & Bold Fonts 

Gone are the days when subtle sans-serif was always the safe choice. In 2025, bold typography is making a comeback as a central design element. Look for: 

• oversized type that dominates layouts 

• expressive, custom-drawn fonts (rather than stock) 

• high contrast in size and weight of text 

When we at Printingprogress design your logo or branding materials, we often emphasise typography as the hero. Big impactful fonts draw attention, particularly on printed materials like flyers, banners or packaging. 

Trend 2: Digital-First Colour Palettes & Vibrant Gradients

The digital world is influencing print in a big way. Vibrant gradients, high-contrast palettes and “screen-inspired” colours are increasingly used across print and web. For your brand, this means:

• choosing colours that pop both on-screen and in print
• using gradient overlays and duotone effects
• ensuring colour calibration (CMYK, spot colours) for print accuracy

Given our print expertise, we always manage the transition from digital design to physical output. You don’t just get a good design, you get the colours right.

Trend 3: Mixed-Media & Hand-Drawn Illustration 

Consumers crave authenticity. That’s why hand-drawn illustration, mixed-media (photo + sketch) and collage styles are becoming more prominent. These create a human touch in a world of slick digital visuals. Here’s how you might apply them: 

• Combine an illustration with a product photo on a brochure 

• overlay a hand-drawn sketch on a banner or signage 

• Use textured backgrounds and collage elements in web design 

At Printingprogress, we have in-house illustrators and designers who can turn these ideas into real print-ready files for business cards, packaging and more. 

Trend 4: Motion & Interactive Design (Even In Print) 

While “motion” suggests digital, its influence is also reaching print: think lenticular effects, QR codes leading to animations, and augmented reality layouts. This creates a bridge between physical materials and digital experiences. For example: 

• a brochure that features a printed QR linking to a motion graphic 

• exhibition stands where graphics hint at movement or interactive elements 

If you aim to engage users both on- and offline, combining print and interactive design is a powerful way to embed your brand in the real-world experience. 

Trend 5: Sustainability, Minimalism & Eco-Sensitive Design 

A huge and ongoing shift is towards sustainability and mindful design. In 2025, we’ll see more brands using: 

• minimalist layouts to reduce waste 

• eco-friendly paper stocks and inks in print 

• designs that emphasise “slow” visuals rather than fast digital flashes 

At Printingprogres, we not only deliver award-winning graphic design and print, but we also commit to responsible production and sustainable options. Your brand can benefit from both aesthetic and ethical credibility. 

Trend 6: 3D-Style Graphics & Depth Effects 

Another strong trend is the use of 3D-style elements, depth, shadows and layered graphics. These create dimensionality, making designs feel tactile and immersive, especially useful in large-format printing, packaging, and signage. Consider: 

• designing z-axis shadows on posters or banners 

• using isometric 3D elements in web and print graphics 

• combining layers for depth in brochure spreads 

As a full-service design & print agency, we can implement these visually rich designs and ensure they print well, with correct bleed, resolution and finishes.

How To Choose The Right Trend For Your Business 

With so many options, how do you decide which design trends align with your brand? Here are some pointers: 

• Define your audience: Are they tech-savvy younger customers? Then vibrant colours and 3D might work. More traditional? Perhaps minimal, clean and sustainable. 

• Review your brand identity: Consistency is key. A trend should complement your existing logo, colour palette and values, not clash. 

• Select your medium: For print materials (business cards, flyers, signage), you’ll want a design that meets technical requirements, such as bleed, resolution, and CMYK colour space. 

• Budget and lead time: Complex illustrations or motion-interactive elements may require longer production times. Plan ahead. 

• Think across touchpoints: Combine your print materials with your digital presence (web design, mobile). The trend should live across media. 

When you work with us at Printingprogress, we’ll review your brief, discuss ideas, and translate them into effective print and digital deliverables that align with your brand and budget. 

Conclusion

Keeping up with the latest graphic design trends is more than just aesthetics; it’s about future-proofing your brand, enhancing engagement, and ensuring your materials resonate with your audience.  

At Printingprogress Ltd, with over 50 years of collective experience, we combine creative expertise, award-winning design and full print production services to help you stay ahead. Whether you’re needing new stationery, brochures, packaging, or a full web-and-print branding solution, we’re here to talk.  

Call us on 0800 999 1094 or email info@printingprogress.co.uk to get started. Let’s make 2025 your most visually compelling year yet.