2025 Design Trends: 5 You’ll Love and 5 to Leave Behind

As a product and motion designer, I’ve spent years experimenting with design trends, and tools, and learning what works and what doesn’t. Some trends get me genuinely excited because they improve the user experience. Others? Not so much—they sometimes feel like style over substance.

We’re in a new year, and if you’ve ever struggled with balancing creativity and functionality in your designs, this article is for you.

I’ll explain five design trends I love (and why you should consider using them) and five that, in my opinion, you’re better off avoiding.

Let’s start with the positives;

Design Trends to Love

1. Thoughtful Use of Colors

Colours do more than make your design look pretty—they have the power to shape emotions and influence behaviour. Research consistently shows that the right colour palette can enhance mood and engagement. For example, warm tones evoke happiness, while cool tones promote calmness.

As designers, our job is to make users smile and feel good when interacting with our products. That starts with choosing harmonious colours that guide emotions and keep users coming back.

2. Bold, Chunky Typography

Bold typography is here to stay, and I’m all for it. Whether you’re designing apps or a dynamic website, chunky typefaces grab attention, with or without contrasting elements. They shine in headers, hero sections, and anywhere you want to emphasize your message. For instance, look at how Spotify uses bold typography to make text pop on their app, website and social communications.

3. Micro-Interactions

Micro-interactions are small animations with a big impact. They help guide users, provide feedback, and create delightful moments that keep people engaged longer. For example, subtle button animations or progress indicators can make using your app new and enjoyable. 

If you’re new to micro-interactions, platforms like LottieFiles (where I’ve contributed over 40 free assets with 2,000+ downloads) are great places to start. Other options like Lottielab and IconScout also offer fantastic resources.

4. Integrating Sound

Sound is often overlooked, but it completely breathes life into user experience. Think of Netflix’s iconic “ta-dum” sound or Twitter’s subtle notification chime. Adding sound effects for page transitions, clicks, or push notifications can immerse users and make your digital product memorable. Just remember, less is more—no one likes an overly noisy app.

(Pro Tip: Sites like Freesound and UI Sounds are excellent resources for finding high-quality audio assets.)

5. Leveraging AI for Design Efficiency

AI is transforming the way we work as designers; automating repetitive tasks, generating ideas, or even conducting user research, AI tools save you time and energy so you can focus on creating.

Tools like ChatGPT (yes, I’m biased) or design-specific AI platforms can help you brainstorm concepts, analyze data, or refine your workflow. The best part? AI frees up more time for the fun part—designing.

Now, let’s focus on the trends I wish we could all leave in 2024… 

Read also: Leveraging Analytics to Refine Your Digital Content Strategy

Design Trends to Avoid

1. Large Videos

I’ll admit it—video assets can be a great way to add life to your designs. But if they’re poorly optimized, they’ll hurt your product more than they help. Issues like long loading times, storage limitations, and poor playback quality frustrate users and tank engagement. If you must use videos, compress them and keep file sizes manageable.

2. Overuse of Neumorphism

Neumorphism may look sleek with its soft shadows and highlights, but it often sacrifices usability for aesthetics. Its low contrast makes it hard for visually impaired users to interact with your design. Accessibility matters, so avoid this trend unless you can execute it flawlessly.

3. Excessive Animations

Animations are my playground, but even I know when to stop. Overloading your design with flashy animations can overwhelm users and distract them from taking the desired action. The key is moderation—use animations with purpose. For example, a well-timed hover effect can guide users, while unnecessary flourishes slow them down.

4. Dark Mode with Poor Contrast

Dark mode is trendy, but it can easily go wrong. If your contrast is too low, it becomes a usability nightmare. Users should be able to interact with your product comfortably in all lighting conditions. Ensure your text is legible, your visuals are balanced, and your overall design doesn’t strain the eyes.

5. Blindly Following Trends

Hear me out. Not every trend fits every project. Before jumping on a trend, ask yourself: does this enhance usability? Does it solve a problem? If the answer is no, skip it. A timeless design tailored to your audience always beats a trendy one that’s out of place.

My Final Thoughts

Design trends come and go, but user experience is forever. If you want to be a star designer, adopt thoughtful, purposeful trends, and avoid flashy gimmicks, that way you’ll create products that resonate with users long after the trends fade.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oyinloluwa Adedoyin is a passionate Product Designer, Motion Designer, and UI Animation Specialist with over four years of experience creating user-centred designs that merge aesthetics with functionality.

Based in Nigeria, he has collaborated globally with brands like Spotify, TD Bank, Pepsi, and Simple Skincare. Oyinloluwa has a proven track record of enhancing user experiences, boosting engagement, and driving measurable outcomes for companies like uLesson, UBA, VerifyMe, and Omnibiz Africa.

A mentor and active community builder, he speaks at tech events like Devfest Lokoja, a community contributor on Figma and to LottieFiles with over 1,000 downloads. With certifications in advanced animation and UX design, Oyinloluwa is dedicated to shaping the future of digital experiences by combining creativity, technology, and innovation.