Each year, the Pomelo-Paradigm team brings you the major graphic design trends for the new year. After the explosion of the use of AI in 2025, the 2026 trends of are shaping up as a back to basics, mixing color play and nostalgia.
Distorsion
Reflecting imperfection and the inherent error-prone nature of computing, distortion intrudes in 2026 aesthetics like an unexpected glitch. Add a touch of surprise to your visuals and typography by deconstructing their original nature.
Black & Red
After the iconic black & gold, black has chosen a new ally color for 2026: red! Between chic and passion, visuals in black & red will bring out an interesting duality that can be easily mixed in photos, 3D or simply in typography.
Patchwork
Game of textures, reliefs, and collages, the patchwork trend allows the integration of multiple ideas into a single visual. In both photography and 3D, combining several elements enables the conveyance of multiple messages simultaneously, while also better capturing the viewer’s attention.
Back in the 2000’s
After the massive comeback of the 90s over the past five years, it’s now the 2000s’ turn to comeback. Nostalgia for the “new” millennium is resurfacing with its exaggerated fonts, vibrant colors, and ubiquitous cyber and tribal aesthetics. Furthermore, 2000s trends can easily be combined with the other styles discussed above.
The color of the year by Pantone
Next year, no one will be handing in a blank page: Pantone has unveiled a surprising choice for its 2026 Color of the Year. Named Cloud Dancer, this rich and true white brings softness and serenity to a turbulent global context. This base color seems to be searching for a complementary tone, such as those in the pastel spectrum. Using white to replace emptiness—here is a bold idea! This promises interesting explorations of this paradox, proving that in 2026, anything is possible.