Design Trends That Are Hurting Your Brand (And What to Do Instead)

Just because all the ‘wiggle tails’ are doing it doesn’t mean it’s good for your brand.

Here are a few trendy design choices that might be scratching your brand image – and what to do instead:

1. Overuse of Gradients

They’re fun, but too much can make your brand look like a Lisa Frank folder from the 90s. Instead, choose bold, clean color palettes that enhance readability.

2. Generic Stock Illustrations

That smiling person holding a light bulb? Seen it. Move on. Instead, invest in custom illustrations that reflect your brand’s actual voice and personality.

3. Brutalist UI (Just… Why?)

Unless you’re an experimental art gallery, don’t make your users work to find your CTA. Choose clean layouts with a clear hierarchy.

4. Font Overload

No one wants to read a page that looks like it was styled by a ransom note artist. Stick to 2-3 fonts, tops. Balance is key.

5. Excessive Animations

We love motion graphics, but if every button spins and every header bounces, it becomes chaos. Be intentional. Let animations guide, not distract.

Instead: Design with Purpose
Ask: Is this on-brand? Is this helping the user? If not, ditch it. Cats, here at Design Neko, are elegant creatures. Your design should be too. 🙂

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