Anti-AI Graphic Design Trends

With the onslaught of AI-generated slop these days, it's been a fun watch to see what true graphic designers are creating. I don't have a crystal ball to predict the future, but I have been paying close attention to the designs that flood my feeds, and I'm seeing a lot of counter-AI culture in design rise to the surface. 

Hand Made

We all know AI slop when we see it. It's busy, cartoonish, flat, with no contrast or depth - uncanny valley. And designers are swinging the pendulum the other way to stand out. 

Hand-drawn elements - even digitally created - are having a resurgence. Junk journal and collage styles are bold, humanistic design choices that signal, "hi, a human made this."

Emily Holt's redesign for the Chicago Bears showcases hand-carved stamps, banners layered like stickers on a Hydro Flask, and signage reminiscent of vintage wooden state park signposts.