Envato launches its creative trends 2026 series: the future of design, music, filmmaking and more

This year, the creative world was transformed by AI’s influence with no signs of slowing down. Envato has launched its Creative Trends 2026 series, which explores the bold ideas shaping what’s next: from unexpected colour comebacks and hybrid workflows to human-AI collaborations redefining creativity itself.

Envato’s Creative Trends 2026 mark a creative turning point, one where fast-moving AI meets a renewed hunger for human touch. As AI tools become second nature in everyday workflows, creatives aren’t pulling back, they’re pushing forward. Expect bold experiments, intentional imperfections, and work that leans into emotion, craft, and personality.

This year’s trends thrive on contrast. Think quiet neo-minimalism sitting comfortably next to chaos maximalism, saturation making a confident comeback, and retro-futurist ideas reshaped for now. Fuelled by rapid AI acceleration, looping nostalgia cycles, and a clear demand for real human presence, these trends show how creatives can stay relevant by blending smart automation with feeling-led storytelling, and by designing work that adapts effortlessly across platforms, formats, and moments.

Advertising & Branding
Story-driven brand films: Envato searches for “montage” graphics is up +67% over the last 4 weeks. “Cinematic promo” graphic searches have also increased by 20% over that same period.

Graphic Design
Chaos packaging: Over the last 12 weeks, there has been a steady increase in “distorted” graphics on Envato at +45%. There has also been increased interest and downloads in textured graphics including “layered” (+14%), “patterns” (+9%) and “graffiti” (+13%).
Dual aesthetics: Envato searches for “bold” and “experimental” textured graphics are up +24% and +61% respectively over the last 4 weeks
Retro futurism: Envato searches for “neon lights” graphics have skyrocketed, up +200% in the last 4 weeks.

Video & Motion Design
Authenticity through imperfection: Envato searches for “film grain” motion graphics and “motion blur” video templates is up +31% and +16% respectively over the last 4 weeks. There’s also been a big spike in video template searches for “candid moments” (+110%).

Fonts
Cute and cozy, (Gen Z approved): Envato searches for “bouncy” and “bubbly” fonts have skyrocketed over the last 4 weeks, up +184% and +24% respectively.
Funky curvy serifs: Envato searches for “playful serif” and “retro serif” fonts have skyrocketed over the last 8 weeks, up +44% and +30% respectively.

Music
Hybrid everything: Envato searches for “world fusion” and “orchestral” stock music has skyrocketed, up +227% and +19% respectively over the last 4 weeks
Emotional intelligence: Envato searches for “emotional” and “soft” stock music is up +11% and +17% respectively over the last 4 weeks.

Photography
Candid, authentic photos: Envato searches for “lo-fi” photos has skyrocketed, up +133% over the last 4 weeks

Says Arlyn Panopio, Head of Brand, Content and Creative, Envato: “AI is accelerating workflows and stretching what’s creatively possible, but it’s not replacing the human instinct behind it. We’re seeing a creative rebalancing—where speed and automation meet emotion, texture, and craft. Our Creative Trends 2026 explore this shift, capturing how creatives are blending digital efficiency with deeply human expression to shape what’s next.”

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