Embracing the strange

We’ve all seen it: a splash of bright neon against an otherwise minimal layout, an avant-garde illustration style that defies perspective, or a brand identity that seems to poke fun at itself. In the last decade—especially since the mid-2010s—visual design has gotten weirder. And that’s a good thing.

Design that embraces a bit of the bizarre draws attention, sparks conversation, and often resonates on a surprisingly deep, human level. But how did we get here, and why is this shift so important for design’s future?

Why weirdness matters in design

1. Standing out in a saturated market
   The sheer volume of digital content, ads, and brands vying for user attention is staggering. Conventional design can fade into the background; a slight departure from the norm can be the difference between being overlooked and making a real impact.

2. Emotional connection
   Weirdness triggers curiosity, even delight. When people encounter something that breaks standard expectations, they pay closer attention. This heightened engagement creates stronger emotional bonds with a brand or a product.

3. Authentic expression
   Companies and designers seeking to convey personality can’t always rely on safe, formulaic styles. Quirky imagery, offbeat typography, or an unconventional color palette can communicate authenticity and boldness—especially when it aligns with a brand’s core values.

4. Breaking the aesthetic rut
   If you’ve been in the design world for a few years, you’ve likely noticed waves of minimalism, flat design, or corporate gradients saturating the market. Injecting a healthy dose of weirdness keeps visual language evolving, challenging designers to think in new ways.

Accelerating weirdness: the mid-2010s and beyond

While offbeat design elements have popped up for decades (memorable 1980s neon posters, for instance), the mid-2010s marked a turning point, particularly in digital media and brand identity. Here’s what fueled that shift:

1. Social media influence
   Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest turned design trends into viral phenomena. Eye-catching visuals spread faster and further than ever, creating instant feedback loops. When an odd or inventive style took off, it could be replicated and reshaped in a heartbeat.

2. Mobile-first revolution
   As smartphones became the primary mode of interacting with the internet, designers had to adapt to smaller screens and shorter attention spans. Bold, out-of-the-box visuals became a quick way to seize users’ interest during short scroll sessions.

3. Democratization of tools
   Accessible tools (e.g., Figma, Canva) and growing online communities gave more people the power to experiment with design, blurring the line between “pro” and “amateur.” With so many new voices in the mix, weird, eclectic, and unexpected styles began to surface more frequently.

4. Cultural shifts
   The mid-to-late 2010s saw fast-evolving cultural dialogues—on everything from brand transparency to social justice—and those conversations naturally found their way into visual communication. Designers increasingly pushed boundaries, using unconventional aesthetics to make strong statements about identity, society, and individuality.

5. Memes & internet humor
   Memes rely on punchy visuals, absurd juxtapositions, and ironic twists. Their influence has crept into brand campaigns, UI microinteractions, and even typography choices—emboldening a generation of designers to take bigger risks and play with irreverent styles.
   

How to embrace the weird (responsibly)

1. Stay authentic to your core
   Don’t add bizarre elements just to be trendy. The weirdness should align with your brand’s DNA or the story you’re telling. If the approach feels forced, users can sense the disconnect.

2. Start small
   A little goes a long way. Introduce subtle eccentricities—such as a slightly unusual typeface or a quirky accent color—and gauge reactions. You can always increase intensity if it resonates.

3. Prototype and test
   Particularly if you’re pushing boundaries in a UI, run quick tests to ensure usability remains intact. “Weird” shouldn’t mean confusing or inaccessible; the goal is to enhance engagement, not create friction.

4. Combine with strong fundamentals
   Even the most offbeat designs need solid underpinnings—hierarchy, legibility, color theory. If your foundation is sound, your experimental flourishes will stand out more cohesively.

5. Mind the user
   Understanding your audience is crucial. Some markets or demographics might appreciate more conservative visuals, while others are hungry for novelty. Tailor your level of weirdness to the context and user expectations.

The future of weird

What’s next for design’s embrace of the weird? As brands compete in an ever-noisier digital landscape, more will take calculated risks to stand out. Expect to see:

• Hybrid approaches: Minimalist design spiked with surreal illustrations or abstract 3D elements.

• Hyper-Personalized Visuals: AI-driven customization, where each user sees a slightly different, experimental style.

• Nostalgic References: With each new generation, older “weird” styles become fresh again—think glitch art, retro gaming aesthetics, or 90s-style web components in new contexts.

• Hyper-personalized visuals: AI-driven customization, where each user sees a slightly different, experimental style.

• Nostalgic references: With each new generation, older “weird” styles become fresh again—think glitch art, retro gaming aesthetics, or 90s-style web components in new contexts

At the end of the day, “weird” isn’t just a fleeting trend—it’s a design tool that challenges the norm and invites fresh thinking. As the world moves faster, a little dash of eccentricity can cut through the noise, spark joy, and forge stronger connections with audiences. And when wielded thoughtfully, weird design can indeed be wonderful.

Where it all leads

For me, design leadership is, at its core, about community. Yes, I love seeing a meticulously executed UI, and yes, it’s thrilling to watch brand metrics shoot upward after a strategic refresh. But if I zoom out, my proudest moments aren’t just the polished final products. They’re the stories of team members who felt empowered, mentored, and inspired along the way.

When someone tells me a few years down the line, “Hey, remember that day you listened to my off-the-wall idea? That changed how I see my work,” it solidifies why I keep doing this. Because in a fast-moving world, you don’t just build designs—you build designers. You build people who carry that spark with them wherever they go.