Latest Product Design Trends in 2022

The latest product design trends are immersive and imaginative. Inventors are reimagining old and established concepts. Design is adapting to a changing landscape. Design is fashioning ideas and products that educate and inform. There is a humanity to product design trends in 2022.

Current product design trends include transparent design, minimalism versus brutalism, retro-inspired tones, sustainability-focused design, and streamlined package design. These trends are transparent design, minimalism vs. brutalism, retro-inspired tones, sustainability-focused design, and streamlined package design.

Are you ready to learn more about these new trends in product design to watch in 2022? Keep reading to find out!

1. Transparent Design

Transparent or translucent design marries modern and old-school styles. The result of these two styles coming together is an ageless design that stands the test of time. This trend first came into popularity in the 1970s and then in the 1990s. But the latest trends in product design show this trend is seeing a resurgence as designers are building transparent desks, chairs, benches, and side tables.

2. Minimalism Vs. Brutalism

Minimalism vs. brutalism is a study of contrasts. They do relate to each other, as both brutalism and minimalism are a response to society. And both design movements seek to simplify the design. However, those two considerations are where the visual similarities end.

Brutalism seeks to elevate the raw materials involved in the creation process. Rather than cover raw materials, brutalism aims to expose them as the cornerstone. On the other hand, minimalism is about keeping things sleek and simple. So the rawness of brutalism is not present in minimalistic design.

But together, these two design ideas are able to find common ground. A minimalist and brutalist design together would be mindful of the color scheme and the text on a pop art wall hanging (minimalism). And would also have elements of abandonment where you would see raw mineral rock stools beside a concrete dining table (brutalism).

3. Retro-Inspired Tones

The current product design trends are also looking back to the past. With the trends in design moving towards a primarily “clean” look, retro design remembers what came before the present. Those who adopt the retro-inspired look are satisfying a hunger for comfort and familiarity. Translated in product design, this trend is seen in retro color combinations, such as combining yellow and green with plaid and old-school honeycomb prints.

4. Sustainability-Focused Design

Sustainability-focused design is not one of the new trends in product design. It’s a long-standing reaction to climate change. It seeks to create a design that repurposes materials and is mindful of how products are made. As people become more informed about the impact of design on the environment, they insist on sustainability in the production, packaging, and sale of items.

5. Streamlined Package Design

The streamlined package design trend is about making things more affordable. Functionality and affordability in product design are the order of the day for this trend. This trend became popular because of the pandemic, where people lost time or interest in unnecessary packaging additions.

6. Code-Based Design

Code-based design tools like UXPin are surging forward in product design. UXPin also has an integration called Merge-MUI that allows users to use MUI’s library to create fully sound prototypes in UXPin. Designing with elements that are ready for production is valuable for usability testing and if need be, design lead hand-offs and switches.

7. Motion Graphics and Micro-interaction

There is serious ground being broken by designers in the area of motion graphics and micro-interactions. The UI innovations and hyperreal animations are astounding. They all help to create an incredible user experience and a better prototype result.

8. Sustainable Web Design Trends

Sustainability in product design is more than a trend, it’s a movement. Engineers and designers are working hard to use sustainability principles in web design. Designers are switching to green designers, using lightweight content management systems, optimizing UX workflows, and even buying and using second-hand materials.

9. Minimalism 2.0

Minimalism is largely a reaction to sustainability and as designers favor minimalist designs and builds, it creates a cleaner and more functional experience.

10. Voice User Interface (VUI)

Your friendly Alexa, Siri, Bixby, and Google Assistant are here and advancing in a big way. VUI is becoming more inclusive and aware of creating personal experiences instead of one standard voice or accent across the board.

2022 Product Design Trends: FAQs

There is a lot happening in the world of product design, and these trends speak to the diversity and visionaries in the field.

What is 2022’s color of the year?

2022’s color of the year is veri peri, described as a dynamic periwinkle blue with a vivid red-violet undertone. Pantone, the authority on color, announces the cooler of the new year each December. Pantone chose veri peri through intensive study of worldwide color trends.

How can I keep up with the latest product design trends?

The latest product design trends are so varied that they can seem to contract each other. But if you’re looking for a place to stay informed on product design trend forecasting check out the MAKO blog. It’s a great resource for learning about product design, product development, product manufacturing and prototyping. We cover the latest and greatest in product invention, share some of our award winning designs, and the scope of our work. Want to learn more? Visit us today to learn more about our product design services.

Wrapping Up

Although design trends in 2022 seem to contradict each other, they actually borrow from each other in many ways. Design is always taking from what’s already out there.

If there was no minimalist design (a reaction to the environment) then there would be no brutalism. If the 80s didn’t come in, with its big and bright style, then there would not be the Y2K of the late 90s to early 2000s!

Design refashions old or older trends. Great design reimagines what classic design can be, and it’s always a reaction to what’s happening in society.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!