STILLS 2026 TRENDS REPORT POINTS TO THE RISE OF HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

In a sea of AI-polished sameness, Stills' 2026 Photography in Design Trend Report argues that work cuts through by embracing play, imperfection, texture, and risk—making humanity visible again through colour, detail, and intentional weirdness. Across trends from scrapbook aesthetics and cyber goth to maximalism, grunge, surrealism, and sensory storytelling, the message is clear: audiences crave bold, tactile, emotionally resonant work that feels made by people, not machines.