10 Design Clichés We Secretly Love (and Hate)

Every designer has been there. You’re working on a project, and somehow, that font, that color palette, or that layout finds its way into your work. Sometimes, it feels inevitable. Certain design trends seem to never go away, no matter how much we try to escape them. Whether we love to hate them or hate to love them, these design clichés have a strange way of sticking around.

Let’s take a light-hearted look at 10 design clichés we secretly love (and maybe hate just a little).

1. Helvetica Everywhere

Let’s be honest. Helvetica is the potato of fonts—basic but always there when you need it. It’s clean, readable, and versatile, making it the go-to for so many projects. But when does it cross the line from timeless classic to lazy default? Sure, it’s reliable, but sometimes, it feels like the only option anyone knows.

Still, we can’t deny the magic it brings to branding. Love it or hate it, Helvetica has made its mark. (Pun intended.)

2. The “Keep Calm” Poster Parody

Remember when “Keep Calm and Carry On” was everywhere? And then came the parodies: “Keep Calm and Drink Coffee,” “Keep Calm and Eat Pizza.” What started as a wartime motivational poster turned into a meme. It was cool for about five minutes, but then it got really old.

And yet, here we are. Every time we see a new version, we roll our eyes. But secretly, we get it. It’s catchy, easy to replicate, and who doesn’t love pizza?

3. Overusing Stock Photos

Let’s not pretend we haven’t all done it. Stock photos from platforms such as Adobe Stock, iStock, Getty Images, Shutterstock, Envato Elements, and Creative Market, just to name a few, are a lifesaver for tight deadlines. Need a generic office scene or someone laughing awkwardly with a salad? Boom. Stock photos have your back.

But we’ve all seen those painfully generic, overly staged photos of people shaking hands or smiling at nothing in particular. It’s a love-hate relationship. While they make our lives easier, they also make our designs feel a bit too… expected.

And yes, the header image of this article is a stock photo too. 😉

4. Geometric Sans-Serif Fonts

Minimalism is king, and geometric sans-serif fonts reign supreme. These fonts are clean, modern, and, let’s face it, safe. You’ll find them in tech companies, startups, and pretty much every corporate logo of the last decade.

But sometimes, we miss the personality of a good serif font. Sure, geometric sans-serifs get the job done, but do they really say something new? They’re like the vanilla ice cream of fonts—solid, and reliable, but a little boring after a while.

5. Excessive Use of Gradients

Gradients are like the rollercoaster of design trends. They come in waves. One minute, they’re everywhere; the next, they’re considered outdated. Right now, we’re in the middle of a gradient renaissance. From vibrant Instagram logos to soft pastel fades, gradients are back and bigger than ever.

But let’s be real. Sometimes, they look like an accident. When used right, gradients can elevate a design. When overused, it feels like we’re back in 2005, playing around in Photoshop for the first time.

6. Muted Color Palettes

Pastel pinks, soft blues, and washed-out greens—these are the darlings of modern design. They’re calming, they’re trendy, and they’re easy on the eyes. But after a while, everything starts to look the same. It’s like the world has been dipped in a latte.

Sure, muted palettes have their place, but sometimes you just want a pop of color, something bold to break the monotony.

7. Flat Icons

Flat icons were the answer to the over-the-top skeuomorphic design trend. Clean, simple, and easy to understand—what’s not to love? But now they’re everywhere. It’s hard to open an app or visit a website without being greeted by a flat icon of a cloud, a shopping cart, or a paper airplane.

They’re useful, yes. But we’re starting to miss a little depth, a little texture, something that doesn’t feel like it was designed on autopilot.

8. Overly Trendy Logo Redesigns

It happens every year. A brand we all know decides to “update” its logo. The result? A trendy new design that looks eerily similar to every other brand in the same industry. It’s minimal, it’s geometric, and, let’s face it, it’s forgettable.

While trendy logo designs can feel fresh at the moment, they often lack staying power. We’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again.

9. Handwritten Fonts

At first, handwritten fonts felt like a breath of fresh air. They were personal, warm, and a nice break from all the geometric sans-serifs. But now? They’re everywhere. From wedding invitations to coffee shop menus, it’s like the whole world decided to get personal.

We get it—handwritten fonts are charming. But sometimes, they’re just trying too hard.

10. Designing for Dark Mode

Dark mode is all the rage, and we get it—it’s easier on the eyes, saves battery, and looks cool. But designing for it comes with its challenges. Not every design element translates well into a dark theme. Suddenly, that beautiful logo you created disappears into the background, or the contrast is all wrong.

Still, we can’t deny it—dark mode looks sleek. We love it, even when it’s a pain to get just right.

Love Them or Hate Them, These Design Clichés Are Here to Stay

Design clichés are part of the game. Whether we roll our eyes at them or embrace them with open arms, they shape the world of design. And while it’s fun to poke at their overuse, sometimes they’re the best tool for the job. After all, clichés become clichés for a reason—they work.

So next time you find yourself reaching for Helvetica or adding a gradient, don’t sweat it. Sometimes, the classics just get the job done.

Header image by deagreez (via Adobe Stock). Feel free to find trending designs on WE AND THE COLOR