Spotting more raw edges and fewer shiny coats in client work lately
I was flipping through some recent branding for a small bakery, and their labels had this unbleached paper feel with muted colors. It reminded me of a job I did where the brief was all about cutting down on plastic, so we used vegetable inks and skipped laminates. At the start, I thought the designs might come off as too rough, but they actually looked honest and grounded. Now I'm seeing this vibe pop up in logos and websites, where natural textures and simple lines replace flashy effects. It's like designers are quietly pushing for stuff that won't end up in landfills. Even my online feed is full of mockups on recycled stock or talks about digital drafts to save paper. Honestly, it's making me sketch more with what I have on hand instead of buying new supplies. This whole shift is giving me fresh ideas for my next project that won't cost the earth.