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.

3 comments

3 Comments

kevinh101mo agoMost Upvoted

I mean, when you talk about designers pushing for landfill-free stuff, sometimes it's just a style choice. But @uma685 has a point that reuse habits show if it really helps.

ross.finley1mo ago

That part about cutting down on plastic hits home. My friend who runs a cafe switched to plain paper bags with just a stamped logo, and people kept saying it felt more trustworthy. She proved you don't need the shiny coating to make a good impression.

uma6851mo ago

When you mention people found the plain bags more trustworthy, that's interesting. I'm curious if your friend noticed any change in how often customers reused those bags compared to the plastic ones? That could say a lot about whether the simplicity actually leads to more sustainable habits beyond just the initial switch. For instance, paper might get reused for lunches or storage, while plastic often just gets tossed.