Rainbow Connection: Dopamine Design Trend

June 4, 2024

tags: pantone color of the year 2020

What is Dopamine Design?

The dopamine design trend is a recent aesthetic movement in graphic design, fashion, and interior design that emerged in the early 2020s. The trend is characterized by the use of vibrant, saturated colors, bold patterns, and playful, asymmetrical shapes that are intended to evoke feelings of happiness, energy, and optimism.

Key features of the dopamine design trend include:

Bold, contrasting color palettes: Think neon pinks, electric blues, sunny yellows, and bright greens, often used in unexpected combinations.
Retro-inspired elements: Drawing from 70s psychedelia, 80s Memphis design, and 90s pop culture.
Irregular shapes and patterns: Squiggles, blobs, abstract forms, and imperfect geometrics.
Maximalist approach: More is more—layers, clashes, and busy compositions.
Nostalgic motifs: Stars, smiley faces, rainbows, and other symbols associated with happiness.

The name “dopamine” refers to the neurotransmitter in our brains that plays a key role in pleasure, motivation, and reward. The design trend aims to visually stimulate this “feel-good” chemical, providing a burst of positivity and excitement through bold design choices. This trend emerged partly as a reaction to the minimalist, neutral aesthetics that dominated the 2010s, and partly as a response to global stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic, with people seeking out visually uplifting content.

The trend spans various fields:

– Graphic Design: Posters, packaging, branding

– Fashion: Colorful prints, mismatched patterns

– Interior Design: Bright furniture, funky wallpapers

– Digital Design: Websites, apps, social media graphics

Critics argue that the trend can be overwhelming or kitschy, while proponents see it as a much-needed burst of joy in challenging times. Whether it has lasting impact or is a fleeting trend remains to be seen.

You want more dopamine? I’ve got some interesting links for you:

Join Sarah from Floella Interiors as she dives into the world of dopamine interiors and dopamine decor! Expected to be one of the biggest interior design trends of 2024, Sarah dives into how you can add lots of colour, pattern and scale into your home to give that dopamine feeling.

Screenshot 2024-06-03 at 20-04-20 DOPAMINE DECOR! The BIGGEST interior design trend of 2024