Hello,
In these strange times I noticed an emphasis and focus in what’s Human and in humanistic design.
Communication, news and design is at the centre of humanism, new technologies and media play a key role and its an exciting time just as in the old days of humanism.
The human design trend is in architecture; like the new Fukushima stadium, Japan; a collapsible wooden stadium prepared for nature disasters.
In fashion nature based colours are calling and both brands and celebrities chose a brown look for their public appearances in 2025.
The printed book are experiencing a significant renaissance, driven by young readers like Gen Z since a physical book gives a stronger sense of reading.
The human design trend shows an awareness of AI. Its also a concern about the climate threat and our humanity in the present war time.
In the midst of the booming AI industry it may benefit designers to step back and reflect on what is a Human Being? For now robots and humans are working sideways. The marvelous new tool is not replacing our hearts but gives us more muscles and we need to learn how to handle it…
Design is emotional so that’s at the core of it and why it’s no algorithm. I just hate making misstakes but at the same time that’s the beauty of it; We’re only human…
Human behaviour
We all know Human behaviour is unpredictable. Stil we like to predict it.
In the news industry we call reading predictions; “the reader patterns”, how humans consume and read news. To think on the readers need, like the organising and structure of news are essential for how it’s perceived and to create contrast with a logic overview.
Digital humanism, now an awaken academic term and to think ”human-friendly” is a well known practise and digital human design systems are trending according to Medium.
“Just a little of that human touch”
Human touch
The humanism type is no news, it was invented in the 1400-1500 century and the Roman type, called humanistic, were developed, 1460 in Italy, just to be precise.
What’s new is that today it’s possible to implement a more humanistic type design in the digital world and for news design in particular. Variable fonts gives more possibility to create more contrast and a more optical type palette in just one file.
In June newsletter the studio posted on the Mobile first redesign project for Helsingin Sanomat where I directed a new variable typeface family; Helsingin News and Sanomat News, designed by Commercial Type, launching 2026.
In type, serif types, multi scripts and hand lettering type with a human touch are trending among modern sans serifs with humanism approach.
Human nature
There is a famous example in the Bauhaus learning on colours; where Johannes Itten say’s; “If we are 50 people in a room and you say; ”Red”, everyone see a different kind of red colour”. That is just Human nature.
Colours is a human perception; how we see, feel, react and remember colours. In fact it’s the second most important design decision on a site since, it’s what we first see and experience after; is the site loading …
Until the end, t’il the day I die, is a human saying; so what’ll the avatars say?
Human after all.
Human Design Trend
- In architecture Wooden stadium, Fukushima, Japan is “a symbol of hope and regeneration”.
- In fashion all-brown outfits are a shortcut to chic and call for a nature style.
- Mocha Mousse, the Pantone colour of the year.
- The printed books significant renaissance by Gen Z.
- Exclusive Jane Austen limited edition by the Folio Society.
- Brand new print only Magazine; 72, featuring Julia Roberts on cover.
- The new practise of human design system say’s Medium.
- Humanism inspired serif typeface; Nicola Display, by Miguel Reyes, Commercial type.
- Multi script language typefaces like: Sharp Earth, lead by Lucas Sharp, Sharp type.
- Hand lettering type like Dash Casual by Petra Dočekalová, Typotheque.
PS. I wonder If you noticed the “Human” pop song titles in this newsletter?