15 Print-on-demand Design Trends that will boost your sale in 2024

Johnny J
9 min readJul 3, 2024

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With high competition in print-on-demand industry,

Every year there is a change in design trend, and this year was all about minimalism, self-expression, boldness, Inner feeling, and vibrant colors.

Photo by David Wimmer on Unsplash

As a POD seller my self keeping up with the design trend in this industry is a must practice, Or else get ready to handle the loss.

Instead, align your POD business with trends to keep up with your target audience and increase sales.

This article will look at the latest design trends for 2024 that you can use for your next product.

I’ll provide 50 FREE AI prompts to design striking art for your POD business, so be sure to read until the end.

Important Note: Most of my readers are nonsubscribers, so if you don’t want to miss updates on POD tips, trends, and insights on AI-driven designs and exciting topics, Make sure to follow me on Medium.

Vintage Styles

Source — Etsy

From wardrobes right out onto catwalks, the vintage style returns, just as fashionably, with hallmark elements characteristic of past eras: retro graphic T-shirts, classic floral patterns, and timeless denim jackets. The era is resurrecting with a bang in the fashion world, sealing its fate as probably one of the most prevailing trends to look out for in 2024.

To many people, vintage fashion really does bring a feel of nostalgia or be reminiscent of elegance and charm, it’s a celebration of a time vastly different in style and cultural richness.

Also read, 50 AI design prompts to boost POD sales.

Vintage POD apparel styles are identified with their timeless, eclectic feel that may be described by intricate patterns and rich texture. It is a very well-intentioned fusion of too many divergent fashion historical tropes. Certainly, the central motifs would include Art Deco designs, 70s psychedelic graphics, and iconic pop culture nods to the 20th century. The added staples of the vintage style include embroidered detailing, soft pastels, and classic silhouettes showing the spirit of fashion history in claimed modernity.

Sketchbook Doodle Art

Source — Pinterest

Making art out of sketchbook doodles: this ability to evoke such strong senses of nostalgia. It’s the ultimate celebration of freehand expression, the purest form.

Characterized by its eccentric and creative look, sketchbook doodle art in POD is mostly hand-drawn illustrations, whimsical characters, and abstract patterns. Typical of such designs are the elements of black-and-white line printing with color splashes, made in large and small shapes, simple forms, and a mix of small details and simple shapes.

Whether it is with a cute little doodle of some funny creature or an abstract style full of swirls and stars, this art in sketchbooks captures the essence of exploratory exploration in the world of creativity.

Small Space big Statement Pocket Designs

Source — Etsy

Small space big statement pocket print designs are making a stylish comeback in the print-on-demand (POD) world for 2024. I am a big fan of these designs.

Abstract

Source — Etsy

Abstract art is back in business within the print-on-demand industry, as it comes to rewrite the creative landscape in 2024.

These are bold colors, fluid shapes, and intricate patterns, abstract POD designs are sure to evoke feelings of excitement and wonder in the people viewing them. This abstraction trend does everything from swirling motifs to geometric fragments, really pushing the boundaries of traditional design.

Also read, Here are 10 must read books on print-on-demand.

Be it a mesmerizing T-shirt, a hypnotic phone case, or a bold tote bag, abstract art in POD redesigns everyday things into fashion statements.

Early 90s and 2000s

Source — Etsy & Pinterest

From catwalks to streets, the 2000s make a bold return with staples such as baggy jeans, crop tops, and tinted sunglasses. For tees, this revival of the Y2K look is going to be huge in 2024.

Y2K fashion brings nostalgia for so many as a throwback to the turn of the millennium, attesting to an era of hope and a technologically burgeoning world.

We’ve been pulling from ’90s style for three years now, and based on 2023 runways, we’re going to keep seeing ’90s trends in 2024.

Grunge, minimalism, and hip-hop culture each had a distinct style that defined the ’90s. Sportswear became everyday wear, and denim — high-waisted mom jeans and overalls and jackets alike — held steady as an overall staple of the decade.

The ’90s also indulged in camp, with light, flashy elements like neon colors, bold patterns, and outrageous accessories. This camp element gave a playful, ironic touch to the fashion of that decade.

Spiritualism

Source — Etsy

Spiritualism brings in the sense of serenity and depth into print-on-demand fashion. These designs speak to people wanting to find better connections and meaning in life and change an everyday item into some soulful expression of inner peace and enlightenment.

The spiritual POD designs are a blend of ethereal images, holy symbols, and soothing colors. It evokes nostalgia with a reverence towards times past and the wisdom borne then. Mandalas, chakras, celestial motifs, or features are intricately interwoven into the tapestry of these creations — each, in itself, an enigma of spiritual awakening and harmony.

Minimalism

Source — Etsy

Base this idea on the need to get rid of excess for simple beauty to shine through, giving the design that evergreen yet modern outlook.

With clean lines, neutral color palettes, and clean compositions, minimalist POD designs evoke a sense of serenity and clarity. Every piece contains only the essential elements: monochromatic prints, geometric shapes, and subtle typography.

The cultural significance of minimalism is simply a backlash against the chaos of today’s life. It celebrates the very concept of “less is more” by encouraging mindfulness and intentional living. Minimalist designs on t-shirts, hoodies, and other home decor products immediately create a sense of connection with people who long to declutter both their surroundings and minds.

Bold Typography

Source — Etsy & Pinterest

With bold, assertive letters in vibrant colors and creative layouts, bold typography POD designs are full of so much excitement and confidence. From t-shirts with motivational to posters bearing inspirational slogans on them, every piece is attention-grabbing.

This aesthetic is all about celebrating the art of typography using fonts as a means of defining your strengths and personality.

The cultural meaning of bold typography deals with making oneself loud and clear in a world filled with visual ‘communication’ noise.

Also read, Ultimate 5 min guide on designing T-shirt using Leonard AI.

Bold typography within a POD world does what it needs to do — it changes humble merchandise into strong statements of style and substance.

Futurism

Source — Etsy & Pinterest

This is the look-ahead trend, where cutting-edge technology meets visionary aesthetics to come up with fashion that feels both innovative and nostalgic.

Characterized by sleek lines, metallic colors, and digital-inspired patterns, futurist POD designs evoke feelings of excitement and wonder. Neon lights, geometric shapes, abstract compositions — all this is in each piece, inducing a tinge of science-fiction movies and cyberpunk culture.

It becomes nostalgic, yet lovingly retro-futurist, as it pushes boundaries with contemporary creativity. T-shirts with holographic prints, hoodies in sleek, minimalistic designs, or phone cases with digital glitch patterns — each offers a sense of adventure and discovery in everyday gadgets.

Personalization in Print-on-demand

Source — Foxarts

This is how one can use a product as an exchange of personal stories, tastes, and identities — turning simple products into treasured keepsakes.

Custom graphics, monograms, and messages spelling out a person’s name, personalized POD designs evoke self-creation.

Personalization makes any garment or accessory an out-and-out, rather intimate, statement of self and bonds through the world of POD.

Punk Aesthetic

Source — Etsy & Pinterest

It’s edgy, it’s unapologetic. This trend is all about channeling that raw energy and defiant spirit which Punk culture stands for into everyday items, powerful expressions of individuality and resistance.

Distressed textures, bold graphics, and a rather homemade ethos hark back to a certain sense of excitement and nostalgia for the anarchic days of the punk movement. Key elements include graphic T-shirts with cuttingly provocative slogans, accessories with copious amounts of safety pins and patches, and bold, clashing colors demanding attention. A gritty, street-style aesthetic is celebrated in this look, embracing imperfections and chaos.

Nature Inspired

Source — Etsy

Botanical illustrations, earthy color palettes, and organic patterns, nature-inspired POD designs make users nostalgic and excited to go out into the great outdoors.

Every piece comes with lush foliage, delicate florals, and stately wildlife, saying something of life in forests, fields, and mountains. The look is a harmonious blend of art and nature that brings out visually stunning apparel and accessories.

Mixed Media

Source — Pinterest

Mixed media is finally having its moment, surging back in the POD world to offer 2024 fashion a boost in eclectic designs. This movement is considered to be about the celebration of different artistic techniques and materials combined into one not ordinary item; it’s like turning every simple thing into a very vibrant masterpiece.

Mixed-media POD designs bring together textures, colors, and strong visuals to evoke a feeling that is both nostalgic and exciting. Each features a harmonious blend of painting, photography, digital media art, and collage to create a rich tapestry for the imagination. It’s an aesthetic that revels in the unexpected, with overlapping patterns, layered imagery, and contrasting tactile materials that work together to keep the eye enthralled.

Surrealism

Source — Pinterest

It reflects the surreal and the weird, turning the most mundane into breathtakingly undoable pieces from reality.

Characterized by dreamy images, bright colors, and imaginary composition, surrealist POD designs can evoke feelings of amazement and excitement in their viewer. Each of them is dotted with such elements as floating objects, fanciful landscapes, and unexpected juxtapositions that challenge perception and provoke the imagination. The aesthetic is all about unpredictability, merging reality with fantasy to come up with visually stunning and thought-provoking apparel and accessories.

Gender fluid

Source — Etsy

The fluidity of gender is hitting hard on POD. A trend that celebrates freedom to be beyond traditional gender norms is transforming everyday items as powerful statements of individuality and acceptance.

Characterized by versatile silhouettes, bold colors, and diverse patterns, gender fluid POD designs evoke a sense of excitement and liberation. Each one of them defies binary presentation through elements such as unisex cuts, vibrant prints, and the conveying of inclusive messages. It’s playful and profound, borrowed from several styles to make a fashion that just doesn’t fit into any category.

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At Last

Choose your niche/design type for POD, and be consistent with it. Be creative with your ideas, and explore.

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Johnny J

Passionate POD entrepreneur & Graphic Designer sharing transparent stories, practical tips & motivation to help others to make money