What's maximalism anyway? We take a look at this chaotic, abundant, and kitschy design style.
Maximalism is having a moment. You’ve seen it in packaging, posters, and social feeds. Here’s how to recognize it: it’s bold, layered, and unapologetically busy.
Just look at Poppi’s soda cans: bold, chaotic, and impossible to ignore. They stand out instantly with prominent fonts, bright color palettes, and playful graphics. Scroll through Instagram or TikTok, and you’ll see plenty more designers and creators leaning into excess.
We all want to be right on design trends, so stick around to learn why maximalism works, where it’s showing up, and how you can pull it off using assets from Envato and our stack of AI tools.
What is maximalist graphic design?
Maximalism in graphic design is a visual style defined by contrast, layering, and abundance. Instead of simplifying, it builds.
So what’s the formula for chaos-that-works? Let’s break down the ingredients:
- Clashing fonts. Serif vs. sans-serif vs. scripts vs. whatever weird font you downloaded last week. Juxtapose them unapologetically.
- Overprint textures. Make it look printed, reprinted, glitched, and scuffed. Texture gives dimension and depth.
- Sticker bombs. Channel your inner teenager’s laptop. Layer icons, shapes, emojis, doodles, and pop graphics everywhere.
Try this prompt in GraphicsGen:
Maximalist event poster design with sticker overlays, hand-drawn doodles, and glitch textures.
This is where maximalist graphic design, chaotic graphic design, and even a bit of anti-minimalism really shine. Forget neatness and embrace the energy.
The maximalist style thrives in digital spaces where attention is limited and visual impact matters. It’s also a natural fit for brands that want to stand apart from minimalist competitors.
Need a shortcut? Envato has a whole universe of maximalist-friendly assets like:
Key traits of maximalist graphic design
The thing about maximalist design is that it can be many different things and several distinct styles simultaneously and in the same place. So, how can you tell that it is, in fact, maximalist art?
These are some of the most defining characteristics of maximalism:
Mixed typography
Combining typefaces such as serif, sans, script, and stylized fonts is a key part of the aesthetic. The contrast between styles adds energy and, against all odds, it really works.
How you can use it
- Try a bold type collection.
- Use a handwritten font set.
- Check out fonts that mix different styles for each character.
Sticker bomb-style graphics
Icons, maximalist illustrations, emojis, and graphic elements are layered like stickers on your water bottle. These can be decorative and functional, guiding the eye or adding personality.
How you can use it
- Download a digital sticker pack or create your own using Envato’s GraphicsGen.
- Try sticker effect overlays.
- Use Photoshop brushes and actions to create realistic sticker paper effects.
You can also experiment with Envato’s AI tools, ImageGen and GraphicsGen, to bring cool ideas to life. You can use these as a canvas to start working on your next maximalist design project.
It’s all about learning to write the best AI prompts to make the most of each tool.
Try this prompt in GraphicsGen:
Maximalist collage with illustrated stickers, grunge textures, and clashing fonts.
Texture and print effects
Grain, glitch, halftone, and scanned textures add depth and a realistic feel. They can soften elements that look too near and give the design a more analog look.
How you can use it
- Create grunge textures to use as backgrounds.
- Apply distortion and glitch overlays.
- Place fun maximalist pattern graphics on top of your design.
Brands using maximalist graphic design
Which brands are embodying maximalist excess in graphic design? Here are a few examples.
Poppi
As we mentioned earlier, Poppi is one of the brands embracing maximalist design. Poppi’s packaging combines strong color contrasts, bold type, and maximalist illustrations to create an eye-catching product.
We can tell it’s all about maximalism thanks to key design choices, such as:
- Rounded sans font
- Fruit illustration pack
- Sticker bomb-style textures
Petra Collins
Artist and photographer Petra Collins is known for her dreamlike, layered compositions, which are commonly filled with saturated colors, textures, and surreal elements.
Her work blends digital collage, vintage style, and visually rich storytelling that’s unmistakably maximalist. Whether it’s a photoshoot, a music video, or a book cover, every choice adds to the atmosphere.
Some key elements she used to achieve the maximalist look include:
- Grainy film overlays
- Soft-glow textures
- Handwritten-style typefaces
Boiler Room posters
Event posters, especially in music and nightlife, often feature dense layering, bold graphics, and effects like distortion and scan lines.
The characteristics that scream maximalism in art are:
- Glitch elements
- Rave and techno graphic assets
- Customizable poster templates
How to use maximalist graphic design in your work
It can look like a design tantrum, but great maximalism is deliberate. Here’s how to make sure your chaotic aesthetic still has some structure:
- Create contrast. If everything’s shouting, nothing is. Balance intense visual elements with white space.
- Create a visual hierarchy. Use scale, weight, and repetition to highlight key elements.
- Limit the palette. Even in maximalism, color choices can guide the composition.
- Pick a visual theme. Pick a core vibe and layer around it, whether it’s glitch, vintage pop, or cyber rave.
- Layer with purpose. Each element should add something useful or interesting to the composition.
Maximalism meets AI: Prompts to feed the machine
AI-generated art tools seem to love maximalism in graphic design. They often create weird juxtapositions, intense textures, and surreal color palettes. You can use AI tools to prototype layouts or test chaotic combinations.
Try prompts like:
- “A sticker-bombed skate deck with glitch effects”
- “Organized chaos design for a social ad”
- “90s-inspired social ad with hand-drawn graphics and collage textures”
- “Cluttercore-inspired collage of digital pop icons and 90s tech”
- “Maximalist art poster with neon shapes, rave textures, and cartoon overlays”
- “A digital poster in postmodern Y2K style with warped fonts and chrome textures”
Let’s use the first and last prompts to create more maximalist art with Envato’s GraphicsGen.
Try this prompt in GraphicsGen:
A sticker-bombed skate deck with glitch effects.
Try this prompt in GraphicsGen:
A digital poster in postmodern Y2K style with warped fonts and chrome textures.
The history of maximalist graphic design
Maximalism in graphic design has been around for decades. It has thrived in eras where self-expression, irony, and a bit of visual anarchy were needed the most.
We can’t think of maximalism without mentioning artists such as Gustav Klimt and Yayoi Kusama. Their work fears no color, layer, or vibrant element, and it has inspired the wave of loudness and over-the-top design that comes with maximalism.
Maximalist art has shone through the Memphis Group patterns, the layers of postmodernism, and the glitchy excess of Y2K. The early 2000s were especially iconic: MySpace layouts, punk festival flyers, and CD-ROM games with more effects than sense.
These influences helped define maximalism as expressive and layered.
Today’s version is like a reboot of those earlier design styles, with better software and a sharper eye.
Related styles like cluttercore and the chaos aesthetic help frame maximalism’s crossover into interior design and fashion. Digital design is all about combining visuals that shouldn’t work together but somehow do. And doing so is easier than ever, thanks to the accessibility of tools like AI and asset libraries.
Play around with different assets, tools, and ideas. You can get many results and gain new inspiration from each one to craft your unique maximalist aesthetic, one design at a time.
Try this prompt in GraphicsGen:
2000s-inspired digital collage with pixel graphics, colorful and vibrant background, and pop culture icons.
Maximalist graphic design FAQs
What is maximalism?
Maximalist design is a visual approach that layers typography, images, and textures to create detailed, high-impact compositions.
Is maximalism in graphic design just clutter?
Not exactly. Yes, it’s super busy, but structured. Good maximalism is always intentional, taking into account hierarchy and balance.
Where is maximalism commonly used?
Maximalist design can be found in product packaging, event posters, brand content, websites, and fashion campaigns.
Can maximalism work for web design?
Absolutely. Maximalist web design can create unforgettable user experiences, particularly for brands targeting Gen Z and culture-savvy audiences. Just balance it with usability.
What should I use to create maximalist designs?
If you want the maximalist look, try bold fonts, sticker elements, overlays, and graphic kits. Explore all types of maximalist assets on Envato.
Maximalist graphic design isn’t going anywhere
Maximalism is more than a passing trend: it’s a practical style for standing out in digital spaces. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. If it looks too loud, you’re probably doing it right.
With the right assets and tools, you can craft a chaos core aesthetic that feels intentional and unforgettable. Start exploring the brightest side of design with Envato’s curated collection for maximalist creatives.
Try starting with a few AI-generated prompts, and then enhance your layout with fonts, overlays, and graphic elements from Envato. It’s a smart way to explore a bold style without starting from scratch.
