Cardtonic, a Nigerian fintech platform best known for gift card trading and virtual dollar cards, has published a free, in-house research report mapping eight design trends in the AI era. Titled "Design is Changing," the 30-slide document counters the prevailing anxiety among creatives with data showing that users are gravitating toward imperfection, bold typography, and human-led design.
The report, created entirely by Cardtonic's creative team without external vendors, is available ungated. It arrives as many designers question whether AI will devalue their work. Muhammad Oni, a product designer at Cardtonic, said, "We didn't build this report to sell something. We built it because the designers deserve better than panic. They deserve clarity."
Why a fintech company took on design research
Cardtonic's core business-removing barriers for people participating in the global economy-shaped the approach. Ima Asuquo, creative lead at Cardtonic, said, "Every product Cardtonic has ever built answered one question: does this solve a real problem for someone trying to participate in the global economy but hitting a wall? This report asks the same question, just for creatives."
Organic imperfection beats sterile perfection
The report found that 72% of users now associate mathematical perfection with automated, low-effort content. Imperfect designs, by contrast, generate 1.5x higher interaction rates than sterile vector graphics. The takeaway: "perfect" is no longer the goal-authentic is.
Hyperbold typography takes over the canvas
Layout architecture is shifting dramatically. Bold typography now occupies 80% of the canvas in hyperbold layouts, up from 25% in traditional designs. The cognitive science behind it: bold type is processed 40% faster by the human brain than complex, cluttered imagery.
Emotion and human flaws build trust
Seventy percent of users said they prefer human, approachable brands and are more forgiving of flaws in human-led designs than in AI-generated ones. When visuals include hand-drawn or textured elements, 82% of users feel the brand cares more. Emotion and personality are becoming the new competitive edge.
AI as collaborator, not replacement
The report's most pragmatic finding shows how the workplace is adapting. 88% of businesses now use AI in creative workflows, yet 67% of professionals view AI as a partner that accelerates work rather than a threat. Over a third of companies have reoriented workflows so AI handles routine tasks, freeing designers to focus on strategy, emotion, and storytelling.
Why this matters for creatives
For designers, the report's data points to a clear direction: AI fluency combined with a deliberate human touch will define the next phase of the industry. Precious West, lead designer at Cardtonic, said, "The designers who win in 2026 aren't those who have made enemies of AI. They're the ones who know exactly its use, and what to never let it decide." For creatives seeking to build that balanced skillset, structured learning resources like AI for Creatives Courses can help professionals integrate AI without sacrificing the human elements that users now reward.
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