How to add autumn & fall charm to your design work

As we slowly move into autumn here in the UK, it got me thinking about how often I’m asked for my top tips for creating designs for different seasons.

So here are my top tips for autumn/fall:

Cosy colour

As with any season colour is so important for helping set the mood & direction. This year I’ve been seeing that a key colour is warm browns from delicious chocolate tones to deep mahogany & more. Not so surprising since so many paint brands chose shades of brown as their 2026 colour of the year!

Kelly & I really enjoy digging through my photography to create lovely palettes for you. Check out our autumn/fall colour combinations article for more inspiration. Or why not try creating your own?

Photography by Rachael Taylor taken at Tatton Park

Research is key

Don’t design in a void & look at what’s already out there, what are the bestsellers? What is up and coming? For example, pumpkins for autumn & Halloween are always going to be a staple but is there a trend that offers something new? Make it a habit to take a trip out to the shops & get familiar with what’s already out there & what has changed from the previous year.

The Boo Basket

If you are a product designer then the Boo Basket trend is something you might want to jump on this time of year. Originating from the US as a neighbourly gift giving experience, the trend has swept social media & many brands are putting together their own styled baskets. Think about the photography & video opportunities this has for your designs & how much fun you’ll have creating your very own!

Photograph from House Beautiful / Wayfair

Trends

It’s important to research trends that are specific to the market area you are focusing on. Trends for fall fabric for example, might be very different to those for fall stationery.

Happy Leaves design from the Rachael Taylor Studio

Go international

Expand your research & inspirations – there are so many autumn celebrations & events around the world:

A creative task for you:

Autumn celebrations are typically about that transition from summer to autumn, but what happens when you start thinking a bit deeper?

The leaves turn from vivid greens to rusty oranges – in what ways can you convey this transition of time?
It’s the time of the last harvests before winter – does that give the season a feeling of something wrapping up or coming to end?
The darker & cooler days mean a change in the way we dress & the way we live – can you capture the way this makes us feel cosier?