3 Back-to-School Design Trends for 2024

Back-to-school shopping is the second largest annual spending event for families, behind holiday expenditure. Whilst families more than ever grapple with rising costs, it is a category that is still viewed as essential, with many willing to eliminate spending elsewhere to allow for it.  

For some families, this will still be a struggle. Brands and retailers are encouraged to put affordability and accessibility at the forefront of their product ranges and marketing campaigns. 

What’s new for Back-to-School 2024? 

Our Back to School – Trend Application: Autumn Winter 2024/25 report explores a sense of expectation-free positivity and a gentle approach to growth and learning. Unapologetic self-expression, limitless creativity and positive well-being drive newness for back-to-school trends for 2024. 

We highlight three Back-to-School design trends that inspire optimism through the use of colour, material, print and pattern.

Colourful Lacquer 

For our Autumn Winter 2024/25 trend, Cosy Chaos design takes on an eclectic feel reinterpreting hallmarks of 1970s design with a contemporary twist. 

For back-to-school ranges experiment with lacquered finishes and bold blocks of colour to ensure everyday school essentials are anything but boring. Simple shapes with minimal detail allow the glossy, bold colour and finish to do the talking.  

House Plant Positivity 

Our Grow Gently trend for Autumn Winter 2024/25 is all about adopting a gentler way of living. A continued need to heal, for both people and the planet, evokes a back-to-basics mentality, one where recentring and restoring balance remains important. 

Tap into themes of wellbeing and eco-joy, as explored in our Nurtured by Nature Narrative Spotlight, to embed positivity and self-care into back-to-school ranges and help children gear up emotionally for the new school year. Pair these positive messages and motivational affirmations with playful potted house plant motifs.  

3D Printed Bioplastics 

Our Autumn Winter 2024/25 trend Cosmic Nomads is a surreal and sensory story, one that offers a new, digital take on traditional intergalactic themes. 

Products and spaces are immersive and intriguing in this story. With sleek and minimal elements contrasted by weird and whimsical forms. Recreate this by experimenting with bold and playful bioplastics and experimental 3D-printed designs for pen pots and desk storage. 

Are you working on your back-to-school product ranges for 2025?  

Available on our Premium Baby & Kids My TrendBible subscription our annual back-to-school reports expand on our Baby & Kids seasonal forecasts by exploring how each of the trends can be translated for Back-to-School designs, providing inspiration for stationery, lunch boxes, backpacks, desk supplies and more. 

My TrendBible is our trend subscription service designed to inspire and spark ideas, giving your teams confidence in actioning trends and providing validation from across the globe.