The state of modular email design systems
State of modular email design systems 2026 How industries are adopting, which platforms lead, and is it right for you.
Get report
Order Now
01

The maximum power of MINIMALISM

We’ve seen a rise in minimalist, simplistic, ultra-focused email designs in our inboxes. Minimalist design has been a favorite of many brands for some time now. Information overload and even email overload is shrinking our attention span. That’s why minimalism is emerging as a hero.

A minimalist email design subtly delivers your message, making it easy to comprehend. We will see brands incline towards simplified compositions and more generous use of white space.

Here’s a minimalist email from Tone it up.

A brighter future for the
DARK MODE

02

One thing that we’ve seen rising during the last year is the popularity of the dark mode. And why not? Apart from being easy on the eye, the dark mode makes content more legible, gives a classy look to emails, and also saves battery life.

With the majority of the OSs and Applications using dark mode and email clients like Apple-Mail, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Outlook adopting this change, the trend is all set to climb the charts. So, you need to not only design the emails considering the dark mode but also create a special version for the dark mode.

Take a look at how we design our emails in the light and dark mode:

03

The eternal inclination towards ANIMATION

Our love for animation will probably never die. The possibilities it offers and the fact that animated elements allow you to grab attention, emphasize your message, and drive conversions have made it the heartthrob of email marketers.

  • A tried, tested, and successful option that has been used and loved equally by email marketers and subscribers over the years.

  • Using CSS3 animation can elevate your email design but what throws spanner in the works is the compatibility issue it still faces.

  • With better email client support than that for CSS3, APNG, as opposed to a GIF, lets you use the full range of color depths. Moreover, APNG allows you to work with transparency. We see APNGs gaining some more credit this year.

    Take a look at this APNG email template created by the Email Uplers team.

Smart use of ILLUSTRATIONS

04

Is it just about adding fun and visual appeal? Not at all. An illustration is an effective storytelling tool; it can help to display products/ services better and convey conceptual messages in a simplified manner. What makes them unique and fun is that they stay away from perfection.

While illustrations have been used earlier as well in emails, this year we are likely to see them being used more for better depiction and as an integral part of the messaging.

3 creative ways you can add illustrations in your 2022 emails:
  • Spot illustration
  • GIF illustration
  • As a divider to break content
Function of Beauty’s email is a perfect example of how to aptly use illustration in email

Is it just about adding fun and visual appeal? Not at all. An illustration is an effective storytelling tool; it can help to display products/ services better and convey conceptual messages in a simplified manner. What makes them unique and fun is that they stay away from perfection.

While illustrations have been used earlier as well in emails, this year we are likely to see them being used more for better depiction and as an integral part of the messaging.

05

The subtleness of SOFT GRADIENTS

A gradual blending from one color to another and to another makes for a gradient. We had emphasized this trend in 2021 as well, and we were not disappointed as many brands embraced this trend wholeheartedly. In 2022, we are likely to see a minor change in this extremely versatile trend.

We’ll see a rise in the use of softer colors for a more subtle gradient effect. A single hue gradient or a palette that leverages pastel shades is what we can expect. Moreover, we may see a combination of soft colors for a subtle background too.

This email sent by Litmus has been created using soft colors that form an amazing gradient effect in the background.

The macro effect of MICRO-INTERACTIONS

06

Interaction is a great way to engage an email audience, but more often than not, brands keep a distance from it considering the fact that a high loading time for people who do not have a high-speed connection might put them off. The answer to this challenge lies in micro-interactions.

Micro-interactions, as the name suggests, are small interactions. Let’s take a look at some ways in which you can use these in your emails in 2022

Hover effect
Swiping and clicking

These small interactions may not be the focal point but they drive engagement and can be used to accentuate and complement the email copy well. Micro-interaction also keeps your email size in check.

This email from Tom Raffield is an excellent example of how a hover effect idea can be implemented to perfection.

Closing Thoughts

The eminence of design in email marketing can’t be overstated. Colors, images, and shapes - they not only add to the identity of your brand, but also help to educate, inform, and even convince the audience to take the next step. The bottom line? Your email design must be engaging! We hope these trends our team foresees for 2022 will help you create the most amazing emails, now and in the future.

Embed this infographic