In 2026, retrofuturism has become radically popular due to the growing desire for sustainable web design and human-created content. Retrofuturistic design includes two lenses through which we can view our ever-evolving world: utopian, which envisions limitless optimism for the future, and dystopian, focusing on the collapse and eventual destruction of society.

Let’s discuss two scenarios, one common and one less common. Let’s start with the one common to most of us: you’re running a bit late to the office. You grab the to-go mug, a coffee pod, and wait the required 30-40 seconds it takes to run a stream of hot water over the pre-ground portioned cup and into your travel mug. You praise the simplicity and speed of the coffee machine and then think nothing more of it as you head out the door and to your appointment.

As a design major finishing my last semester of college, it's sort of hard to know exactly what to expect when my formal design training meets real-world design needs. As someone who is still learning, it really means a lot to have mentorship from someone why truly understands the design field and cares about supporting students.