10 Queer-Coded Design Tips
If I had a nickel for every time a client has asked for something along the lines of:
“Can you make it feel queer? But like, without rainbows and flags?”
I’d have like 5 nickels! But that’s only because I’m in my first year of business and I haven’t had that many clients yet OK lmao. But the fact that it’s come up so often makes me think that these 5 clients probably won’t be the last to have these questions.
So that got me thinking - I know how to make queer-coded stuff (look at literally anything I’ve worked on before), but I’ve never put it into words. What does it mean to make something queer-coded? How do I describe design that connects with our community?
So this blog is for anyone wondering how to make something look queer without completely spelling it out. Here are 10 queer-coded design tips that I whipped up for ya! These are some of the building blocks to queer design that reflect care, community, and LIVIN OUR TRUTH!!
(Something to note: I personally don’t use all of these tips in every project. Design work isn’t a checklist, it’s a feeling! Some brands call for texture and softness, while others are all about structure and edge. It’s about choosing the elements that match the tone, intention, and energy of the brand. So if you love clean lines and symmetry, you’re still invited to this party hehe)
1. Softness is power!
Softness in design represents vulnerability, emotional safety, and the courage to be authentic in a world that urges us to hide ourselves. Using gradients, gentle shadows, blur, rounded corners, and muted palettes to express vulnerability, sweetness, and care creates that effect sooo sweetly <3
2. Collage is queer!
What gay person hasn’t had a vision board night? My cottagecore lesbians know what I’m talking about lol. But on a deeper note, think about the queer experience of identity-building. It’s usually pretty messy, nonlinear, self-curated, DIY, and super personal. So is collaging! Adding paper elements/visuals, and stitching content together in an imperfect, tactile way creates such a cute and kitschy effect.
3. Symmetry is overrated!
I love me some unconventional design. Asymmetrical layouts reject design rules and allow for some surprise, movement, and disruption. Some of the best queer-coded design work plays with visual rhythm instead of conforming to tidy, expected balance.
4. Serifs can be casual!
*cue Chappell lol* I love a good serif font for queer-coded design, but it’s gotta be the right one. Not all serifs need to be serious! Using a stock serif (sry Times New Roman) when you’re trying to look professional is boooring imo. Some serifs are expressive, playful, SLUTTY even!! Playing with expectation when it comes to what a font should be, and where you’d expect to see one font over another, is so subversive and so very gay.
5. Maximalism yay!
Any tumblr vets know what I’m talking about. Layered colors, bold textures, visual abundance… including maximalism in your design is a refusal to be erased! It’s a visual cue to take up space! It’s camp! It’s visibility! It’s thrifting for more trinkets!!!! More is more when it comes to queer-coded design.
6. Color palettes are gay!
Opting for rainbow is, objectively, the gayest choice when it comes to brand colors. However, not all queer-coded design needs to scream rainbow. Queer-coded color palettes often feel unexpected, nostalgic, or emotionally rich. Think lavender and acid green, peach and wine, dusty pink and electric tangerine…I can keep going, really any excuse to name colors! But anywho, all that to say, you can get the point across without being obvious.
7. Texture is a feeling!
Flat design can feel a little one-note. Texture makes things intimate! Queer-coded design invites touch, emotion, and humanity. Think scanned photos, grainy paper textures, hand-written fonts, zine vibes. It’s imperfect on purpose! It says, this was made by a real person with a real point of view, not just a company trying to sell you something.
8. Design as drag!
Design is performance! So is drag. Both are curation! Exaggeration! Illusion! Queer-coded brand design asks, ‘who are you, and what do you want to say?’ and builds a world around that.
9. Don’t shy away from a niche reference!
Queer-coded design often speaks in the language of winks, nods, and deep cuts. A Lisa Frank color. A photo booth texture. Tumblr-inspired layout design. These aren’t “professional” references, and that’s the point! It’s about resonating with your people, your community, and not caring about what appeals to the mainstream.
10. Typography has gender!
I said what I said! You’ve seen it. A curly cue font that’s super femme, or a blocky font that’s super masc. Queer-coded design acknowledges this and works with this. Choosing a typeface that matches your brand identity, and whether you want to lean femme, masc, or somewhere beyond, is as important as choosing a legible font.
Don’t get me wrong, a good pride flag moment always hits. But some brands want to be more subtle. They want their queerness to live in the textures, the references, the vibe. They want to flag, not announce. If that’s you, I hope this gave you some starting points. Think of these tips as a lil design hanky code. Use what resonates, remix the rest, and build something that feels like you!
And if you’re like ugh still sounds like a lot of work, hire me to do it for youuu! <3 heheh