Corporate Memphis—the flat, geometric, faceless illustration style with oversized arms and tiny heads—ruled tech websites from 2017 to 2023. But it is finally dead. Here is what is replacing it.

Why Did We Hate It?

It was designed to be universally inoffensive. By stripping away facial features and realistic proportions, companies created a sterile, soulless aesthetic that felt deeply insincere. It became a meme for corporate pandering.

The New Wave: 3D and Nostalgia

Brands are moving in two extreme directions. The first is highly tactile, hyper-realistic 3D renders that feel like physical objects. The second is a return to Y2K and 90s nostalgia—pixel art, gritty textures, and vibrant neon.

Conclusion

If your company is still using flat purple people to explain SaaS products, it is time for a rebrand. The web demands personality again.