How to Design for Gen Z

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Hey guys, it’s Kushagra from AtlasMoth. Last month, I took a stroll in Bruges. What hit me most? Not just the sights—but how folks live. From a baby in a pram to an old man, sun on his face, smoke in his hand.

Each age walks its own path. Each has their own quirks, thoughts, and wants. If you design, you need to get this to make great stuff.

Right now, it’s Gen Z’s turn. They are up to run the show and shape what we build since they hold much of the sway. So, that’s where we’ll dig in this time.

When we say Gen Z, we’re talkin’ ‘95 to 2010 crew. Yeah, they’re a wild mix—some are pushin’ 30, some still in class. But some stuff is clear as day.

Studies got one thing right: these folks care hard and move quickly. They’re not “slow, lazy, or lost”—nah, they’ll drop habits fast if the cause hits deep. Life’s noisy, but when it’s ‘bout fair play and real goals, they’re all in.

Gen Z vibes with access, bein’ seen, savin’ the planet, and work-life flow. What they feel, how they live, and where they stand? That’s what counts—way more than just stuff.

Designing For Gen Z

Most takes on Gen Z design are all about “short, snackable” bits—quick videos, TikTok style, dumbed-down core stuff. But I say, flip that script.

Gen Z’s not just about short blips and quick hits. They’ve got strong views, big goals, and want to change the world. They crave depth. We can tell a kick-ass story, hook them, make ‘em think hard. Loads of Gen Zs are driven as hell. They want to crush it and be pushed. So let’s give ‘em that.

To do it right? Keep it real. Stay true.

Remain Genuine And Authentic

Like Michelle Winchester said, Gen Z’s got sharp eyes and sees through the fake stuff. That’s why AI gets a side-eye from them—it’s often off and tiring. Like Nilay Patel said on the Ezra Klein Show, when people say “AI-made” now, it’s not hype—it’s more like a red flag for junk or lies.

Gen Z wants more. Brands that keep it real, speak truth, and stand for their beliefs? That’s what they vibe with. But brands that sit quiet, say nothing, or play it safe? No trust there. Look at Dove’s “Keep Beauty Real”—real people, real beauty, no fake AI perfection. That’s what lands.

So, drop the need to be flawless. Be bold. Say what you mean and do what you say. Show life with all its flaws. That’s how you get Gen Z’s trust.

Accessibility First

Gen Z’s a mixed bunch, so their needs? Wildly mixed too. Doesn’t mean you gotta change up every bit or go full custom. Just make it simple and fair from the start.

The small stuff matters. Colors that pop. Links that look like links. Buttons that look like, well, buttons. Forms that break things down step by step. More ways to show who you are. Tabs that work right. Keyboard ease. Less motion for those who need chill. Dark mode. Light mode.

It’s not mind-blowing stuff. Just basics that help folks lock in and get it done. Gen Z expects it—but let’s be real—it’s a win for everyone, everywhere.

Mobile-Only, Not Mobile First 

Most mock-ups we make start big, but let’s be real—Gen Z’s on their phones, not desktops. For most stuff, they’ll scroll from their screens, not sit at a desk. Enterprise software? Yeah, that’s different. But for everyday products, it’s all mobile.

So, start by showing your design in mobile view first. Make it easy to read. Content’s everything, especially on small screens. Here’s how to crush it:

• No walls of text → keep it under 50 words.

• Shorten your sentences → max 20 words.

• Mobile first: clear, quick, and straight to the point.

• Add a simple summary, even for the legal stuff.

• Use the Inverted Pyramid: top points first, then details.

• Ditch the fluff. Keep it tight.

Clean, quick, and simple always wins.

Subtitles On By Default

A lot of folks, especially Gen Z, just turn on captions by default. Maybe the language’s not theirs, the accent’s tricky, or they don’t have headphones. Captions are a win for everyone, and they boost your reach and ROI.

Gareth Ford Williams made a super easy guide for captioning, and it’s a game-changer. Here’s what I’ve found useful when adding captions to my videos:

• Split sentences in half like a pyramid (40 characters on top, a bit less on the bottom).

• Stick to 20-30 characters per second.

• Keep each sequence between 1 and 8 seconds.

• Don’t break up names or titles.

• Don’t split lines after conjunctions.

• Align multi-line captions to the left.

On YouTube, you can choose from fonts like monospaced, serif, sans-serif, casual, cursive, and small caps. But what if we pick fonts that help all users, like dyslexic-friendly or hyper-clear options?

Also, why not add preset high-contrast options for captions? It’d save time and let people pick the right colors and transparency fast. And if they want more, we should offer deep customization.

What I found amazing this week

Steam's New In-Game Video Recording: A Game-Changer for Gamers Everywhere

This track gave me a serious boost—check out ‘Gravity train’ by Macio Plex🎵

Shaping Tomorrow: The Blueprint for Building the Future with Sam Altman