20 Free Retro & Vintage Pattern Sets for Photoshop

Design trends come and go but there is one style that never seems to go out of fashion. We’re talking about the retro and vintage style, of course. Retro design refers to a design style that is derived from the recent past. It is usually characterized by faded colors, bold graphics, and period icons.

The retro and vintage style are popular not only in web design but also in art, ads, and fashion design. It evokes feelings of nostalgia which is the main reason why this design trend is so popular. It transcends time and styles and appeals to a wide audience, no matter their age. On top of that, retro style is usually associated with value and quality so it’s a perfect choice for established brands as well as new and emerging brands that want to communicate those ideas.

If you want to apply a retro style to your designs, you’ll want to include a few elements to make sure you’re getting it right. For starters, stick with handwritten fonts, especially those that look distressed or have that rugged, worn out feel. You’ll also want to use old retro models, warplanes or electronics. Depending on which era you want to mimic in your retro design, it’s not uncommon to make use of elements from the twenties and thirties such as first car models or from the fifties and sixties such as pinup girls.

Finally, consider adding retro patterns to your design to round out your design. In this post, we’ve rounded up the best free retro and vintage pattern sets for Photoshop. So check them out, download them, and create awesome retro designs!

You might also like these vintage and retro texture packs, Photoshop brush sets, or these logo templates.