The AI "Vibe-Coding" Trap (And why I’m going Retro)

Is it just me, or is every AI startup starting to look like the exact same template?

You know the style: dark mode, grainy purple gradients, bento grid layouts and that one specific modern font. It is what I call Vibe Coding where everyone is so obsessed with looking like they belong in the AI world that they end up looking invisible.

When everyone else ziggs, you have to zag.

If your website looks like a carbon copy of every other tool on Product Hunt, you are telling the world your tech is probably a copy too. You lose brand equity before the user even clicks the sign up button.

Why I am choosing Retro and Early Vice:

In my own startups lately, I have decided to ditch the sterile futuristic look. Instead, I am leaning into:

Playful Themes: High contrast colors and bold personality.
The Retro Aesthetic: Think 80s and 90s tech nostalgia with CRT effects and tactile UI elements.
Early Vice Vibes: Neon accents, raw layouts and a bit of organized chaos.

Why does this work? Because it feels human. Retro design taps into nostalgia and emotion, which is something a cold and efficient AI interface cannot do. It tells the user that there is a creative mind behind the code, not just a founder following a trend.

How to stand out today:

Stop using the AI starter pack: If you see a design trend everywhere on X, it is already too late to use it.
Add friction: Clean is boring. Add some texture, some weird cursors or an unconventional layout that makes people stop and look.
Be playful: Software should be fun to use. If your AI tool feels like a toy but performs like a beast, you have won.

The future of AI branding is not about more glassmorphism or sleek surfaces. It is about personality. Do not be afraid to make your tech look old school to prove it is actually the next big thing.

What do you guys think? Have we reached peak generic design or do you still prefer the clean look?

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