Two Cents On Design
Much of what passes for design today is only a chaotic assembly of trends where elements scream for attention. It gives me the ick, as if a fundamental law of architecture has been violated, which it has.
Honesty
A design must be what it is. In architecture, there is a concept of "truth of materials": letting wood look like wood and steel act like steel. This seems to be relevant in digital interfaces.
In Neumorphism, digital elements try to mimic the look of a smooth, pressable object. Yet it cannot deliver the feedback its appearance seems to promise. To compensate for this lacking, Neumorphism has to serve with a different sort of feeling on its own. It can provide a novel aesthetic pleasure watching the elements move or provide the user with clarity in use.
It must become its own thing.
But if implemented badly without any soul, it creates a dishonest and confusing experience. It breaks the user's trust. Their mind then has to process a lot more information figuring out how to get through the UI. This cognitive load is what mainly dictates the amount of pleasure someone gets from using the tool.
Art makes you think while design does its best to avoid making anyone think too hard. The answer should be there before the user even has to ask the question.
Intent
Every line, shadow, animation, and even empty space should serve a purpose. A harmonic system, not built just by a few independent loud elements, creates something greater than the sum of its parts: Personality.
When an icon, a button, and a block of text all demand primary importance at once then the system collapses. If the user's flow is broken, the design fails to serve its primary duty. Which is, of course, guiding and communicating.
Honest and intentional design doesn't age with trends.