The world of graphic design is vast and ever-changing, especially when it comes to trends. We know that trends are often based on cultural shifts and consumer responses to those shifts. While some of the design concepts that we expect to see in 2024 may not be new, they are certainly on the path to being re-invented this year.
Trends, especially in the design world, dictate the way consumers engage with businesses. As graphic designers navigate through their roles in advertising and marketing, or through operating self-owned businesses, there are certain benefits to gain when taking inspiration from creative trends. You can take bits and pieces from certain trending concepts and incorporate them into your own established style and aesthetic. In doing so, you have the potential to create a concept that’s unique to you and will ultimately stand out among other designers.
Let’s keep your creative streak going or spark fresh ideas for the new year as we dive into some fun design trends that’ll be taking center stage in 2024.
Colorful Minimalism
It’s amazing what one simple typeface and a couple of colors could do when paired together. Colorful minimalism is simple, yet bold. It’s modest, yet loud. It’s clean and it’s attention-grabbing. Need we say more?
Maximalism
On the other end of the spectrum, we’re expecting to see complex design work that includes plenty of color, a plethora of intricacies, and an all-around bold, loud, and playful vibe. With maximalism, you don’t need to hold back. You can have many different colors and font types, as long as your design has a cohesive flow. Don’t be afraid to be loud!
Vibrant, Retro Nostalgia
They say that trends repeat every 20 years. Well, it’s been about 40 years since the 70s, so we’re back in the cycle of being drawn to vintage prints, retro color schemes, and even free-thinking mindsets – the freedom of expression is alive and well!
Candy-Colored Pastels
Soft pastels aren’t just for spring or Easter time. This color trend is noted to promote feelings of happiness, freshness, and even laughter. Personally, I think of old-school candy shop vibes, and what’s not to love about that?
Outlined or Hand-Drawn Artwork
Hand-drawn art conveys a sense of personalization that brands need to stay in touch with their customer base. Design work that uses hand drawing or outlining techniques is capable of evoking empathy and relatability that wouldn’t necessarily come about with traditional marketing-driven design concepts. Because of this trend, we suspect that Apple pencil sales are likely to increase in the coming months. Make it your goal to decrease the use of stock photography and try the personalized artwork approach instead. Consumers will take notice and be more inclined to trust your product.
Natural Patterns and Textures
In a time when people are becoming aware of the effects of their blueprint, brands are more compelled to turn toward sustainable methods to appease consumers and do their part to better the planet. This sparks the use of natural, earthy textures, tones, and color schemes. Nature-driven design work brings about feelings of warmth and purpose. Consumers who are changing their habits for the good of the environment will also take note of brands that use nature-inspired concepts in their campaigns.
3D Elements
While there’s nothing new about using 3D in design, it’s become a lot simpler to achieve three-dimensional elements, given all the software and tools that are accessible. 3D concepts can be used in typography, design elements, and even for user interfaces.
Geometric Shapes
Playing around with shapes has always been essential for graphic design, but in 2024, we’re going to see shapes at the forefront of many designs, rather than just as a supplemental element or background pattern. You’ll likely notice shapes like circles, spheres, cubes, arches, diamonds, and octagons (to name a few) that’ll pop up in designs. Pro-tip: incorporate two trends by adding a 3D element to geometric shapes to create a design that’ll instantly get noticed.
Serif Fonts are Coming Back!
Who would’ve thought this day would come? After all, serif fonts are believed to have originated with the Latin alphabet, displayed by words carved into stones during Roman antiquity.
For the longest time, serif fonts were considered stuffy and outdated. Sans serif took over as the cleaner, more modern typeface, and brands ran with it. Now that traditional serif fonts are making a comeback, popular brands are even going as far as re-branding their logo to match this emerging trend.
Diversity and Inclusion
This one is a no-brainer. The world is vast and diverse, to say the very least, so designs that include people should reflect that fact! To appeal to the masses, you should be able to represent people from all walks of life – people of different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and disabilities all have a place in design concepts.
AI Assistance
AI has taken 2023 by storm, and we’re going to see a lot more of its contribution, especially within creative industries. However, we don’t see AI as a placeholder for real-life designers. Your artistic talent is far too valuable to be replaced or eliminated. AI is more of an assistance tool that designers can use to perfect their craft and gain inspiration. Plus, it could even help alleviate tedious editing tasks.
There you have it! We hope you’re left feeling inspired and ready to take on the new year with refreshing new ideas. We’re excited to see all of these trends in action.
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