The world of graphic design is evolving, and keeping abreast of emerging trends is a no-brainer for any professional in the field.
This year is bursting with innovative fonts, fresh palettes, and innovative fonts we haven’t seen in any other year. And with AI taking over many fields, graphic design hasn’t been left behind.
The technology is introducing futuristic elements and eliminating repetitive tasks freeing up time for designers to focus on a design’s creative process. Here are other emerging graphic design trends in 2024:
Why Keep Up with Design Trends
Understanding graphic design trends shows that you’re conversant with the evolving dynamics of the graphic design field.
Also, with new design tools being developed daily, there’s a need to optimize designs for these new technologies and platforms. Other reasons you must keep up with graphic design trends are:
Remain Relevant
Design trends are not mere fads but a reflection of cultural shifts. As such, aligning graphic designs with current trends shows you’re interested in your audience’s preferences.
Also, it’s a great way to remain competitive. Customers grow fond of brands that keep on updating their look, and you want to be among such brands.
Improves User Experience
Design trends have a profound effect on user experience. A study by a software company found that 94% of people notice a website’s look and feel first before navigating the website.
This echoes the effect of graphic design on user experience and keeping design elements updated ensures visitors have a seamless user experience.
Cultivates Innovation
Emerging trends make great launchpads for fresh ideas. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel because new trends stimulate creative directions to explore. You also get to observe what works for other people and identify solutions to any design challenges.
Emerging Graphic Design Trends
So, what design trends must professionals look out for in 2024?
Minimalism
This design trend has been popular for a while, and it doesn’t seem to be waning any time soon. Minimalism requires one to remove clutter, leaving the most essential elements of a design.
As such, clean lines, an uncluttered aesthetic, and enough white space characterize minimalistic graphic designs.
The premise for this design trend is to create a sense of simplicity and elegance and promote efficient communication. Minimalism is also incredibly versatile when designing trends. You can deploy it on various mediums, from websites to branding.
Retro Pixels
The retro pixel design style reminds many of us of early video game graphics. It has made a comeback in the graphic design space.
Its unique aesthetic, characterized by small, square pixels, is credited with the invention of video games in the early days.
This feature also makes retro pixels a versatile tool designers can leverage to create visually appealing designs that stand out in the overly competitive digital space.
That’s why graphic designers incorporate pixel art into promotional materials, logos, and illustrations to add personality and charm to designs.
Professionals also love how scalable retro pixel art is because you can adjust the art to meet a design’s needs without compromising on quality.
Tech-centric Designs
Technology has become a critical catalyst in the graphic design field. It has revolutionized how designers conceptualize and execute design ideas.
Now, designers can access and leverage various design tools and techniques that could only be imagined in the past. Some technological advancements that have reshaped this landscape include:
- Artificial Intelligence: AI makes it easy for designers to automate repetitive design tasks and ideate innovative solutions. The technology makes it possible for designers to push their creative boundaries with few limitations
- Virtual reality and augmented reality: Designers can leverage the technologies to develop an immersive experience that transforms how audiences interact with brands
- Collaborative platforms: Collaborative technologies like cloud-based file sharing make it possible for designers to work with other professionals across geographic boundaries and different time zones
Inclusive Visuals
Inclusivity has been a popular subject in political, social, and cultural circles, and now designers are embracing it.
Professionals no longer use faceless figures to represent everyone. Instead, they’re incorporating visual elements that celebrate all genders, races, body types, and ethnicities.
The premise for this trend is to create visuals that resonate with your audience’s lived experiences. For example, designers are now ensuring that people with cognitive disabilities or visual impairments can use their visuals.
This shift ensures design helps communicate empathy and creates a sense of belonging worldwide.
Doodles
Also referred to as hand-drawn art, doodles help bring out the human aspect of any design. It’s derived from the idea that handcrafted elements create a sense of warmth.
In fact, more corporations are adopting this trend when designing logos, ads, and other media, coming off as warm, friendly, and approachable.
The beauty of this design trend is that it’s so versatile you can use it to create print and digital media designs.
Combining doodles with a minimalistic design shows a sense of authenticity of the artist’s work and adds a human touch to a brand. It reminds your audience that design isn’t rigid and cold, but it can be highly engaging, spontaneous, and free-spirited.
Maximalism
Have you noticed the explosion of colour, texture, and pattern in modern graphic designs? Well, this trend can be traced back to the 80s and is making a comeback in 2024.
This design trend is big on using clashing colour palettes, geometric shapes, and large fonts. Instead of the less is more narrative, the trend embraces the more-is-more mentality to create visually stimulating designs.
Maximalism leverages bold elements and visuals to forge instant connections with a target audience. The trending Y2K fashion on TikTok is an excellent example of the trend.
Nature-centric Designs
With more people becoming eco-conscious, there’s a need to draw inspiration from nature, even in graphic design.
This design trend took centre stage in 2024, which is evident from the nature-inspired textures like watercolour washes and rough wood grain.
The premise for this design trend is to create awareness about environmental issues and celebrate the beauty of our surroundings.
Conclusion
The 2024 graphic design landscape evokes a mix of emotions, nostalgia, liveliness, and futurism. The maximalism depicts vibrance, the retro pixel design takes us back to the 90s while the nature-inspired designs creates a sense of eco-friendliness. So leverage one or more of these trends, experiment, and allow your creative colours to pop.
