The world of graphic design is an ever-changing one. Although its guiding principles remain the same, new trends come and go that influence the field every year.

This year is no different. And exciting trends are building up that will shape the design landscape soon. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest ones.

Nature

This doesn’t necessarily mean images of trees, per se (although it could). Nature is back in the sense that industries of all sorts are putting a greater emphasis on the use of natural materials, and also eco-friendly themes in their productions. This applies to many different types of things – everything from handbags to children’s toys to tyres are taking on nature themes as the world strives to be more collectively eco-conscious.

As far as design is concerned, this means that not only should the materials used in production be sustainable, but also that the designs themselves reflect this idea.

Therefore, typography, colouring, and images are all taking on “greener” forms to reflect the emphasis that people are putting on sustainable living.

If you want to test out your ideas before you have an idea of the precise application or material you will use for printing, check out free mockups online. You might want to poke around and try different things before you make a decision. And because the mockups are free, you can experiment as much as you want.

Bold minimalism

During much of the history of mass production, companies focused on adding more and more frills to their designs because they felt that this would draw people’s attention more. And while this was the case for a while, both designers and the general public are starting to shift their attention to simpler designs.

The concept of bold minimalism might sound like a contradiction in ideas. Minimalism is something that should demonstrate modesty, after all, right? You can sometimes make the boldest statements with the fewest elements. And this is what bold minimalism is all about. Bold minimalism involves the use of contrasting block colours, precise typography, and simple forms. Numerous marketing and psychological studies indicate that this is the best way to catch people’s attention. And it can be seen in everything from web design to a wide range of branding efforts.

Utilitarianism

Original Bauhaus ideas never fully went out of fashion. Even when more elaborate-looking designs took over in popularity for a while, the idea of utilitarianism was always lurking in the background, precisely because it is…utilitarian. In other words, it exemplifies things that people need in their lives.

A relative of minimalism, utilitarianism involves the use of simple, no-frills designs that have practical applications. Things like manuals, signs, and other practical instruments are all going back to utilitarian principles. And while it may be novel to see the original Paris metro signs with all its twists and curls, this is not the direction that people are taking in 2024.

Pixels

Another simple idea that harkens back to the early days of computers, people are using pixels for many different purposes. For one thing, QR codes are a form of original pixel designs. And they are a way of maintaining simplicity, yet adding just a bit of funkiness where it is called for.

The most obvious use of pixel designs is in logos. For tech companies or anyone who wants to indicate digital work, this is a popular idea. But its uses go beyond this, to use in Photoshop altering pictures to make them look “old school,” and in other artsy production that attempts to put people in a digital frame of mind.

Gradients

AI is instrumental in offering designers interesting colour gradients for packaging, advertisements, and websites. AI gathers data on which colours reflect certain types of moods, buyer preferences, etc, and the results are clear in sales numbers.

Gradients can take on any number of different forms, from pink to blue, orange to green, and not only in standard colours but using very subtle shades in the gradation process. Psychological studies indicate which types of colours are preferred by different categories of consumers, and marketers are successfully capitalizing on this.

 

Design at will, but with these concepts in mind

The beauty of creating things yourself is that you have a full range to do whatever comes to mind. Nonetheless, there are specific trends that will get you more traction than others if you are in the business of working with people. Keep these design ideas in mind, and you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with.