• Annually, various media outlets inundate us with numerous renditions of ‘FORTHCOMING YEAR TRENDS.’ Intrigued by the efficacy of these trends, I embarked on a quest to discern the triumphant from the futile. Thus, the notion to scrutinize leading design enterprises and their prognostications regarding Design Trends for 2024 germinated.

Visual Design Trends

Exploring the landscape of Visual Design Trends for 2024 prompts a compelling inquiry: what constitutes these trends? Delving into the insights provided by industry giants such as Adobe, Behance, Canva, Shutterstock, and Depositphotos reveals a convergence of predictions, totaling 26 discernible trends. Yet, amidst these parallels, arises the question: does the alignment in forecasts signify the feasibility of trend prediction, or does it merely underscore the malleability of concepts into trends? The amalgamation of these perspectives invites reflection on the nuanced interplay between perception, innovation, and consumer culture.

Behance, Canva, and Adobe employ distinct methodologies to craft their reports and forecasts, drawing from proprietary data reservoirs. These insights encompass search query analytics, content categorizations, and content engagement metrics within their respective platforms. Adobe, for instance, elucidates its research process, entailing an examination of evolving creative expressions, consumer behaviors, technological innovations, and market demand dynamics.

Diverse research paradigms, content categories, and audience demographics underpin these analyses, fostering variances in predicted trends. Nonetheless, amidst this diversity, overarching thematic congruences emerge, signifying shared undercurrents in design evolution. The exploration of these parallels unveils intricate insights into the evolving landscape of visual communication and design aesthetics.

1. Diversity and Creativity

In contemporary times, the landscape of design trends undergoes a surge in diversity, expanding its horizons in scope and ingenuity. Remarkably, more than a quarter of these trends center around diverse visual design methodologies, reflecting an evolving paradigm within the creative sphere. Notably, a subset of these trends embraces the concept of decentralization, marking a departure from centralized design philosophies.

For creative professionals like ourselves, this dynamic evolution holds profound implications. The notion that everything possesses the potential to become a trend underscores the democratization of creativity. Whether one operates as a 2D graphic designer, a 3D virtuoso, a motion graphics specialist, or an aficionado of artificial intelligence, the opportunity to embody trendiness beckons.

Yet, amid this fluidity, design enterprises proffer insightful guidance for navigating the ever-changing currents of design evolution. Behance, for instance, advocates for the adoption of accent fonts, advocating for the utilization of curvaceous, bold typefaces reminiscent of the carefree ethos of the 1970s.

According to insights from Shutterstock, 2024 heralds the dominance of elegantly understated serif fonts for graphic designers and social media marketers, offering a sophisticated touch to visual communication strategies.

Depositphotos advocates for embracing experimentation, urging designers to explore enlarged vintage letters, handwritten scripts, and the juxtaposition of contrasting typefaces. This includes pairing readable Sans Serifs with thematic fonts like pixel typography, fostering dynamic visual narratives.

Illustrations and Doodles emerge as a prominent trend, exemplified by Behance’s “Doobled Details.” This trend celebrates doodle-like elements and hand-drawn illustrations, infusing warmth and humanity into brand identities, fostering deeper audience engagement.

Pixelart experiences a remarkable surge in popularity, with a staggering 179% increase on Canva. Drawing inspiration from 8-bit video games and computer animations, pixelation evokes nostalgia and comfort. Grids, blocky fonts, and pixel art seamlessly integrate into this retro-inspired aesthetic.

Geometric Forms take center stage, characterized by floral patterns, organic shapes, and flowing murals. This trend blends simplicity with expressiveness, projecting a professional yet vibrant ambiance.

AI design emerges as a transformative force, permeating mainstream design tools. AI-driven insights empower designers to explore innovative concepts, pushing the boundaries of creativity while enhancing efficiency and efficacy in design processes.

2. Nostalgia

According to insights from Shutterstock, 2024 heralds the dominance of elegantly understated serif fonts for graphic designers and social media marketers, offering a sophisticated touch to visual communication strategies.

Depositphotos advocates for embracing experimentation, urging designers to explore enlarged vintage letters, handwritten scripts, and the juxtaposition of contrasting typefaces. This includes pairing readable Sans Serifs with thematic fonts like pixel typography, fostering dynamic visual narratives.

Illustrations and Doodles emerge as a prominent trend, exemplified by Behance’s “Doobled Details.” This trend celebrates doodle-like elements and hand-drawn illustrations, infusing warmth and humanity into brand identities, fostering deeper audience engagement.

Pixelart experiences a remarkable surge in popularity, with a staggering 179% increase on Canva. Drawing inspiration from 8-bit video games and computer animations, pixelation evokes nostalgia and comfort. Grids, blocky fonts, and pixel art seamlessly integrate into this retro-inspired aesthetic.

Geometric Forms take center stage, characterized by floral patterns, organic shapes, and flowing murals. This trend blends simplicity with expressiveness, projecting a professional yet vibrant ambiance.

AI design emerges as a transformative force, permeating mainstream design tools. AI-driven insights empower designers to explore innovative concepts, pushing the boundaries of creativity while enhancing efficiency and efficacy in design processes.

The Executive Director of the Pantone® Color Institute highlighted the significance of NYFW Spring 2024 colors, emphasizing a blend of familiar hues with a modern twist. This fusion represents a fresh interpretation of the present, drawing from past reminiscences and offering a glimpse into the future, fostering hope for the current era [4].

Moreover, the Canva trend “Bold is back” echoes a return to the future, inspired by vibrant 20th-century art movements such as pop art, art deco, and 80s advertising. This resurgence encapsulates a nostalgic yet forward-looking approach, embracing boldness and innovation.

3. Playfulness and Positivity.

The trend of “Playfulness & Positivity” draws inspiration from diverse elements to evoke feelings of joy and optimism. Emerging inclinations toward playful, organic, and tactile textures breathe new life into design. These shifts embrace a sense of lightheartedness and amiability, attracting users with their inviting charm.

Keywords like ‘lively’ and ‘vivid’ have witnessed an astounding 32000% surge in searches on platforms such as Canva. It’s no surprise that people today seek experiences that evoke deep and positive sentiments.

Bold compositions featuring vibrant and fluorescent color palettes are gaining popularity among artists. Employing minimal visual elements directs focus and conveys positivity, fun, and optimism, particularly appealing to organizations seeking change.

The “Playfulness & Positivity” trend resonates with users’ emotions, invoking feelings of warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. The soft, tactile aspects of this design trend foster a sense of playfulness, putting users at ease and forging emotional connections with brands or websites.

4. Calmness

The upcoming trend resonates deeply with society’s emotional yearnings for serenity and peace.

According to Adobe, in response to individuals’ quest for emotional equilibrium, brands and institutions are integrating serene, flowing, and fluid visuals to instill a sense of calmness across various domains such as workplaces, retail environments, and social platforms. These visuals range from simplistic abstract backgrounds to subtly evolving forms accompanied by tranquil sounds, aiming to create soothing environments.

Behance highlights creators’ inclination towards the utilization of “Color that has Aura of calmness and tranquility” – Periwinkle. This tranquil hue found widespread popularity across diverse creative fields including 3D art, motion graphics, packaging, brand identity, and photography, reflecting the universal appeal of serene aesthetics.

5. Dimensions and Motion

The trend forecasted for 2024, “Dimension & Motion,” presents an enthralling amalgamation of vibrant visuals and intricate layers. Inspired by the culture of zines and handmade scrapbooks, the motion collage trend is poised to revolutionize video displays with its intricate and shifting panoramas.

Embedded in the experimental animations of the 1800s, Adobe’s Dynamic Dimensions trend embraces a playful fusion of 2D and 3D elements, integrating motion, special effects, and illustrations to craft contemporary and forward-looking visuals, instilling a sense of boundless potential.

This trend champions the utilization of collages, multi-layering, and rapid shifts in emotion, encouraging designers to amalgamate diverse styles and concepts in a chaotic yet harmonious manner, effectively bridging the divide between disorder and order in visual narrative.

6. Aether Words

Embark on the journey into the enchanting era of ‘Aether Worlds,’ where fantasy art, ethereal designs, and enigmatic subconscious connections emerge as the protagonists. Immerse yourself in a realm that beckons an escape from reality, urging you to unleash your creative prowess in the crafting of surreal and mesmerizing scenes.

Canva illuminates the increasing trend of individuals fervently seeking ‘ethereal,’ ‘dreamy,’ ‘glossy,’ and ‘fantasy’ templates and elements within this captivating category. The virtual realm becomes a canvas for dreamers and creators alike, drawing them into a vortex of creativity and imaginative expression.

This trend beckons graphic designers to explore 3D landscapes, unraveling the intricate marvels of nature, or freeze-framing landscapes that delicately blur the boundary between the tangible and the surreal. It serves as an invitation to infuse vibrant color palettes and hyperreal details, orchestrating an experience that transcends the ordinary and transports viewers to a captivating otherworldly space.

Behance, in its report, offers a stellar illustration of this trend by spotlighting 3D designer and director Zachary Corzine’s series, ‘Unnatural World.’ Corzine articulates his creation as an “exploration of the hyperreal, inspired by the real,” exemplifying the fusion of fantasy and reality within the ‘Aether Worlds’ trend.