The design landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is essential for creating visually stunning and impactful work. At The Blue Room, we’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of design and exploring new creative possibilities. We asked our talented design team to share their favourite design trends at the moment and they have curated a selection that they’re currently loving and believe will shape the industry in the coming months.
Trend 1: Nature-inspired aesthetic
This trend resonates with the growing emphasis on mindfulness and well-being. Nature-inspired textures, like rough wood grain or delicate watercolour washes, add a touch of tactile richness, further blurring the lines between the digital and the physical world.
Thoughts from Whitney: “I enjoy the nature-inspired aesthetic trend because it helps create a calming and earthy mood. Green also motivates creative thinking and helps with any thinking block you might have. A sense of being one with nature can promote a healthy workflow and that we care about the environment.”
Source: https://venngage.com/blog/graphic-design-trends/
Trend 2: Experimental Typography
Experimental typefaces include anything that’s a little different, including fonts with edgy and funky lines or strokes, animation, 3D elements, colour, illustrations and variable styling. They are identifiable because you can’t look at these typefaces and pinpoint a name or exact style for them.
A great example for this trend is Oatly, they disrupted the diary-alternative scene and embraced an “anti-perfect” aesthetic, reflecting their playful and sustainable values.
Thoughts from Whitney: “Typography can play a big role in the type of design you are trying to promote. Playful and creative typography captures one’s eye quicker than plain typography. Using illustrations to promote the brand in the typography can also increase sales. It speaks volumes by not adding an image with the typography.”
Source: https://venngage.com/blog/graphic-design-trends/
Trend 3: Anime Aesthetic
You may or may not like Japanese animation, but you can’t help but notice how many anime aesthetic commercials, packaging designs, and fashion items are around. Fashion houses are turning their video ads into exciting anime series, food chains are adding characters from famous anime series to their app designs, and startups are choosing anime style aesthetics for their logos and overall brand identity. So, it’s no surprise that we added Anime Thrill to Creative Trends 2023 several month ago.
Thoughts from Alex: “As a lover of anime, I love seeing it being incorporated into other mediums. The striking imagery and colours are perfect for attracting people to the brands. With anime becoming more mainstream, brands using the Anime Aesthetic will appeal to a lot bigger audience than before and bringing back older generations who use to watch anime when it was a niche genre. The unique style stands out amongst the rest of the design styles and can be quickly recognisable.”
Sources:
https://blog.depositphotos.com/anime-aesthetic.html
https://www.vistaprint.com/hub/graphic-design-trends#section08
Trend 4: AI-Enhanced Design
Think AI will steal your design mojo? Think again! In 2024, AI is bound to become a designer’s ultimate wingman, offering a helping hand (or rather, a processing unit) to streamline your workflow and unleash your creativity.
Adobe Sensei for example is a great AI sidekick for designers, powered by machine learning, built to elevate your creative flow. It speeds up tasks, personalises experiences and unlocks possibilities you never imagined, all within your favourite Adobe apps.
Thoughts from Shaun: “Imagine software that understands your design intent, suggesting colour palettes based on your target audience or even whipping up mood boards inspired by your favourite artists. The future of AI lies in augmenting your creative process, not replacing it.
Tools like automated image resizing, background removal and colour correction will free you from tedious tasks, letting you focus on the big picture: concepting, ideation and the human touch that makes good design great.”
Source: Adobe Sensei
Trend 5: Doodles
Hand-drawn doodles are more than just a trend; they’re a movement that’s injecting warmth and personality into the world of design. This style taps into our innate love for the handcrafted, creating designs that feel authentic and approachable.
From outdoor banners to social media graphics, the versatility of hand-drawn doodles knows no bounds. As more brands recognise the power of human connection, we’ll likely see this trend continue to flourish.
Thoughts from Whitney: “Doodles are the new trend in social media. Adding doodles to any image creates movement and style. It attracts the attention of the viewer to be more interested in what the brand is promoting. It also brings a playfulness to the image so that views don’t think the brand is dull and do not have a personality.”
By incorporating these trends into your projects, you can elevate your brand and captivate your audience. Remember, while trends can be a great source of inspiration, it’s equally important to maintain your unique style and brand identity.
Let us know which trends resonate with you and how you plan to incorporate them into your next design project!