In the world of graphic design, keeping up isn’t just a trend—it’s crucial. Whether you’re in a team, freelancing, or selling your designs, being ahead means staying competitive. We’ll discuss 12 graphic design trends that can level up your skills and secure your career’s future. Whether you’re a pro or just starting, learning these skills not only enhances your creativity but also helps you to be more innovative.
Bento Box Grid
Bento Box design is widely used in website and User Interface (UI) design, inspired by the compartmentalized lunch boxes from Japan. While the term “Bento Box Design” gained popularity recently, the concept of using grids in website layouts has been around for a long time.
We first saw this Bento Box Design in early Windows 7, 8 OS and Windows phones by Microsoft. However, Apple has since popularized this trend by often employing a Bento Box layout on their product pages, organizing sections for product images, key features, specifications, and reviews. This trend has been followed by many other major companies, including Samsung.
By organizing content into compartments like a bento box, the layout becomes clear and well-structured. Important information can be highlighted at the center of each box, creating a clean and modern appearance without looking cluttered. This is why many people appreciate and favor this design approach.
Anti-design
Minimal or good design typically refers to a clean, modern appearance that’s visually appealing. But what if we break the rules of traditional design and create something unique and surprising? That’s the essence of the Anti-design trend. It’s not about intentionally making ugly designs, but rather about creating visually striking aesthetics.
Anti-design challenges the norms of classical design. It can involve asymmetrical layouts, bold colors, and typography, but at the same time, it needs to be easy to read. You often see this style in posters, events, art galleries, and the creative industry. Many modern websites and apps also embrace this style to stand out.
This approach is great for designers looking to push boundaries and create something truly unique. However, it’s important to note that anti-design isn’t always the best choice. If the goal is to make a design or website that’s user-friendly and easy to navigate, then a more traditional approach is often better. Beginners in graphic design should start by learning the basics of traditional design.
Pixel
The Pixel trend is about redesigning those small squares that make up our digital world in a new, modern style. Some people mistakenly think Pixel designs should look like retro video games, but they actually blend modern and nostalgic vibes.
Today, we see this trend in websites, animations, flyers, posters, videos, and illustrations. If you want something simple yet engaging and eye-catching, you can incorporate this style and give it a nostalgic feel.
60s and 70s Style
In recent months or years, there’s been a noticeable trend in design featuring bold fonts with extra flair, vibrant gradients, and eye-catching geometric or floral patterns. This style takes inspiration from the bold designs of the early 1970s, but with a modern twist, resulting in cool and unique graphic templates.
Gradients and color
Gradients have been around for a while, but lately, they’re getting a lot of attention, especially in colors and text. Major companies are using gradients to showcase their products or services, whether on backgrounds, overlays, or even in text itself. Text with gradients has become increasingly popular over time, even among top designers showcasing it in their portfolios. This trend is expected to continue to rise in 2024.
Gradients are widely used in web and app design, posters, flyers, and events. Different color combinations evoke different emotions; for instance, bright and contrasting gradients feel energetic, while more subdued gradients have a calming effect. This versatility is why gradients are gaining such widespread popularity.
Bubble text
Adding bubble text to children’s T-shirts, toys, or book covers is a trend that catches everyone’s eye. But bubble text isn’t just for kids’ stuff anymore. We also see it used in eye-catching headlines, social media captions, presentations, flyers, posters, and banners recently. Its 3D, rounded look adds a playful and informal touch, making content stand out and grabbing attention effortlessly.
Illustration
Illustrations are becoming increasingly popular as design preferences evolve. People now prefer simple, clean designs with a clear vision. However, finding the perfect image or object can be challenging at times. This is where illustrations work their magic, adding a personal touch and bringing designs to life. Illustrations find wide application in branding, advertising, product packaging, websites, and marketing materials. For instance, if you’re looking to enhance a T-shirt or any product with a design, illustrations can make it more appealing.
Geometric shapes
Geometric shapes continue to dominate graphic design, with their usage expanding every day. They’re found everywhere, from branding logos to website backgrounds. What’s more, geometric fonts are gaining even more popularity. One reason for this is that each shape can be unique, adding a special flair to your branding. This diversity ensures that we rarely see the same shape repeatedly, contributing to its appeal. Additionally, geometric shapes are utilized to fill spaces in designs and enhance their aesthetic appeal.
Glitch Art
To give a cool and one-of-a-kind vibe to a graphic, you can use glitches or distortion effects. These effects are commonly seen in science fiction themes, websites, or apps aiming for a futuristic appearance. The trend has really taken off, especially with the rise of AI technology. Glitch effects are now used in all sorts of designs, from logos to website backgrounds and posters. Even many tech YouTube channel intros are jumping on board with these effects. We think this trend will stick around, reflecting our ever-evolving modern technology.
3D Design
Creating something that blurs the line between real and imagined is what 3D work is all about. Designers craft hyper-realistic visuals for various purposes, spanning industries like architecture, product design, and presentations. The demand for 3D work is constant, and advancements are made every day.
Take, for example, designing a water bottle. With 3D design, you can digitally model the bottle to preview its appearance before production. Similarly, architects utilize 3D design to visualize buildings and ensure all components fit together seamlessly before construction begins. Also, software like Blender makes creating 3D products incredibly easy.
Moreover, you can see the practical applications of 3D design when new phones or gadget trailers are launched on YouTube. They often showcase the product using impressive 3D animations.
Additionally, 3D Typography & Lettering, 3D Mockups, and Motion Graphics with 3D Elements are now trendy skills to learn.
FAQs on Graphic Design Trends
What are the best laptops for Graphic design?
For smooth graphic design work, you’ll need a powerful mid-level machine. Both Windows and Mac offer robust options, catering to personal preferences. If you prefer Mac, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) is top-notch, featuring a powerful M3 chip for demanding tasks like advanced video editing and 3D animation. It boasts a stunning Retina display and long battery life, though it’s pricier.
For a more budget-friendly Mac option, consider the MacBook Air. While not as powerful as the MacBook Pro, it’s still great for most graphic design tasks, though rendering may take a bit longer.
If you prefer Windows, options like Dell XPS 16, ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip, or Microsoft Surface are worth considering. These laptops handle graphic work well and offer more software and customizability, though the downside is that battery life is shorter compared to Mac.
What should I include in a Graphic design resume?
When it comes to creating a standout graphic designer resume, there are many online tools and tutorials available to guide you on format and content. Let’s focus on what you need to include to make your resume stand out.
Essential software skills include proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as well as staying updated on emerging technologies like AR/VR and 3D design. Additionally, familiarity with user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design tools such as Figma or Sketch is important.
Entry-level to intermediate graphic designers can typically design flyers, brochures, business cards, and social media templates. However, these skills are common among applicants. To truly distinguish your resume, it’s important to showcase trendy skills such as Data Visualization, Motion Graphics, UI/UX Design, and 3D Design & Animation. These areas are currently in high demand in the graphic design industry.
Where can I find freelance Graphic design jobs?
You can easily find freelance graphic design work on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, where clients from around the world are constantly seeking skilled designers. As the demand for graphic design services grows, so do the opportunities to earn money.
By honing your graphic design skills and creating accounts on these platforms, you can take on clients’ projects and start earning money. This allows you to enhance your skills, practice understanding project requirements, improve communication, and build your freelance profile—all while making money. Being a top-rated seller on Upwork or achieving level 2 seller status on Fiverr can give you a competitive edge in job interviews.
Where can I find Graphic design internships?
You can find graphic design internships on popular job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, and Simply Hired. However, LinkedIn has become increasingly popular for finding jobs. By searching ‘graphic design internships’ on LinkedIn, you’ll discover numerous job postings to apply for. Since LinkedIn is a professional platform, you can also showcase your design portfolio there, making it easier for HR professionals seeking interns to find you.
What are some of the best Graphic design books?
There are some amazing books available to enhance your skills and knowledge in graphic design. One such classic is ‘Grid Systems in Graphic Design’ by Josef Müller-Brockmann. This book delves into the use of grids, which are essential tools for creating clear, balanced, and visually appealing layouts. It focuses primarily on grids in print media such as posters, magazines, newspapers, and books, teaching you how to structure your designs for clarity and hierarchy.
Designing Brand Identity is another amazing book; as the name suggests, it offers a comprehensive guide to brand identity design. It covers everything from developing a brand strategy to creating a brand style guide. For those interested in typography, ‘Thinking with Type’ by Ellen Lupton is an excellent resource. It covers the basics of typography, as well as more advanced topics such as using type for hierarchy and legibility.
Where can I find inspiration for Graphic design?
Websites like Dribbble and Behance feature the work of graphic designers worldwide. These platforms are popular among top graphic designers who showcase their portfolios. You can find a wide range of graphics-related samples and draw inspiration from them.
Many design platforms also have dedicated sections for showcasing exceptional graphic design. Explore galleries on sites like Designhill or check out the Discover section on 99Designs to see what’s catching people’s eye. Additionally, you can find inspiration or download images, PSD, AI, and Vector files from Freepik. This website is known for its exceptional work since uploading requires approval, ensuring high-quality content.
Additionally, Pinterest, Instagram, and Flickr are also great sites to find graphic design inspiration.
