Top 10 Graphic Design Trends 2020 to Keep An Eye On
With the new year knocking on our doors, graphic design trends 2020 are almost here and ready to steal our hearts. Undoubtedly this area influences all the other aspects of our lives and the way we connect to each other, being at the same time a field of admiration and a huge inspiration.
We are at the beginning of a new decade and the visuals are poisoned to reach their heights, as the designers start to shape the era. There’s a feeling in the air that everything is possible and the graphic design we know is going to evolve to new heights. This evolution is also expressed through chromaticity and started in 2017 when the color of the year was Greenery, representing the “first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew”. One year later, creativity, inventiveness and imagination defined the design world. The color of 2018 was Ultra Violet, dubbed by Pantone as a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade”.
Going further, 2019 featured a healthy dose of both nostalgia and futurism, the influences from the past being reinvented to create a bold and color vision for the digital future. Living Coral, dominated this year, based on its meaning of “innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits" as a response to social media and digital technology.
As “we are living in a time that requires truth and faith”, Pantone crowded 19-4052 Classic Blue as the color of 2020. Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute defines the color as “a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation”. She continues “Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.”
Keeping this in our minds, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 graphic design trends 2020 that will shape the creative world in the upcoming year. Most of them influence both print and web design, but some of them are just for web.
Bright and bold colors
With so many graphic design trends fighting for the leading positions in 2020, bright and bold colors will continue to have their momentum. The design is more important than ever in the communication with customers and brands are going to adopt more vibrant and luminous color schemes, attempting to stand out from the crowd.
Even if this direction has started earlier in 2016 through a variety of design elements, it continued to grow in the last three years, becoming more vivid. Still, the cyberpunk color schemes are the particularity of this year. We will see combinations of bright and saturated hues like neon blues, purples and hot pink against dark backgrounds, creating that futuristic glowing feel.
Color gradients are also in the spotlight in 2020, due to their application in all types of design, especially in branding, illustration and isometric design.
Shiny metals
As an addition to the bright colors, metallic elements are used to create the “wow” effect, being ultra-trendy for brand identity and product design. As the shiny elements attract the whole attention of the viewer, these kinds of layouts require a minimalist overall design. When combined with other graphic design trends 2020 like 3D compositions and creative typography, golden and other metallic elements take the whole visual to the next level.
Packaging design will also be influenced by the metallic elements, especially golden and iridescent, conveying luxury, class, good taste and exclusivity.
Isometric design
Isometric designs create a whole universe in tiny little spaces, because of their capability to illustrate a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional surface. We’ve seen them on the list of the top graphic design trends in the last years, and logically, they also have gone through some transformations.
As the visuals are simple and clean, having at the same time a depth that flat design can’t compete with, isometric designs are here to stay. But in 2020 isometric illustrations are going to evolve into fully animated and super engaging visual solutions, becoming more real than ever.
Textured 3D design
Being one of the strongest graphic design trends in 2018 and reaching its peak in 2019, 3D elements seem to be everywhere right now: entire compositions that have so much depth, that they almost make you want to feel and touch them. 3D typography especially has a natural look, giving you the sense of being ready to pop.
But in 2020 it’s expected to see more great 3D compositions, by adding a layer of realism and textural experimentation. In order to be more creative, designers will often use textures like glass, metal and plastic, as well as photos and 2-dimensional objects.
Custom illustrations
Every design is a piece of art created with talent and imagination that reinforces the message sent to the audience. That’s why using custom illustrations is a trend that will never go out of style. They bring a special vibe and more personality than stock photography. This is one of the best ways to add a visual appeal to any design, to create unique visuals for any brand and to convey friendliness.
When it comes to graphic design trends 2020, we can expect to see more custom-branded and simpler illustrations becoming an integral part of the brand identity system.
Image and text masking
Even if the image and text masking isn’t a new trend, it’s still quite popular and conveys a modern feeling. Because it leaves a big part of the image unrevealed behind the text, this technique helps to achieve a minimalist and mysterious look.
Also, combined with other graphic design trends, such as negative space and semi-transparency, we will see image and text masking in different forms. Sections of words overlapping one another, “double typography” with the second copy being transparent, or simply semi-transparent typography over photos will be some of the top choices in graphic design trends 2020.
Artistic typography
As typography can communicate visually beyond its literal purpose, it has been always an important design element. During the time, we have seen different usage of the lettering in attempting to convey the right message to the readers.
But in recent years, typography has become bigger, bolder and more experimental in ways that we have not seen before. We see them in logos, posters, web designs, and even on package designs.
At the same time, hand lettering - that is also extremely popular - will continue to grow, but with a more personalized twist, becoming more colorful, imprecise and eccentric.
As a way of personalization, artistic typography will really stand out in 2020, being the perfect solution to draw attention. Decorated with beautiful flowers, geometric shapes, and more creative elements, artistic typography is here to stay in the upcoming years.
Zero gravity
Flying and floating elements in visuals are not new, but they continue to be among the top graphic design trends 2020. The idea of designs that move and behave like they are in a non-gravity environment conveys the overall feeling of freedom and depth. Designed with an open composition in mind, these elements boost the major concept of a window to a new world, as they appear floating in and out of the layout.
Source: Nahel Moussi, Louis Ansa, Romain Avalle
This technique is often mixed with the non-gravity concept, which adds realism to the composition. While 3D is certainly a field to unleash the designer’s creativity, the non-gravity concept definitely enhances composition even more.
We also see the antigravity trend in packaging presentations, giving the product the feeling that it comes from a different world. The viewer can easily feel the futuristic vibes when looking at these products, which naturally increase curiosity. As a result, an ordinary product easily turns into an extraordinary one. Anti-gravity is a concept that definitely will shape graphic design trends in 2020.
Fluid Shapes
Organic shapes have been quite popular for a while now, but in 2020 it’s expected to have a bigger impact, as the graphic design trends 2020 are more concerned with a sense of accessibility and comfort. Therefore, the designers tend to reject overly geometric, proper, and rigid structures that were once so popular, replacing them with more flowing shapes, patterns, and lines.
Because the organic shapes are naturally imperfect and asymmetrical, they can provide depth to any visual and make the design elements stand out. For a unique composition, we’ll see fluid shapes paired with other graphic design trends, like muted colors and heavy fonts.
Glossy, reflective and liquid textures will also be trending in 2020, creating more depth and fluidity.
Retro design with a modern twist
Creating a specific connection with the viewer, the retro design conveys the comfortable feeling of home and elicits nostalgy. In recent years, this style has been noticeably visible in areas such as interior design and fashion, while it has been a steadily growing trend in graphic design.
Even if you belong to the younger generations or lived in that decade, it’s hard to ignore the ingenuity and the charm of the 50s. Those years are a huge source of inspiration for designers, so we’ll see this style reinforced, but with a modern and appealing twist.
As all the new good things come from well forgotten old, the retro design looks new too.
Many brands are recognizing the power of the nostalgic effect of retro design and we can see this kind of visuals almost everywhere: on websites, print design, packaging, and even apps. Most often, they are packed in a clearly modern style but retaining dreamy vintage color palettes. The earthy tones, grunge effect, thin lines, specific textures and patterns combined with modern graphic design like 3D and animation will continue to be very popular in 2020.
To conclude:
If I would describe graphic design trends 2020 in three words, these would be – anything but boring. They are super diverse and impressive, characterized by big and bold typography, mesmerizing color combinations, line art, nostalgy of the past through retro-style designs and other amazing trends. All you need to do is make sure you look out for them, experiment and explore new dimensions and in the end…. apply the ones that fit you best.
