A Brief Look at 2017 Graphic Design Trends
Color: This coming year will be pleasing on our eyes and soothing on the psyche. Expect to see a lot of bright, bold, contrasting, and a touch of colliding colors this coming year.
Big & Bold Fonts: As attention spans seem to be dropping, the desire to hold eyeballs for more than a second is evident. Big, bold, and easy-to-read typeface will be popular in 2017.
Hand Drawn Graphics: Adding the human element to graphic design will be further explored. Combining hand drawn and computer generated graphics is still on the rise.
Minimalism: Functionality reigns paramount. Simplicity is sexy. Enough said.
Modern Meets Retro: 2016 was a year where we saw the new meeting the old. We see the trend continuing in 2017. Some old-time companies are converting their logo back to their original one. New companies are creating looks and feels that might make the viewer question just how old the company is.
Cinemagraphs: According to Wikipedia, Cinemagraphs are “still photographs in which a minor and repeated movement occurs, forming a video clip. They are published as an animated GIF or in other video formats, and can give the illusion that the viewer is watching an animation.” Expect to see more of these guys. They work great on social feeds and it coordinates nicely with the 2 trends above.
Branding: All encompassing and cross-cultural. Transparency is the new black. Being true to what your brand represents is more important than ever. The days of pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes is gone. So let it all out. Be genuine and true to who you are and what your mission is trying to accomplish.
Design Tools: Popularity of the DIY design is on the rise (sorry fellow graphic designers, but its the truth. However, we will still need you!) With tools like Canva, PicMonkey, Adobe Color Wheel, Meme Makers, and Vectr, its easier than ever to produce material or at least get a start on your ideas.
I look forward to some bold and expressive styles of graphic design in the new year! I hope you do, too! Have comments? Leave them below. I'd love to hear from you!