# data[].attributes.body
Summary: Canva lists off the most famous graphic designers of all time and some of their work that gives them the fame they live off everyday.
Reflection: Its cool to say some of the graphic design work portrayed because some of the work has been so iconic but i never knew the creator so it's good to see them get credit for what they did for graphic design.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The most famous graphic designers of all time | Canva

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out design tips from 40 of the world’s most famous graphic designers of all time. Inspiration guaranteed.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary: Design Squid goes into a deep dive about how the immediate future is going to start looking like and how it will immediately effect graphic design.
Reflection: A key piece design squid talks about is the "Death of paper". I find that interesting because paper is such a big part of graphic design today and it's interesting to see how it could be without it in the future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Design Squid | Web Design The Woodlands, Texas |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As brand-building technologies advance, you probably wonder, "How will graphic design change in the future?" The truth is that many changes have occurred in the industry, and many people are striving to keep up with the latest graphic design trends. What comes to your mind when thinking about the future of graphic design? Let's find out.
Virtual reality and augmented reality come to everyone's mind when it comes to graphic design's future. Many businesses are shifting away from print media as digital media has taken over the graphic design industry by storm. As a result, the graphic design future will get elevated to new heights by the technologies.
How will graphic design change in the future? Learn the current graphic design trends and what to expect from the graphic design industry in the future. #design #socialmedia #business Click To Tweet

Now, let's have a look at what the future holds for the graphic design industry.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality allows people to have a real-life experience with graphics for various purposes. Graphic designers will create virtual worlds for people to join. Augmented reality will also help designers relieve themselves from their desks to design graphics in real-time.

Material Design

Material design is a design language developed by Google. It supports on-screen touch experiences through natural motions and cue-rich features to mimic real-world items. Graphic designers can optimize the users' experience through 3D effects, animation features, and lighting features in an immersive graphic user interface.

The Death of Paper

In about ten years, graphic design will become more immersive as the paper will become obsolete. In other words, all designs will be digital and have a website feel. Note that the designs will need layers to allow users to click deeper into designs, allowing people to sell products without pitching.

Professional Design is Great for User Experience

Now that you understand how graphic design will change in the future, it's essential to incorporate the latest graphic design trends in your website designs. Consider working with professional designers who can incorporate features like responsive design, logo designs, and motion graphics in your design work. That will boost user experience.

Contact us now for professional graphic design solutions to boost your user experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Will Graphic Design Change in the Future? | Design Squid

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As brand-building technologies advance, you probably wonder, "How will graphic design change in the future?" The truth is that many changes have occurred in the industry, and many people are striving to keep up with the latest graphic design trends. What comes to your mind when thinking about the future of graphic design ?

# data[].attributes.body
Summary: Design Squid takes a dive into what will be changed in the immediate future and how it will immediately impact the graphic design industry.
Reference: A key piece that was talked about "The death of paper" which as a graphic designer I found interesting because it is so heavily used to produce some of our work. its interesting to see how some important things can end up changing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Design Squid | Web Design The Woodlands, Texas |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As brand-building technologies advance, you probably wonder, "How will graphic design change in the future?" The truth is that many changes have occurred in the industry, and many people are striving to keep up with the latest graphic design trends. What comes to your mind when thinking about the future of graphic design? Let's find out.
Virtual reality and augmented reality come to everyone's mind when it comes to graphic design's future. Many businesses are shifting away from print media as digital media has taken over the graphic design industry by storm. As a result, the graphic design future will get elevated to new heights by the technologies.
How will graphic design change in the future? Learn the current graphic design trends and what to expect from the graphic design industry in the future. #design #socialmedia #business Click To Tweet

Now, let's have a look at what the future holds for the graphic design industry.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality allows people to have a real-life experience with graphics for various purposes. Graphic designers will create virtual worlds for people to join. Augmented reality will also help designers relieve themselves from their desks to design graphics in real-time.

Material Design

Material design is a design language developed by Google. It supports on-screen touch experiences through natural motions and cue-rich features to mimic real-world items. Graphic designers can optimize the users' experience through 3D effects, animation features, and lighting features in an immersive graphic user interface.

The Death of Paper

In about ten years, graphic design will become more immersive as the paper will become obsolete. In other words, all designs will be digital and have a website feel. Note that the designs will need layers to allow users to click deeper into designs, allowing people to sell products without pitching.

Professional Design is Great for User Experience

Now that you understand how graphic design will change in the future, it's essential to incorporate the latest graphic design trends in your website designs. Consider working with professional designers who can incorporate features like responsive design, logo designs, and motion graphics in your design work. That will boost user experience.

Contact us now for professional graphic design solutions to boost your user experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Will Graphic Design Change in the Future? | Design Squid

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As brand-building technologies advance, you probably wonder, "How will graphic design change in the future?" The truth is that many changes have occurred in the industry, and many people are striving to keep up with the latest graphic design trends. What comes to your mind when thinking about the future of graphic design ?

# data[].attributes.body
Summary: Owners Magazine explains some trends in our graphic design technology that makes it possible for graphic designers to be more productive and to improve their work

Reflection: Plenty of technology trends are used including dual monitor set ups to make graphic designers more productive and produce more quality work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The value and need for the services of graphic designers are of pressing importance nowadays. Any business or company will know how crucial great graphic design work is to its brand and marketing strategies. And it's no secret that technology geared towards improving the graphic design process has risen in the past few years. With emerging technologies in graphic design and a whole global talent pool at anyone's disposal, there is absolutely no excuse for a company not to get a graphic designer.

As trends change and industries adapt to the ever-changing atmosphere of creative work, one must know where graphic design is going in the next few years. Whether you're a graphic designer yourself or you hire graphic designers, it's important to put one's ear on the ground and listen to the rumbles of the digital industry and marketing world.

Here are seven crucial trends that graphic designers, marketers, and business owners should get a vibe of in 2021 and beyond.

1. Artificial Intelligence in Graphic Design

Artificial intelligence is on the rise and is changing the way we do business. In 2015, only 10% of businesses used some form of artificial intelligence in their operations. Oin 2019, that number rose to 37%, a 270% jump in such a short amount of time.

New technology in graphic design is moving towards making use of artificial intelligence in the design process. AI companies are venturing towards developing systems that use the massive online repositories of fonts, icons, and colors to develop algorithms that will produce sleek design work for companies.

But for graphic designers afraid of the day that robots will take over their jobs, there is little to worry about as artificial intelligence in graphic design looks to augment and not replace human designers. Creativity remains a human quality.

2. The Rise of Non-Adobe Graphic Design Software

It's hard to imagine that there was once a time that Adobe held a near-monopoly on the graphic design software industry. Tools like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, and Illustrator seemed to be the only viable options for editing graphics and making various collaterals and materials. But today, there are more options available to designers.

Services like Sketchapp, Pixlr, and Vectr are great alternatives to Adobe Suite products. Designers can also now use cloud-based design software Canva, which starts with a free plan. To check out all the available graphic design software available, check out this graphic design software guide by CompareCamp.

3. Increased Demand for Landing Page Design Software

Nowadays, people who run online businesses will have some form of landing or sales page to promote their products. A landing page is one long-form web page that sells one or a few products with a compelling storyline or sales script.

Previously, If you wanted to build websites, you needed fluency in HTML and CSS to happen. But today, various landing page design services are available online.

Services like Leadpages, Convertkit, Instapage, Shogun, and Kajabi allow people to create websites with a drag and drop interface and practically zero code work. These services also provide various landing page layouts that have proven conversion history with other users.

4. On-Demand Graphic Design Services

Another rising trend in the field of graphic design is the surge of on-demand graphic design services, a business model that gives customers access to a team of graphic designers whenever they need them. This model contrasts with the more traditional method of hiring a freelance graphic designer.

With on-demand graphic design companies, clients get a hold of a graphic design agency and ask the company to link them with a designer when needed. Compared to hiring a freelance designer, getting an on-demand graphic design service can provide certain benefits, including instant availability and a wider variation of styles. Of course, there is still a place for freelance graphic designers, but on-demand graphic services prove to be a good alternative to companies who don't need a high volume of graphics for their business.

One good example of a company that provides on-demand design services is Penji, which offers entrepreneurs and small businesses access to a graphic designer who can create unlimited designs for as low as $399 a month.

5. Infographics Templates and Builders

In the last few years, infographics have taken the internet by storm. Nowadays, even B2B marketing places a big premium on infographics, with 65% of B2B marketers using some form of an infographic to promote a product or service.

But anyone who wants to keep up with graphic design trends should know that there is now an extensive collection of infographics templates and infographic-generating online services available online. Now, graphic designers don't have to start from scratch when making infographics, saving a lot of time and resources. Online tools like Piktochart and Venngage are great examples of such services.

6. Computer Systems Design

As high as the demand for graphic designers is today, the industry is hitting a tipping point. Experts say that the number of available graphic design jobs will decrease by 4% in the next few years. But even as the overall market for designers falls, there's a subset of graphic designers that disproportionately goes against the flow.

As the number of needed designers in print and traditional media poises itself for a drop, there will be an increase in needed graphic designers in computer systems design. In fact, a report shows that there will be a 20% increase in computer systems graphic designers from 2016 to 2026.

7. Smarter Revision Software

One of the most tedious parts of the graphic design workflow is dealing with revisions. Designers have dealt with the seemingly never-ending back and forth of revisions and comments. A good chunk of the refurbishing of designs often happens because of a lack of communication between clients and designers, especially when communicating online.

As innovators look to address that need, some have become better at improving the revision process with graphic design technologies. A good example of such tools includes Wipster, Filestage, Usersnap, and Skitch.

Where Graphic Design is Heading Towards in 2021

The year is coming to a close pretty soon, and we'll be welcoming another new year before we know it. As 2020 comes to a close, it's time professionals in the creative space and business, in general, should start looking towards graphic design trends 2021 predictions. Like every other year, graphic design trends have changed immensely as people seek more novel ways to communicate messages.

But just as important for graphic designers and clients to know are the various technology trends shaping the way designers operate and work. Much has changed in little time as more services that help with the creative process pop out. Yet even as more and more softwares becomes available, creatives will be happy to know that the future looks bright for graphic designers everywhere as many of today's tools look to streamline the creation process and allow artists to work smarter and more effectively.

Of course, that is if graphic designers stay with the times and continue watching over the horizon for the next tool that will provide them with hacks to improve their design processes. For anyone ready to adapt to the latest trend in graphic design and try new tools and processes, there can be a whole new world of possibilities and growth in the field of creative work.

Managing a business can take a toll on you if you try to do everything yourself. Good thing there are numerous software available that can make your work easier and faster. Below are the ten best task management tools you can choose from.

What is a task management tool?

Before we get to the list, let's understand what task management tools are. As its name suggests, a task management software is a digital platform that helps business owners and their teams manage their tasks. They help plan, organize, and prioritize tasks to complete them efficiently and within the specified time frame-just the help you'll need in handling your business.

The 10 Best Task Management Software

The following is our list of the best task management tools that will have you ready for 2023.

1. ClickUp

From your simple to-do lists to more complex tasks, ClickUp has got you covered. It allows you and your team to manage everything in one place-chat, tasks, documents, and goals. It provides access to a suite of practical and cost-effective productivity tools. It gives high customization capabilities and suitability for small and large businesses in various industries.

ClickUp has a forever free plan but to enjoy many of its amazing features, you may want to subscribe to their premium plans. Pricing starts at $5 per member per month and can go up to $19.

2. ProofHub

If your business requires you to have designs and other visual materials, ProofHub is the best task management tool for you. It can help you collaborate with your team members, especially when discussing visual assets. It is easy to use, thanks to its intuitive interface.

ProofHub has two plans you can choose from, the Essential and the Ultimate Control. Pricing starts at $45 and offers a free trial, so you can check out the app without making a considerable commitment.

3. Chanty

A team communication and collaboration software, Chanty enables businesses to communicate through instant messaging and voice or video calls. It is a cloud-based collaboration platform that uses AI to help with team communication, project management, and the automation of many tasks. Its unlimited group messaging feature lets you connect and collaborate with other teams.

Chanty has a forever-free plan suitable for businesses with up to 10 members. Alternatively, the business plan lets you do more for only $3 per user per month.

4. Basecamp

A reasonably priced task management tool, Basecamp has unique features you won't find in many similar applications. Real-time communication, client access, and automatic check-ins are some of these. You can easily find projects as it has a designated place for file storage and sharing, making it ideal for team collaborations.

Basecamp is affordable. At only $11 per month per user, you can get unlimited use of most of its tools and features. It has two plans you can choose from, the Business and Personal.

5. Bit.ai

Create, store, organize, and collaborate anywhere you are in the world with Bit.ai. This task management software lets you create project documents, technical documentation, client deliverables, and training guides, among many others. Its simple and intuitive user interface makes it ideal for first-time business owners.

To get started with Bit.ai, you can use their free plan, but you need to subscribe to their Pro or Business plans for additional features. Pricing starts at $9 and goes up to $15 per user per month.

6. nTask

Whether you're managing small or big teams, nTask is an excellent task management tool. Its streamlining features will help you with project planning, financial summary, resource management, and many other tasks. In just a few clicks, you'll be able to share files and comments, assign tasks, and track time.

This task management tool lets you try it for seven days without the need for a credit card. nTask offers three subscription plans with prices that start at $3 per month for the premium plan.

7. Trello

Task management is easy with Trello cards, boards, and lists. At a glance, you can easily see your tasks and who's handling them. It has a very low learning curve which lets your team get into action quickly. It offers many customization options and integrates with various third-party apps.

Like Chanty and ClickUp, Trello has a forever-free plan that you can use. But if you want to upgrade for more features, the three paid plans will suit your needs and budget quite well. Price starts at $5 per month if billed annually.

8. Wrike

Get more done with a user-friendly task management tool such as Wrike. It has a fully-customizable dashboard, interactive Gantt charts, and real-time project reports, among many other vital features. It will give you complete project transparency, real-time updates, and insightful information that bring value to your business.

You can use Wrike for free, but for more features, its premium plans will let you do more. From $9.80 to $24.80 per month, you can manage tasks and many other processes easily and quickly.

9. Monday.com

One of the most intuitive task management software, Monday.com is excellent for whatever size of business you have. Its straightforward and easily navigable interface lets you see the work ahead with just a glance. Collaborating is made easy as it enables you to upload and share files, tag members, and manage deadlines efficiently.

Monday.com is free to use forever, but a subscription plan is highly recommended to avail of its key features.

10. Proggio

Track your business' progress in one place with Proggio. Its Kanban board view lets you effectively manage your team's tasks. It has customizable templates that help organize and manage everyone's work anywhere they are in the world.

Proggio has four paid plans that will provide you with more task-managing features. Pricing starts at $250 per month and can go up to $1,500.

Final Thoughts

In today's competitive markets, businesses must manage project tasks as efficiently as possible. The responsibility to ensure that the team completes all assignments on time becomes effortless when you use a task management tool.

Starting an eCommerce business is no easy feat. You have to think about sales, marketing, customer service, invoicing, and inventory all at once. Some platforms may offer those, but you need other eCommerce tools to make life easier and automate your processes. But which are the best ones? I've compiled a list of the best ones here.

1. Shopify

Type: eCommerce platform

Any eCommerce tools list would simply be incomplete without the mention of Shopify. After all, Shopify is one of the leading eCommerce platforms of all time. The eCommerce platform makes it easy for new eCommerce businesses to set up shop in no time. They have a bunch of tools to keep any eCommerce business around, such as branding, point of sales, email marketing, and payment tools.

With Shopify, you don't have to create a website immediately if you don't need it yet. If you want to start small, Shopify has a Starter plan where you can reach customers via social media or messaging apps.
Pricing:
Starter (social and messaging apps only) - $5/mo

Basic - $29/mo

Shopify - $79/mo

Advanced - $299/mo

2. Veeqo

Type: Inventory and logistics

Even though Shopify has everything you need to get your business ready from launch to your first sale, you can integrate tools into the platform, such as Veeqo. Veeqo is a logistics company helping eCommerce businesses with inventory and shipping.

You don't have to worry about keeping track of all your products manually. With Veeqo, you can rest easy knowing they automate your stock every time there's a sale. Plus, with shipping, you'll have lowered rates on known logistics businesses, such as DHL and UPS. In addition, you can automate shipping processes.

Pricing: Free

3. SurveyMonkey

Type: Survey

One eCommerce tool that you should use is a survey. This helps you get a pulse of what's going on with your customers, and one of the survey tools you should use for your eCommerce business is SurveyMonkey.

With SurveyMonkey, you'll also know what your customers think of your products, aside from the reviews they give. Surveys will provide you with more input, and you'll learn how to improve your products and how you can interact with your customers better. But it's not just a tool for your customers. You can also ask your employees how they can improve your eCommerce business.
Pricing:
Team Advantage - $25/user/month

Team Premier - $75/user/month

Enterprise - Contact sales

4. Wave

Type: Accounting and Invoicing

Most eCommerce platforms will have their own payment portal. But if you want an all-around easy-to-use small business financial service software, Wave is one of the best eCommerce tools to use. They have these nifty features:

Invoicing

Payments

Accounting

Banking

Payroll

Advisors

With Wave, you don't need an accountant. Wave helps you with your taxes, bookkeeping, and billing. And if you still need financial help, advisors are ready to help you learn more about finance terms or concepts. Plus, Wave is free to use for their Invoicing, Accounting, and Bookkeeping features. Or, you can even hire a bookkeeper to do all the work for you.

Here's the pricing for their Payments, Payroll, and Advisors features:

Payments: 2.9% + $0.60/ transaction (AMEX: $3.4% + $0.60/transaction)

Bank payments: 1%/transaction

Payroll: Tax service states - $40/mo; Self service - $20/mo

Advisors: Bookkeeping support - $149/mo; Coaching - $379/mo

5. Rewind

Type: Data protection

Any business with a website should know that they need to back up their data. After all, you can put it right back up anytime if outages or something unexpected happens to your website. And if you don't want to lose your data, Rewind is one of the best eCommerce tools out there.

Rewind can help eCommerce businesses protect their business from any downtime with their daily backup. If you have integrated a 3rd party app into your website, but it's not doing you any good, you can just rewind and get back to the last time you didn't install it. Plus, they ensure your data is secure from any attacks.
Pricing:
Starts at $39/mo

6. Zendesk

Type: Customer service

Zendesk is one of the best customer service tools of all time, with more than 100,000 brands and users helping customers with their concerns. The customer service tool will help eCommerce businesses connect with customers through email, phone, or live chat.

Pricing:

Suite Team - $49/mo

Suite Growth - $79/mo

Suite Professional - $99/mo

7. Jungle Scout

Type: Marketing

If you need a marketing and keyword research tool made for online sellers, Jungle Scout is one of the best eCommerce tools to use. This tool is for Amazon sellers, but you can still use this for your online store anywhere. You can grow your traffic with their keyword research feature, optimize listings, and get more reviews for your site.

They also have an inventory management feature. Plus, Amazon sellers can get more out of the tool with their finances and ads features.

Pricing:

Basic - $49/mo

Suite - $69/mo

Professional - $129/mo

8. Copysmith

Type: SEO/Marketing

Are you having trouble creating product descriptions for all of your items? Don't fret, Copysmith is an AI writing tool to help you create a copy in minutes. It can be difficult trying to come up with persuasive copy that will get people to click add to cart.

With Copysmith, you'll have an AI assistant giving suggestions from the keywords you provided. From there, you can choose from the best copy and add it to your website. Plus, they ensure that the copy is search engine optimized, so customers can visit your online store and get more traffic. In addition, you can also create bulk product descriptions for SKUs.
Pricing:
Starter - $19/mo

Professional - $59/mo

Enterprise - Contact Sales

9. MailChimp

Type: Marketing

MailChimp is best known for email marketing. But it has grown into an all-around marketing platform for any business. They have a comprehensive email marketing platform, allowing businesses to segment their audience, reach more, and analyze open and conversion rates.

Aside from email marketing, MailChimp allows businesses to create optimized landing pages and social media ads and send printed postcards.

Pricing (Marketing platform - Starts at 500 contacts):

Free

Essentials - $11/mo

Standard - $17/mo

Premium - $299/mo

10. Google Analytics

Type: Analytics

Any entrepreneur or seller needs to keep track of their online business. And if you want to know how your online store ranks on one of the widely used search engines, you can use Google Analytics.

Most eCommerce platforms will have analytics, but Google Analytics can help you with your marketing, and you'll know how to reach more customers. Plus, you can run ads with their Google Ads and Search Ads 360 features and get access to the Google Search Console.

Pricing:

Start for Free

These eCommerce tools have proven their worth and helped other eCommerce businesses thrive in their own niche. Plus, they have also provided immense value and eased the minds of new and existing eCommerce businesses.

Connecting and communicating with employees and clients remotely is a common practice of businesses in the digital era. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted almost everyone to resort to virtual meetings to practice social distancing. Online meeting platforms like Cisco Webex, Zoom, and Google Meet allow people to gather in the same space without physically being present.

Here are the top ten apps and software with video conferencing features to bring virtual teams together. Pick the best that suits your virtual team engagement requirements.

1. Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex is one of the online meeting platforms initially intended for businesses. Businesses widely use Webex because of its built-in controls and tight security features. If you register for Webex's free subscription plan, you can host virtual meetings or team building with up to 100 individuals for any duration. Omdia Research Company names Webex as a leader in virtual meetings with a score of 91% in the product experience category.
Webex is compatible with Windows and Mac and is an excellent option for those who like to attend meetings on the go from their mobile devices.
Plans and Pricing:

Basic - Free

Meet - $144/year

Enterprise - Contact sales

2. Zoom

Zoom is a popular and easy-to-use video conferencing platform wherein you can invite anyone to a Zoom conference with a link (URL), even if your participants are not registered with Zoom. Participants will instantly join a virtual room when they click on the link.

Registered Zoom users can host meetings with a maximum of 100 people using the free version. The app is ideal for hosting conferences, workshops, and other activities with virtual teams because of its fun features, like breakout rooms.

Plans and Pricing:

Basic - Free

Meet - $149.90/year

Business- $199.90/year

3. Google Meet

Google introduced Google Meet as a virtual meeting channel for the company's enterprise customers. But, with Zoom's emergence, the company decided to introduce Google Meet as a secure alternative. It can host gatherings of up to 250 participants and also provides helpful add-ons such as live captions and anti-abuse features. Google Meet is also a preferred online meeting platform for online classes during the pandemic.

If data security is a priority issue for your business, then Meet is suitable for you as long as every team member or participant has an active Google Account.

Plans and Pricing:

Anyone with a Google Account can use Google Meet for Free. But, users may avail of Google Workspace Plans.

4. Skype

Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011, becoming the original household name for video calls. However, due to consumer complaints and the surge in the popularity of Zoom, Skype is no longer the first option for online meetings. Skype is relaunched with video conferencing features. The app now offers sessions for up to 50 participants accessible by a generated link.

Plans and Pricing:

United States Subscription- $2.99/month

India Subscription - $7.99 per month

North America Subscription - $6.99 per month

5. Jami

Security-aware team members prefer Jami's signature peer-to-peer and end-to-end encryption. The open-source communication platform has only hosted virtual meetings with up to 16 people. However, you can try Jami with larger groups if you run the discussion from a device with solid bandwidth.

Plans and Pricing:

FREE

6. Zoho Meeting

Zoho Meeting is a secure online meeting platform and webinar solution that improves team collaboration efficacy. This online meeting platform allows you to conduct video meetings and webinars, share your screen, and record your meetings. In addition, you can protect your online discussions through its secure web conferencing sessions.

Plans and Pricing:

Free - $0

Meeting - $3/month, billed annually

Webinar - $16/month., billed annually

7. Jitsi Meet

For open-source software, you can customize and use Jitsi Meet for your next online meeting. As the platform is secured by strong encryption, it does not ask you to register or restrict the number of participants. Because of this, Jitsi Meet provides endless possibilities for you and your team to conduct virtual meetings, online conferences, workshops, webinars, or even team-building activities.

Plans and Pricing:

FREE

8. Toasty

Toasty is an interactive virtual meeting platform that enables the host to encourage their audience. It also promotes team collaborations in online meetings and other activities. Plus, it has built-in activities like icebreaker questions, conversation cards, and polls. Toasty also features an interactive meeting agenda the host sets before the event. Likewise, Toasty is built on Jitsi, which provides secure, stable, and easy-to-access connections.

Plans and Pricing:

Free - $0/month/license

Plus - $30/month/license

Premium - $50/month/license

9. Lifesize

Lifesize's virtual conferencing software is an excellent alternative for teams seeking high-quality 4K video, a wide variety of integrations, and a secure environment. After signing up for a free account, you can host unlimited online meetings with up to 25 people each. Like Zoom, you set up meetings with a shared link, making Lifesize simple. Lifesize is suitable for remote team-building activities due to its focus on high-definition video. It seems like your colleagues are in the same room as you.

Plans and Pricing:

Quick Start, Advanced, and Premium - by request of quotation

10. Whereby

Whereby is another option that allows you to host simple, unique video calls with anyone, anywhere, with just a link. You don't need to download additional apps or register to start using the platform. Surprisingly, you can also play YouTube videos while using the app, making it perfect for any online activities that require video sharing, such as a Yoga or Zumba tutorial.

Plans and Pricing:

Free - $0

Pro - $69.90/year, 1 host

Business - $99.90/host/year

Conclusion

Online meeting platforms have been a saving grace for many businesses during this time of social distancing. Communication, participation, and engagement are the pillars of successfully running the operations of a business. A reliable video conferencing app, employee communication tools, and other productivity tools are essential for connecting and working with teams remotely. These platforms or software allow you to use video to chat and collaborate, discuss in breakout rooms, jot down notes, and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Crucial Trends in Graphic Design Technology You Should Know About - Owner's Magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The value and need for the services of graphic designers are of pressing importance nowadays. Any business or company will know how crucial great graphic design work is to its brand and marketing strategies. And it's no secret that technology geared towards improving the graphic design process has risen in the past few years.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary:
This article is great for knowing about what really started graphic design. It touches on the most important developments like "Lithography", "Halftone screens", and the start of "Times New Roman". The future of graphic design is coming and the article details whats next for it
Reflection:
The article goes into detail about some of the important developments that i'm learning about now. Typefaces and type itself is one of the most important ways to communicate in graphic design and it goes into detail about maybe the most important font of all, " Times New Roman". Lastly it explains the trends of graphic design and how we might be seeing less simplicity in the future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We live in a world that thrives on visuals.
Ever since companies discovered that they could differentiate themselves through professional brand photography, memorable logos and standout visual identity design, the need for slick and effective graphic design has kept talented professionals in demand.
In the beginning, designers were artists who sketched shapes and concepts based on current trends like the modernist graphic design movement. As the industry became more fundamentally connected to technology, and innovative tools began to advance, the field of graphic design has begun to evolve.

In simple terms, graphic design is the art of combining ideas, images, and text into something that engages and informs an audience. It's about communicating through visuals. It may mean using the unique psychology of logo shapes to attract a specific audience. Or, it could involve carefully selecting colours for a website to improve an organisation's chances of conversions.

As a way of communicating through imagery, it makes sense that the history of graphic design would evolve just as human communication continues to change and develop over time. The more graphic design companies learn about human psychology, customer behaviour, and environmental trends, the more the art of design transforms.

Here, we're going to look at the nature of graphic design today, where the discipline came from, and how the industry continues to evolve. Grab your DeLorean, we're going on a journey through time.

The history of graphic design: Creating creativity

At its heart, graphic design is a form of art, and people have always been drawn to expressing themselves through art. In fact, some people would argue that the history of graphic design can be traced all the way back to cave drawings, like the pieces created in Chauvet in 30,000 BC. In 1436, the concept of graphic design took a huge leap forward when the "Gutenberg Press" was invented, which allowed content to be mass-produced for the first time in history.

There are plenty of examples of important graphic design developments through history. For instance:

In 1796, Aloys Senefelder developed the concept of "lithography" - the first printing method using a flat surface.

In 1880, the rise of the halftone screen allowed for photos to be printed in a range of shades.

In 1932, the "Times New Roman" typeface emerged, designed by Stanley Morrison and named the "Times of London".

Much of the development within graphic design as we know it today began in the early twentieth century, when hundreds of fonts emerged, created by graphic designers around the world. At the same time, advertising and mass media began to evolve, and professional designers found more jobs filling the pages of newspapers, magazines, and more. In 1919, the first graphic design school, Bauhaus, opened its doors in Germany.

To help you better understand graphic design today and how it has evolved over the years, let's look at some of the most significant style movements throughout history:

1. Art Nouveau

A graphic design response to the industrial revolution, Art Nouveau formed the bridge between modern graphic design and historical academic art. Much of the "New Art" movement involved organic vine-like lines, elegant curves, and ornate typography. In a world where digital displays require design to be far less complex, Art Nouveau design has become an outdated element of graphic design for most. However, the soft colours and flourishes may contribute to vintage graphic design strategies. For instance, the General Electric logo is very Art Nouveau:

2. Modernism

Modernism became part of the history of graphic design during the 1950s. This style is characterised by the deliberate decision to reject artist styles of the past, emphasising experimentation with new materials and techniques instead. The aim of modernist graphic design was to create artwork that reflects the nature of modern society. Bold colours, simple shapes, and modern fonts are all common elements of modernist graphic design. Airbnb offers a great example of a modernist logo.

The Art Deco graphic design movement became popular during World War 1. For many, it was a spinoff of modernism and a way for graphic designers to show the luxury and beauty of simple shapes and typography. This art form is lavish and authentic, with plenty of geometric shapes, contrasting colours, and symmetrical patterns. The idea was to create a sleek sense of elegance that symbolised wealth and sophistication.

4. Swiss style

Often referred to as " international typographic style", Swiss style unsurprisingly originated in Switzerland during the 1950s, and it's the basis for a lot of the development within the history of graphic design throughout the 20th century. Swiss design continues to influence the field today, thanks to its focus on legibility and simplicity. Graphic designers using Swiss-style focus on typography and sans-serif fonts, rather than sketches. For instance, the Microsoft logo might be a good example of Swiss design.

5. The Digital era

Today, modern graphic design has come a long way from the traditional hand-drawn glyphs and imagery of decades past. Ever since the launch of the Mac computer, more people than ever before have had access to hundreds of tools and solutions that make graphic design more efficient and complex, at the same time. The modern world doesn't have one single style to speak of. Instead, graphic design today focuses on the trends and expectations of the industry.

To create a logo that lasts, or establish a unique image for their brand, modern companies are looking for a way to appeal to their target audience by analysing current trends. For instance, the Apple logo evolved from something very Art Nouveau, into something simple, straightforward, and innovative - just like the brand itself.

Graphic design today: How the world has changed

Few things have affected the history of graphic design as significantly as the rise of technology and digital transformation.

A few decades ago, no-one could have imagined where computers and the web would take us. Now, we can only look back in awe at the impact the digital revolution has had on the way we work, communicate, and socialise. Modern graphic design has become more intuitive and immersive than ever, as artists no longer guess at what their markets are looking for. Inspiration and guidance are everywhere, transforming graphic designers into masters of consumer manipulation.

Here are just some of the changes we've seen in graphic design today.

1. Companies are investing more in graphic design

The number of people investing in graphic design companies has gone up astronomically. Technology ensures that brands have more opportunities for exposure online. Those who want to interact with their clients in a memorable way need an image, and that's where graphic design comes in.

What's more, the online world means that companies can analyse real-time data and find out which graphical elements are having the best impact on their business. This means that brands aren't just investing more into designers, they're also getting a higher return on investment too! Graphic design has become a global conversation between brands, their customers, and the people with the creativity to bridge the gap.

2. Clever content marketing and graphic design

Back when graphic design first became a fundamental part of marketing, artists focused mostly on designing logos and advertising media for their clients in the form of leaflets and banners. Graphic design was an occasional purchase, but today, it's a consistent part of a solid branding strategy. In fact, some of the best companies in the world use graphic design every day with their social media marketing and content marketing efforts.

In a world where customers want to build stronger, more unique connections with companies, stock photography and dime-a-dozen images won't do. Graphic designers now have the power to set organisations apart in the digital landscape, with visuals and brand photography that can capture the attention of an entire audience.

3. New channels to explore

Speaking of content marketing and social media, graphic designers are now embracing a range of new skills to power their craft. In the past, designing media for a company was all about explaining what the business did in the most effective way possible. While that's still a common component of graphic design today, there are so many new concepts to think about too.

For instance, psychology and buyer behaviour now plays a part in graphic design. Many branding experts look at things like the psychology of colour, and the impact of shapes to make sure they're conveying the right personality for each client. At the same time, designers aren't only creating imagery for a single platform anymore. Logos, visual identity assets, and graphic design elements all have to perform equally well on apps, mobile devices, and larger screens too. This means that new disciplines like "responsive" design" have emerged in the design world.

The role of the graphic designer has changed

Fundamentally, the role of the graphic designer has changed, from a one-off contractor to an essential part of any business team. Today's brands rely on their designers not just to create logos and tactical communication pieces, but to establish presence for them in the online world and build recognition for their brand. Graphic design isn't just about the artwork anymore, it's about the process of establishing a real connection between customers and companies using words, tone, images, design and technology.

Modern graphic design: The trends we're seeing right now

The nature of human communication and the rapid pace of the digital world means that it's often difficult to keep track of the ever-changing nature of graphic design. In an era where technology is everywhere, making creativity more accessible, trends in modern graphic design can dissipate as quickly as they emerge.

Something that appeared to be cutting-edge in 2017 might be totally outdated in 2018. Similarly, a design that inspires the world today, might be old news tomorrow. For instance, some of the modern graphic design trends we're seeing today include:

1. Simplification

Today's customers are busier and more rushed than ever before. They don't have the time to deal with companies who can't convey their personality and intent within the simplest possible graphic. In the past, companies who wanted to make a big impact would go big, bold, and even complex with their logo designs and websites. Today, simplicity is the key to success.

For instance, the Moonpig rebrand involved getting rid of the space pig image entirely and showing off their fun personality with a little bit of simple textual kerning. The wonky letters in the Moonpig logo does more to demonstrate the company's nature than any cartoon character, and it makes the brand appear more professional too.

2. Bold and brave colours

If like us, you've been keeping track of the trends in logo design and branding recently, then you'll have noticed the overwhelming amount of colour that emerged in 2017. Graphic designers have begun to make bigger and bolder choices combined with flat graphics and simple shapes.

For instance, the new Dropbox logo uses a fresh and modern piece of imagery, combined with a range of bold and bright colours to choose from, to ensure that customers can create their own experience of the brand. This highlights the nature of the company, which claims to offer storage that's bespoke to any business or individual.

3. Brand distillation

Lately, it seems that modern graphic design is on a path towards trends that are simpler, yet more immersive at the same time. The history of graphic design has evolved to a point where experts have recognised the importance of customer experience, and what that means to visual content.

Function has overridden superfluous design details today, and brands are striving to reduce their core assets, while simultaneously packing more meaning into every element. For instance, YouTube has dropped the name almost entirely from their brand portfolio, reducing everything to one simple, effective image. Graphic design doesn't have to be complicated anymore. It just needs to mean something and make an impact.

Looking at tomorrow: From modernist graphic design to futuristic

The more we explore the history of graphic design, the more it showcases itself as a mirror to the broader changes the world has experienced throughout the world. When the world needed beauty, we had Art Nouveau, and now that customers are on the search for simplicity, we have a brand-new version of modern graphic design.

The key to graphic design today is remembering that visuals aren't just about making a brand look attractive anymore - they're about contributing to the customer experience. From logo design to the images you post on each blog, graphic design is the key to a memorable visual identity.

As we move into the future, the chances are that graphic design will continue to change. Though it's impossible to predict all of the changes the years ahead will bring, here are just a few predictions to consider:

1. A balance between dreaming of the future, and remembering the past

One trend we've noticed recently in the graphic design environment is that there's an almost equal desire for designs that push the boundaries of cutting-edge imagery, and concepts that hark back to vintage styles. In a world that belongs to multiple generations of consumers, designers are beginning to think more carefully about whether they want to appeal to the futuristic generations of tomorrow or the older customers who crave the innocence and simplicity of their youth.

Vintage graphic design has become a common component of a lot of branding elements. Hand-drawn elements, simple lines, and unique typography can all be a great way to tap into the nostalgia behind a certain brand or give more heritage to a new company.

2. Data will change the game

As mentioned above, the digital revolution has changed the way that graphic designers approach the industry. We're no longer making assumptions about clients but responding to specific needs based on the understandings gleaned through studies, surveys, and online metrics. For instance, as businesses began to discover that more people were browsing websites from their phone, they learned that graphic design for their websites had to be more responsive, and ready to work with any device.

As artificial intelligence and machine learning enters the design space, it may even be possible to determine how people feel about a brand without asking them. Things like sentiment analysis could lead to more intuitive design practices.

3. Individuality will become more important

Of course, while the digital world has a lot of benefits to offer modern designers, it also comes with its own share of unique challenges too. Today's customers know that graphics experts have countless resources at their fingertips that they can use to understand their needs. With that in mind, they expect brands to create more personalised experiences in everything they do - from logo design to content creation.

Whether companies are investing in B2C marketing or their B2B marketing strategy, they'll need to use modern graphic design to show their customers that they understand them if they want to establish loyalty. Something as simple as using hand-drawn images for your audience instead of stock photos, or animations instead of static pictures could be the key to turning prospects into brand advocates.

4. Responsive design may become more responsive

You might have already heard of a concept known as "dynamic" advertising. This is when the ads a business shares with a customer changes naturally according to that consumer's buying behaviour. This is a great example of how we're using data to personalise the customer journey. Today's graphic design artists are already creating unique imagery for different email segments or banner ads. However, tomorrow, this responsive marketing could move to the next level.

As we learn more about human behaviour, graphic designers might be able to use different colours and images based on what they know the customer needs during a specific stage of the buying cycle. For instance, if a prospect feels nervous about buying from an organisation, a graphic designer could create an infographic in soft blue shades to put their mind at ease.

5. Creative typography will continue to rule

Finally, now that type-setting software is less expensive and easier to use than ever, the rate of new fonts being produced each year has reached an astronomical level. While we might not know the exact numbers, it's safe to say that it's getting harder to create type that stands out.

In a couple of decades, graphic designers hoping to distinguish themselves through type are going to have a hard time setting themselves apart from the crowd. However, as we've seen in recent years, creative typography is still one of the best ways to capture the attention of an audience. Designers who can find a way to overcome common fonts and connect with new customers on the behalf of their clients are sure to lead the way.

Constant evolution: Understanding graphic design today

It's safe to say that the history of graphic design has been a long and complicated one. Graphic designers have come a long way since they were scratching pictures onto cave walls. Today, we've honed the artistry of combining image and text into something that can project experiences and ideas to broad categories of people.

Graphic design is one of the most important forms of communication any business can invest in. It can be applied to something as simple as a smartphone app, or something as complex as an entire brand identity. While the nature of graphic design might have changed over the years, the underlying aim remains the same. Today, just as they always have, graphic designers give their clients a different way to speak to their audience.

As the technology we have access to continues to evolve with things like virtual reality, augmented reality, and more, there's no doubt that modern graphic design will continue to change. However, in a world that's governed by user experience, the artists that know how to use imagery and text to convey emotion and connect with their audience should be prepared to time-proof their techniques.

What do you think about the evolution of graphic design? What's your favourite style, and where do you think we're headed? The development of the design world might be a complex thing, but it's a journey we love being a part of here at Fabrik. We'd like to hear your thoughts...
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy these too: - Getting in shape: The use of shape in logo design - Finding your type: Font psychology in logo design - True colours: The use of colour in graphic design - Logo design: A crucial element in visual branding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
From Vintage To Modern: The Future, Present & History Of Graphic Design

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We live in a world that thrives on visuals. Ever since companies discovered that they could differentiate themselves through professional brand photography, memorable logos and standout visual identity design, the need for slick and effective graphic design has kept talented professionals in demand.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary:
In this article, it explains the history of adobe and how it evolved since it was founded in 1982. Adobe is the most common program used for graphic designers and there is always so much being added and more thing to learn about it on the daily basis.
Reflection:
As a fellow student, we should all be aware of Adobe and how to navigate its programs. It's an interesting read to understand the changes they made over the years and how some of the new tools added can further better our designs. It's always good to know almost everything about the programming you use to better your skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adobe Inc, formerly known as Adobe System Incorporated, is a popular design, printing, and publishing software developer founded in 1982.

Started out with its first desktop publishing product Postscript in 1983, today it's known for providing creative solutions for advertising, marketing, and visual communication. From image manipulation to video animation, Adobe has a designed program to meet the needs.

Some of Adobe's popular products like Illustrator and Photoshop are rated as the best design tools by many designers. The introduction of Adobe Acrobat and PDF was also a game-changer in the digital publishing industry.

Let's take a quick tour of the history of Adobe via this infographic I designed.

Adobe Inc was founded by John Warnock and Charles Geschke, former employees of Xerox.

The company is named after a place called Adobe Creek in Los Altos, California and its headquarter is located in San Jose, California.

The founders met at Xerox's research center while they were developing a programming language that can describe the precise position, shapes, and size of objects on a computer screen page. In other words, translating images and text on a computer to print.

John Warnock and Charles Geckche wanted to show this technology to the world, however, Xerox declined, and that's how they decided to start their own business (Adobe) to bring this desktop publishing technology to the market.

Adobe's first logo was designed by Marva Warnock, John Warnock's wife, who was also a graphic designer.

Over the years, Adobe simplified and modernized the logo, and today Adobe's logo is better representing the brand and very recognizable.

History & Development

Soon after the founding of Adobe, the desktop publishing technology known as PostScprit became a huge success. In 1983, Apple became the first company to get a PostScript license, and two years later in 1985, Apple Inc incorporated PostScript for its Macintosh compatible laser-writer printer.

Publishing can't live without fonts/typefaces. Adobe started to develop different types of fonts after seeing the success of PostScript for both Apple and Microsoft users. Adobe reported making $100 million a year in printer software and font licensing.

Soon after, Apple and Adobe had disagreements on the type licensing fees which caused the font wars in the late 1980s. Apple teamed up with Microsoft trying to sell Adobe stock and develop their own font-rendering technology called TrueType.

While handling the situation of the font wars, Adobe continued focusing on desktop software development.

Software Development

In 1987 Adobe introduced Adobe Illustrator, software for creating vector graphics, drawings, posters, logos, typefaces, presentations, and other artworks. This vector-based program is widely used by graphic designers internationally. At the same time, Adobe also released Type Library.

Another big moment for Adobe was when it introduced Photoshop two years later. This image manipulation software application very soon became the most popular and successful Adobe program worldwide.

During this time, Adobe really put effort into developing new applications for creative work. In 1991, Adobe Premiere, an essential tool for motion graphics, video editing, and multimedia production was brought to the market, taking design to the next level.

To better enhance the viewing of digital publishing and solve the problem of file sharing for different computer systems, in 1993, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) was introduced. It delivers the image from the design software to a digital document and allows you to view the original form of text and graphics electronically when it's saved as Acrobat or PDF.

In 1994, Adobe acquired Aldus, a software company that developed PageMaker, later is substituted by InDesign, first released in 1999.

InDesign is considered an upgraded version of PageMaker, software for layout publishing. Today is popularly used for portfolio, brochure, and magazine designs.

Just like every business, Adobe also had its ups and downs. While Adobe was expanding, it purchased different software to develop. During the mid-1990s to early 2000s, Adobe faced some challenges because some of the software it purchased didn't meet its expectations and caused a heavy decline in sales.

The situation got better after InDesign was released, which boosted its sales first time in its history to more than $1 billion. Since then Adobe has come to a new era.

In 2003, Adobe released Adobe Creative Suite (CS) putting all software together including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, etc to unify the brand and consistently updating the programs. In the same year, Adobe rebranded Adobe Premiere as Adobe Premiere Pro and acquired some other media editing software such as Cool Edit Pro.

In the next couple of years, Adobe was trying to develop more creative programs to include in the Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe acquired its main competitor Macromedia in 2005 along with other software.

During that time, Dreamweaver, a web design tool, and Flash, an interactive media production tool were added to Adobe Creative Suite.

In 2006, Adobe introduced Adobe Youth Voices to help young creatives to express themselves and share their creativities.

In the same year, Adobe became the first commercial enterprise to receive three Platinum certifications in the world. From the United States Green Building Council USGBC, under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED -Existing Building Program for its facilities in San Jose.

Adobe Media Play was introduced in 2008 and soon it became a competitor for Apple iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. Adobe Media Player was designed for playing video and audios files on computers and later it was adopted by several TV networks.

As everything goes toward the web, in 2011, Adobe released the first version of Adobe Creative Cloud. Similar to the Creative Suite, it's a set of creative tools for design, web publishing, video production, etc. The biggest difference is that Adobe CC is a subscription program and you can save your work in the cloud storage.

The last version of CS was released in 2012, known as CS6. In the same year, Adobe expanded a new corporate campus in Lehi, Utah.

In October 2018, Adobe officially changed its name from Adobe Systems Incorporated to Adobe Inc.

Adobe Inc has gained industry recognition and chosen as one of the Blue Ribbon Companies by Fortune. Today Adobe has over 24,000 employees worldwide, and by the end of 2020, it reported its 2020 fiscal revenue of US$12.87 billion.
References
About June Escalada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
History of Adobe: An Infographic (Products & Facts as of 2022)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adobe Inc, formerly known as Adobe System Incorporated, is a popular design, printing, and publishing software developer founded in 1982. Started out with its first desktop publishing product Postscript in 1983, today it's known for providing creative solutions for advertising, marketing, and visual communication.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary:
This articles goes into a deeper dive of what started graphic design and the certain individuals that helped pushed it to become bigger and bigger throughout the years.
Reflection:
Graphic design has been traced back to the 19th century, but it catches my eye how it evolves into branding some of the biggest brands in the world, like MTV and Coco-Cola. It shows as a graphic designer if your work is a piece of art, it can become timeless.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Graphic design is so much a part of our modern world that it is hard to imagine living without it. And in some ways, we never have: visual communication is about as old as our opposable thumbs, though it's been a long journey from stone tools to digital tablets. In short, the history of graphic design is a story that spans the entirety of human existence and it has the power to inspire and inform even modern graphic designers.

For one thing, knowing where, why and how this industry came about helps designers understand their place alongside history. In more practical terms, stylistic trends are cyclical, and studying the past can inspire some innovative ideas in the present. So join us as we trace the roots of design from pre-industrial history into the industry we know today. With any luck, you might just leave your own footprint along the way!

Before the printing press: Prehistory to the Renaissance
-

Graphic design proper really began after the invention of the printing press in 1440, but the roots of visual communication stretch all the way back to caveman times. In this section, we'll run down the events of early history that paved the way for graphic design centuries before the world was ready for it.

Cave paintings ~38,000 BCE

It seems like humans have always had an inherent drive towards art, evidenced by the early cave paintings dating back to prehistoric times. Subjects vary from animals to hand imprints to events like hunting, and they've been found all over the world (Australia, Spain, Indonesia, France, Argentina, just to name a few). Historians debate the fine details as to who these were meant to communicate with (whether each other or their gods), but one thing that's clear is, right from the start, humanity displayed a knack for communicating with visuals.

Sumerian written language - 3300 - 3000 BCE

An ancient Sumerian tablet bearing sad news: a letter written to the king of Lagash informing him of his son's death in battle.

As you read this article, interpreting all these tiny, abstract marks of the Latin Alphabet into words and sentences, it's easy to forget that alphabets are a man-made invention. As far as we know, the Sumerians created one of the first written languages, most likely as a means of recording trader inventories to ensure couriers didn't steal anything on deliveries.

These earliest languages were logographic-icons represented entire words instead of phonetic sounds. This suggests a natural ability of humans to use visual representation to communicate complex ideas, a cornerstone of modern graphic design. And in the last few millennia, not much has changed: designers still rely on icons like hamburger menus or magnifying glasses to represent entire words and concepts in limited space.

Advancements in Chinese printing 200 CE - 1040 CE

A woodblock print of a Chinese play from the Yuan dynasty.

China holds most of the records for printing discoveries, including non-papyrus paper making, woodblock printing, and movable type-all of which occurred earlier than you might have guessed.

As far back as 200 CE, China used wood reliefs to print and stamp designs on silk clothes, and later paper. In 1040, Bi Sheng invented the world's first movable type printing press out of porcelain, more than 400 years before Gutenburg brought a similar technology to Europe.

Medieval calligraphy - 700s

In the Middle Ages, typography started to take off as humanity started expanding its aesthetic horizons into the letters and words themselves. Because texts in this period were produced and replicated by hand, a little artistry made the books more valuable and set certain scholars apart from others. In Islamic cultures, typography was doubly important because figurative art was seen as sacrilegious, meaning typography was one of only a few permissible ways of artistic expression.

Famous sixteenth-century Persian calligrapher Mir Emad Hassani, demonstrating the Nasta'liq style.

European heraldry - ~1100

Technically, the world's first logo is the coat of arms, used as a symbol to represent family houses or territories. Scholars theorize the practice was popularized during the Crusades, where intermingling soldiers from different countries and houses incentivized a means to tell everyone apart, particularly on armor and battle flags.

Like logos, a house's coat of arms aimed to represent the values, characteristics and styles of the people. Later, these emblems took on more practical purposes, such as wax seals to reflect authenticity.

Storefront signage - 1389

In the 14th century, beer and ale were viable if not preferable alternatives for drinking water at a time when most water sources were polluted. King Richard II of England made a law that ale houses must have signs out front so the public could find them easier.

Not only were these the first signage that actually represented companies rather than houses, but they're also the origin of a beautiful tradition that survives to this day.

The birth of graphic design: Renaissance and Industrial Era
-

With the advent of the printing press in Europe, humanity was able to recreate text, art and design on a massive scale, and for relatively cheap. The ancestors of modern companies-also on the rise-soon took notice of how such visuals could affect shopping behaviors and increase profits, thus modern graphic design was born.

Invention of the Gutenberg press - 1439

Johannes Gutenberg brought moveable type to Europe in 1439, introducing mass communication to Western culture and forever changing civilization. With the Gutenberg press, people no longer had to rely on lengthy scholarly reproductions of books, opening up literature (and literacy) to the masses and making it affordable. The Gutenberg press paved the way for more commercial uses of design, which ushered in the era of graphic design as we know it.

First logos - late 1400s

It was the printing industry that first used logos, although they were limited to just marks on their own documents. It wasn't just a branding device, but also a means to show off your printing skill-how well your logo was printed reflected how well everything was printed.

First print advertisements - 1620s

The printing press gave way to the "coranto," the precursor to the newspaper. And in the early 1600s, these corantos featured the first printed advertisements.

(To be fair, written advertisements date back to ancient Egypt, but this is the first time we see images in mass-produced ads.)

Chromolithography - 1837

Early advertising isn't known for its subtlety.

Technological advancements continued to fuel the progression of graphic design, such as the ability to print in color, or chromolithography. While used primarily for recreating paintings for home decor, chromolithography also opened new doors for advertising.

Brands were now able to use a lot of the familiar marketing tools we know today, such as characteristic color schemes and building emotional connections through slice-of-life scenes. Before, visuals were stilted by the tech of the time (see the ink blot coranto image in the previous section) and prioritized basic clarity instead of touching on complex emotions. But chromolithography enabled some degree of realism, allowing advertising to capitalize on attractive models, fashions of the day and artistic usage of colors.

Graphic design in the modern era
-

Graphic design as we know it today really started developing in the modern era, roughly the late 1800s up until the end of World War II. While the 19th century was more about technological advancements and new capabilities, the modern era was about learning how to exploit these advancements for more artistic aims. With printing now a common tech and competition fueling innovation, artists and designers were pushed to explore new styles and techniques, which quickly trickled into advertising and branding.

The Wiener Werkstätte (first graphic design agency) - 1903

With more and more companies recognizing the benefit of graphic design, it was just a matter of time before the first graphic design agency emerged. That honor belongs to Austria's Wiener Werkstätte, an organization who made contributions to design style and business alike.

Meaning simply "Vienna workshop," the Wiener Werkstätte was the first such organization of visual artists, including painters, architects, and early graphic designers. Organizationally, it set the precedent for all other collaborative agencies to follow.

Perhaps its greatest legacy was stylistic innovation, such as cubism. And as a group of professional artists working together, they held great influence over establishing design standards for upcoming generations of artists, particular those after World War I when cultural attitudes were changing worldwide. The work done at the Wiener Werkstätte set the stage for the popular Bauhaus and Art Deco styles that soon followed.

Staatliches Bauhaus founded - 1919

Furthering what the Wiener Werkstätte started, the Staatliches Bauhaus, or just simply " Bauhaus," first opened its doors in Weimar, Germany in 1919. Theirs was an ambitious goal: to create a Gesamtkunstwerk, an artistic ideal that encompasses or synthesizes existing art forms into one perfect work. The interesting thing is they actually succeeded: Bauhaus was one of the central driving forces behind the popularization of the modernist style.

The term "graphic design" appears for the first time - 1922

In his article "New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design" (printed in the Boston Evening Transcript, August 29, 1922), book designer William Addison Dwiggins first used the term "graphic design" to describe exactly what his role was in structuring and managing the visuals in book design. From day one, designers were struggling to explain to non-designers what, exactly, they did.

Paul Rand publishes Thoughts on Design - 1947

With one foot in modernism and the other in post-modernism, legendary designer Paul Rand helped lead graphic design into its current form. He posted his theories and ideologies in the seminal work Thoughts on Design, which largely shaped the future of the entire graphic design industry.

His book candidly explains his design philosophies he used throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, namely a call for "functional-aesthetic perfection," an ideal balance between a logo looking good and communicating its points effectively, seen in his popular logo designs for brands like Ford, Westinghouse, Yale, ABC, UPS, and IBM.

A glimpse into the digital era
-

From the 1950s onward, the world began its slow approach to the digital era we're currently enjoying. The mass-adoption of home computers is a technological advancement comparable to the invention of the printing press, ushering in a new age for mass communication and granting access to esoteric art styles and digital software for new methods of creating art.

MTV's usage of logos.

Adobe Photoshop-first released in 1990-even on its own changed the face of graphic design. Photo manipulation created a whole new subcategory of graphic design, blending together elements of photography, illustration, and CGI (it would have made the Gesamtkunstwerk artists proud).

Simultaneously, the nature of branding also evolved to meet the changing times. We partially have MTV to thank for this-they brought a fresh new take on logo usage, particularly in constantly changing theirs while retaining recognizable characteristics.

When the internet came into prominence around the turn of the century, designers took a page out of MTV's book and adopted youthful and at times edgy designs to draw the younger generation into the world wide web. This can be seen in online trends like flat design, which incorporates bright colors and cartoonish figures.

The history of graphic design is ongoing
-

That pretty much brings us up to date with graphic design, but one area still remains a mystery: what is the future of graphic design?

The progression of visual communication from cave paintings to digital software can serve as great inspiration, but what fruit that bears is up to you, whether you're the next generation of designer or the client whose brand might lend itself to a new leap in design thinking. Though today the process is hard work, tough feedback, countless late nights in front of a glowing screen, the result might just bring about the Bauhaus or Thoughts on Design of tomorrow...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A brief history of graphic design - 99designs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Graphic design is so much a part of our modern world that it is hard to imagine living without it. In some ways, we never have-design has been evolving nearly as long as we humans have! Join us as we trace the roots of graphic design from pre-industrial history into the industry we know today.

# data[].attributes.body
Summary:
In this article, you get an easy understanding of how graphic design has evolved over the years and the trends that have gone in passed in the last 50 years. It also explains how as technology evolved over the years, it made it possible for graphic design to do the same.
Reflection:
As technology evolved, it made it possible for graphic designers to start their own trends that will be the face of graphic design. its crazy to think how graphic design used to be so simplistic, but now for me its all about hierarchy and getting the attention of whoever sees it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Throughout human history, art has constantly changed in style, evolved in capability, and adapted based on what is going on in the world. From Picasso's art influenced by World Wars and revolutions to new design styles that emerged with advanced technology, visual art has always been changing. And those changes can occur rapidly, even within a decade. Inspired by this concept of constant change in graphic design (and our own recent redesign), 3Points design lead Jeffrey Rabin came up with a thought experiment: what would the 3Points logo look like in other recent decades? In this post, you can see Jeffrey's interpretation of our 3Points logo through each of these decades, as well as the reasoning behind why certain elements and styles are associated with specific decades. So sit back and prepare for a nostalgic and visual joyride through the last five decades of graphic design... and beyond!
1970s

In the 1970s, a lot of design featured repetition, free-form fonts, and simple shapes. The use of overlapping/interconnecting shapes was a rising style in print design, and lava lamps (although invented in the '60s) were just one of the many psychedelic trends to grow in popularity throughout the decade ( both in visual art and decor). Print design was becoming more and more popular, yet the technology to take complex designs and print them on various media was not there yet. This was in part the reason for the simplicity seen in a lot of the decade's most famous work.

By embracing these characteristics, our '70s rendition of the 3Points logo features a "lava lamp-like" font repeatedly placed over itself to form a 3D effect. On top of this, the design incorporates our three orbs, only now they are overlaid on one another to capture that retro '70s vibe. The design also incorporates a Pantone green color scheme, reflecting the print capabilities from that era.

1980s

Whether you are talking about design, pop culture, or just about anything, the 1980s is often the decade that stands out the most from the rest, from an artistic perspective. Heavily influenced by futuristic and sci-fi pop culture, design in the '80s displayed modern techniques (for the time), neon colors, and a lot of shiny chrome. There is even a whole sub-category of music and design inspired by the '80s known as " synthwave " (which we took as inspiration for our 1980s logo).

Fully embracing the neon/synthwave style of the 1980s, this version of the 3Points logo shows the drastic change in design capabilities and style between the '70s and '80s. (And really, the '80s logo is by far the most unique compared to even modern decades.) On top of a broader color scheme, the use of three-dimensional shapes and gradients shows just how much more a design could be in this futuristic style of graphic design. Furthermore, much like a lot of the "modern" design work of the '80s, we were able to incorporate a fading grid along with one large, looming shape in the background.

1990s

Although technology was still rapidly evolving in the '90s, graphic design itself saw a simplification in style and feel. There was a prominent rise in Memphis style, which practically fills everyone's memories of the decade. Color combinations of fuschia, teal, and any warm color (yellow and orange mostly) became very trendy, dominating a lot of print design across the United States. While the '80s featured a lot of sleek and shiny fonts, the '90s saw a rise in blocky fonts with strokes and shadows. Because technology allowed for these kinds of designs to become high-quality prints, everyone took advantage of the new possibilities. Most importantly, although Adobe Photoshop was first developed in 1988, it was first released in 1990; the ability to digitally blend and illustrate elements, along with the ability to manipulate photos, not only created a whole new sector of graphic design, but also brought about the dawn of a new age of digital art and design.

Having been born in 1996, I still have vivid flashbacks to the color-filled brand imagery that used to surround me. While modeling this design upon pre-existing work, I strived to create something that I could imagine seeing over 20 years ago. Although it is an exaggerated take on common '90s design practices, this rendition truly embodies the evolutionary and pattern-based style of design that ruled the decade. While this version sees the loss of our traditional green color palette in an effort to use popular colors of the decade, we brought back the three circles, which each embody different elements of the '90s style in this design.

2000s

Although there were leaps and bounds of progress in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, those improvements do not compare to the expansion and revolution of graphic design in the 2000s. Print methods were relatively similar, and the technology, although improving, was never truly breaking the barrier of what was possible. That progression became exponential very, very quickly in the 2000s with the rapid improvement of technology. All of a sudden, people weren't designing simply for print or digital media. Designers had to make sure their work looked good on something as large as a billboard and as small as a screen that fits in a pocket. New software allowed designers to easily create three-dimensional objects and manipulate typography like never before. On top of all this development, some of the most iconic designs in human history were created during this decade, including Shepard Fairey's Obama Hope poster (which opened a whole other door into the legality of certain design practices, a rabbit hole that we won't go down today) and Apple's single-colored iPod ads. Whether it was the artists who were learning to use new tools or the new tools themselves that allowed the creation of new and exciting artwork, the possibilities of graphic design were expanding more and more by the day.

Here you can see the original 3Points Communications logo - 3Points was founded in early 2010, so this logo is more a reflection of the 2000s than the 2010s. [Also worth noting: unlike the preceding designs, which were created for this exercise, this was our actual logo, which means it is less exaggerated to reflect its decade.] Much like some of the most popular new logos of the 2000s ( AT&T, Wikipedia, and Microsoft, to name a few), it features three-dimensional shapes, which were then a must-have for a brand hoping to keep up with the times. Although most brands chose to use either the effect of a gradient or a drop shadow to achieve a 3D feel, both are used here. On top of this, we can now see 3Points sporting a sleek and thin font. Thick fonts were very popular in the '90s; however, the look considered modern in the 2000s was sleek and minimalistic.

2010s

Mobile Workability: Although Adobe Creative Cloud can be used on mobile devices currently, I believe we will see massive improvements in the program's usability on mobile devices, to the point where it is just as easy to work on an iPad as it is on an iMac.

Merging with Animation: A lot of people who have design degrees may know basic animation, but it is usually not their forte. With the two arts becoming slowly blended together (on almost EVERY design job application, there is a line that says "experience with After Effects is a plus") it is safe to say that companies will be looking for "all-in-one" designers in the near future.

More Expensive Software: It pains me to say this, but Adobe's cloud-based subscription service has only gone up in price since its introduction, and I don't see that trend going away (much like the price of other high-demand tech commodities, such as phones and streaming services). While Adobe offers very good discounts to students and teachers, the freelance designer will see more and more of their earnings going back toward paying for the very tools that they use to make money.

More Freelance, Less Full-Time: While almost every industry has demand for a designer, the longevity of that demand varies. A company may need a logo, a dog-walker may need a website, or a gym may need new business cards, but what comes after that? Outside the communication industry (which has a daily demand for all sorts of materials, whether internal or client-based), I see design evolving into more of a project-by-project profession for a lot of professionals.

After an explosion, there is always a shockwave that comes after. The 2010s can be described as the shockwave of the explosion in technology. With capabilities that vastly outdo anything previously seen, modern graphic design practices involve a lot of creative photo manipulationand three-dimensional effects.A vast majority of design work now caters to digital media instead of print, as the use of animation in design work has emerged as a trend (the two practices are becoming more and more associated with one another). This is interesting because the "art" world of graphic design is becoming increasingly complex, while the business side of design is becoming more simplified. Some major brands such as Uber, Dunkin',and American Expresshave seen their logos simplified in both color scheme and visual appearance. There is now a large contrast between "graphic art" and "graphic design"; the most popular artists, such as Bosslogic, Cole,and Photified, are putting out visually captivating work, while brands are simplifying their look and communications agencies are sticking with the minimalist yet modern feel.

Our current logo (especially looking at its jump from the 2000s predecessor) is exemplary of the clean look that is featured in graphic design today. The 3D effect of the orbs looks much more modern, deviating from a drop shadow and white/color gradient, and instead using various shades of green to give it a three-dimensional feel (almost as if remastering the previous look). The typography has a much more rounded and modern look, unlike the prior elongated and compact font. Although this logo was created near the end of this decade, it clearly shows the jump in simplicity and quality from the decade prior. On top of that, losing the drop shadow allows for much easier use and application, as there is no longer a worry about how the logo will show up on print or digital media.

2020s (the future)

As design has continually evolved over the decades, it would be foolish to say it will be the same over the next ten years. While it is impossible to say with any certainty where design will go in the 2020s, here are a few aspects that I predict will be important:

In terms of this logo, there is not much I can elaborate on, as there is no work to compare it to! However, I do feel that the "art of the logo" may change. Most business logos are created in Adobe Illustrator as "vector files" or 2D shapes, so they can easily be redistributed and used on various sorts of media. I think more emerging businesses will experiment with flashier, art-based logos that will stray from this path, opting for as much flair and uniqueness as possible, while sacrificing ease of reproduction and simplicity. Some possibilities could include animated logos (only displayed digitally) or logos that emphasize three-dimensional elements.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Design Through the Decades: The Evolution of Graphic Design over the Last 50 Years... and Beyond

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Throughout human history, art has constantly changed in style, evolved in capability, and adapted based on what is going on in the world. From Picasso's art influenced by World Wars and revolutions...

# data[].attributes.body
Summary: "8 graphic design trends that will define 2022" provides trends in the graphic design art that will define this year and continue to be used and applied to graphic arts in the future.
Reflection: The trends in the article has definitely made its impact and in such a quick way too such as AI generated art. As a graphic designer, some of the trends I see used so much today and will continue to see for the future of graphic design.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Graphic design is a sign of the times... and the graphic design trends of 2023 are certainly no exception.

The post-pandemic chaos has expedited rapid social and technological change. Short-form videos disrupt static feeds. Web 3.0 developments showcase our appetite for limitless online experiences. And our increasingly connected lives have made inclusive visuals matter more than ever.

These imaginative visions of what the future holds, mixed with a renewed desire to break out from our bubbles, beg the boundaries of design to be defied. Yet throughout it all, an ongoing nostalgia for simpler times holds strong.

All of the above have shifted the way brands and businesses visually communicate with customers. And while studying the design themes of this year, I've seen many of the same ideas merge. So note: this list is not ordered in any particular way.

Ready to learn which design innovations will dominate? Keep reading to find out what graphic design trends 2023 has in store...

Graphic design trends 2023:

Curious about infographic design and data viz trends specifically? View The Infographic Design Report: Trends to Try in 2023

Prefer to watch instead? Check out this video for a summary with examples, design tips and more:

1. Motion graphics

While video content isn't exactly new, its widespread popularity has changed the branded internet landscape as we know it.

And yes, we largely have TikTok to thank for that!

The format, popularized by ByteDance's short-form video hosting site, has papered the walls of social media in the last few years.

And it's not hard to see why: according to the Washington Post, no other app has grown faster past a billion users. The average American viewer watches 80 minutes of TikTok videos per day - more than the time spent on Facebook and Instagram combined.

Now, everyone and their dog is capitalizing on the motion graphics trend, reposting TikTok content to Instagram reels and YouTube shorts alike. Check out Hubspot's feed:

This makes sense, considering short-form video's ability to engage and inform viewers for longer periods of time, remix consumer trends and humanize brands.

No, seriously. Go to virtually any brand's Instagram, and you'll find short-form videos taking up the vast majority of their grid. Here's Salesforce, for example.

Now here's Zendesk.

And Tinder.

We'd be here all day if I went through more examples. But just take my word for the fact that every brand's social channel has joined the short-form video craze.

Bring on all the scroll-stopping, relatable content that engages viewers longer than a static image could ever dream of!

But social media feeds aren't the only area where motion graphics are seeing a surge.

Many of the top tech companies are using this engagement-boosting principle in their UX designs - namely, landing and product information pages. Check out the motion graphics that bring Apple Music's homepage to life above, adding dynamic interest as the viewer scrolls through.

Neat, huh?

Meta (formerly known as Facebook)'s page addressing their vision for socially responsible virtual reality employs a similar tactic as you scroll down.

But it's not just The Big Four capitalizing on the engagement-boosting effects of motion graphics. Litmus, the email testing and management software, embeds motion graphics into their UX designs too.

Of course, doing so is a lot more complicated than sharing a TikTok, or reposting video content as a reel.

But with our 2022 Visual Content Marketing Report showing that 90% of marketers predict video content to be the key medium brands should adopt in the coming years, it's undeniable that we'll be seeing a lot more motion graphics, a lot more places.
(Now feels like a good time to ask: have you followed Return to Table of Contents Venngage on TikTok yet?!)
2. Bold abstract shapes

Graphic design trends come and go in cycles, evolving along the way. Which is why in 2021's blog on upcoming design trends, we reported an influx of geometric shapes in visual assets - a pattern that still holds true today.

That's right. Bold shapes will continue to dominate the backgrounds of websites, social media posts and beyond in 2023. But rather than rigid geometrics, more abstract forms abound.

Here's a few recent social posts from Spotify, Trello and Slack that illustrate this colorful trend.

Looking for color inspiration? check Venngage's color palette generator to get your colorful self going.

What's great about these abstract elements is the additional layer of visual interest they add to any composition, through the design principles of variety and contrast. They pique viewers' attention with their bold, bright hues without distracting from the main message at hand.

Hubspot CRM's product page makes use of this to highlight their software.

Oracle Cloud Computing's website shows this off well too.

Some companies have used this trend to subtly evoke shapes found in other branded assets. You can see this in Intercom's homepage design; the blue rounded shapes echo the company's logo.

Same with Semrush's social posts that mirror their landing page.

And it's easy to apply the aesthetic appeal of vibrant organic forms to your own designs. Just choose no more than 2-3 colors, and make sure your main content stands out.

To make it simple, Venngage offers several templates in this vein that you can 100% customize. Check out this single page flyer template emphasized by colorful rounded shapes:

For social media, look no further than this Instagram Carousel Post template.
Return to Table of Contents
Even if you're not sharing statistics, this template can do the trick. Just swap out the information and add your message instead.
DALL-E. DALL-E, everywhere!
Want to keep your branding consistent? Automate your brand colors and logo with My Brand Kit, available with Venngage for Business.

3. AI-generated art

This year, images produced by artificial intelligence (AI) technology took the world by storm with the public release of OpenAI's DALL-E 2 - an online images generator that creates graphics based on natural language text descriptions.

Internet users worldwide clamored to see how realistic and novel these image generations were. In fact, entire Twitter accounts dedicated to the task cropped up to facilitate the social sharing of weird and wonderful DALL-E creations.

Some accounts even automated the process, prompting the AI to generate images based on descriptions followers tweet at them.

And of course, given their inherent absurdity, many-an-internet-meme followed.

Considering the exponential growth of AI recently, it's no surprise social media isn't the only place image generations have caught on; big names in tech have taken note too.

In October, Microsoft announced the release of their own graphic design app featuring a DALL-E 2 integration that allows users to add supporting image generations to their files.

Not long after, Shutterstock unveiled a strategic partnership with OpenAI to make DaLL-E 2 generations available to their user base as well.

But it's not all rainbows and sunshine.

(Yes, I just generated that image.)
Return to Table of Contents
While many see advanced machine learning tools as a way to democratize art, there are growing concerns over copyright and the displacement of human-created artforms.

But with machine learning advancing at a rapid clip - for example, OpenAi's next iteration, GPT-4, is rumored to have trillions of parameters - there's no doubt this graphic design trend will only intensify. So give DALL-E 2 a try when dreaming up creative assets!

Looking to get the rest of your team onboard with this trend? Use this report template to showcase AI's awe-inspiring potential for your business.

4. 3D elements

If motion graphics are the new static images, three dimensional renderings are the new two dimensional assets.

At least, that's been the case for the last few years. Especially since recent technological advancements have made it easier than ever to produce high-quality 3D visuals. ( Like this reimagined IBM logo.)

From the 3D typography and icons found in recent social posts from Adobe and Later ...

...and the icons graphics seen on Microsoft's homepage and product launches ...

...to the characters and avatars showcasing Humi, Salesforce and Intel's products...

...3D elements are everywhere.

But beyond easier rendering, what else is driving these design choices forward?

Just factor in VR's ever-increasing hold on the public. (Roblox, anyone?)

The growing demand for virtual experiences and graphics that blur the lines of computer-generated images and reality no doubt fuel this trend (something we'll explore further on in this article). And with the metaverse's influence only expanding, the market for 3D elements is set to increase.
Return to Table of Contents
As brands and businesses increasingly venture into these virtual realms, collaborating with a skilled metaverse agency can be the key to success in this emerging digital landscape.

So capitalize on the current digital moment and add depth, shadows, movement and textures to your designs assets. Like these two templates that'll take your internal communications to new heights:

5. Inclusive visuals

The push for inclusivity in design is hardly news.

Our previous roundups of graphic design trends have all identified inclusivity as a key feature in future-thinking designs, helping audiences from all walks of life see themselves reflected in a business's products and mission.

Take these illustrations from Float for example:

But design trends don't stay stagnant, even if the overall category remains the same. So how has this continued push for inclusivity evolved?

Well, our increasing awareness of marginalization and intersectionality has given way to the need for greater representation - AKA that which goes beyond diverse skin tones and same sex relationships.

During my analysis, I noted three main areas where inclusive visuals are growing:

Gender diverse representation

Remember the Gilette commercial that sent shockwaves through the media a few years ago, because it featured a trans man?

Fast forward, and transgender and nonbinary folks are seeing more meaningful, self-directed representation than ever - along with drag queens/kings, and other folks who challenge rigid gender norms.

Check out these social posts from TikTok and Pinterest to see what I mean:

And this creative mural AT&T made for pride month.

This push for greater representation comes at a time when transgender communities are increasingly threatened by US legislaton. Thankfully, many companies refuse to stand ideally by.

For example, following Texas Governor Greb Abbott's classification of pediatric gender-affirming care as child abuse, more than 60 companies - including Google, Apple, Meta and IBM - signed a full page ad urging state officials to reject the directive.

So join the movement. And show consumers you care, cis gender or not.

Indigenous representation

Up until now, indigenous communities have been largely glossed over by advertisers. But in 2023, expect that to change.

Famous TikTokers from different indigenous backgrounds have risen to prominence, bringing greater awareness to the diversity of indigenous cultures. And companies like Netflix and Sephora have taken note.

Looking to add some indigenous representation to your own design files? Venngage has released a 100% free people icon pack featuring 140 diverse characters. It includes EPS/SVG/PNG files you can use, publish and share free-of-charge.

Accessible design

The trend of inclusive design extends beyond pictorial and iconographic representations. Because in 2023, true inclusivity also means prioritizing accessibility.

This ensures everyone - no matter their disability status - feels valued by your organization.

For example, Mastercard released a campaign around their Touch Card product this year.

These cards feature a simple design with notches to help the visually impaired differentiate between accounts more easily.

WordPress developer Reaktive also redesigned Intuit Mint and Turbotax's blog pages to increase the user experience for those with screen readers.

The above brands were commended for their accessibility improvements in Fast Company's 2022 Innovation by Design awards. And with companies like Purdy's Chocolate set to release boxes stamped with Braille, you can bet this trend will only continue to grow across all industries.

The bottom line is, accessible design is inclusive design. With 15% of the world's population dealing with some sort of disability, your brand can differentiate itself by prioritizing accessbility.
Return to Table of Contents
That's why we've made diverse icons, visuals and color palettes a key objective for Venngage templates and assets, like these ones:

You can also use this FREE Accessible Color Palette Generator tool to generate a range of beautiful, WCAG compliant hues.

6. Surrealist maximalism

See ya, realism and minimalism! We've got two new sheriffs in town: surrealism and maximalism.

That's right. The insulated COVID-19 era has given way to an anything-goes post-pandemic world - where people have no desire to stay confined or restricted.

Renewed possibilities for pushing boundaries are here. And designers are responding in turn with psychedelic images that aren't afraid to make a statement, nor take up space.

Given this, visual storytelling will get more imaginative than ever in the coming years. So expect the unexpected when it comes to combining elements, as seen in this recent Coca-Cola graphic:

Or in Zoom's webinar reminder ad:

Samsung's also commissioned this surreal work to tie in with the release of the Galaxy Z phone this past year.

And design giant Adobe's been sharing inspirational images that are as surreal and maximalist as they come:

So don't be afraid to defy physics OR page space with dramatic mixed media images. Show your audience you've got a vision larger than life, and the creativity and ingenuity to get there.
Return to Table of Contents
One way to do this is through your personal branding, using a business card that captivates:

Have a report to share? Get your audience going with a dramatic cover image, like the one featured in the template below. The sky's the limit in 2023.

7. Colorful retro illustrations

Another trend borne from the pandemic?

90s nostalgia! After all, we were definitely fantasizing about easier days during that period.

Well, spoiler alert: this graphic design trend will only continue into 2023 - in the form of colorful retro illustrations.

Nothing encompasses this quite like the viral trend of sharing Little Miss ___ sketches on social, like this one from Hootsuite:

But the buck doesn't stop there. Everyone from Google...

...and social scheduling app Later ...

...and Figma have created social media graphics out of this colorful, nostalgic sketch style.

This graphic design trend made a splash because it takes the time-tested visuals of yesteryear and translates them into the current day. So expect everything from social posts and posters, to landing pages and packaging to bring a cheerful, comforting vibe in the new year.

Like these recent releases from the skincare brand Herbivore Botanicals.
Return to Table of Contents
If you're digging these designs, here's a recent Black Friday Poster template that puts these principles to use.

Feel free to customize the content inside to suit your needs. Alternatively, this event template is all about those fun, nostalgic vibes too.

8. Virtual reality

Cryptocurrency. Non-fungible tokens. The metaverse.

A few years ago, these terms would have confounded just about anyone within earshot. But in 2022, nearly everyone knows how in-demand these Web 3.0 technologies are.

Supercharged by the pandemic's push towards the digitization of All Things, the global market for virtual reality (VR) has undergone staggering growth these past few years. A report by Facts and Factors valued the metaverse at $210B USD in 2021, estimating it will grow to $730B by 2028.

Unsurprisingly, graphic designers have taken note, expressing the limitless potential of our technological futures with Blade Runner-style image renderings, neon palettes, futuristic liquid gradients and 3D components.

Take this Apple iPad Pro ad for example...

Or this landing page for Meta's Connect conference...

Or this social reel from Zendesk ...

To showcase their forward-thinking sensibilities, many are illustrating the hyper-connected, technologic days to come.

And with this industry developing at a rapid clip, specialized companies like Rumfoords - an advertising firm-turned-creative consulting agency for brands looking to get into the metaverse - are cropping up fast.

One look at their website provides a great example of these stylistic choices:

But the tech grounded in the here and now are similarly following a futuristic suit. Like Dyson's Zone Headphones animation...

Or this video featured on Apple's AirPods Pro page...

Perhaps the best example I can find - one that happens to illustrate many of the other trends discussed in the article - is the new Intel commercial for their 13th Gen Core Processor chip.

Watch this ad, and see how many 2023 graphic design trends you can spot...

Moral of the story: you don't have to be a Blockchain Baddie or Cyborg Seller to get in on this trend!

Just incorporate some neon accents, like this timeline infographic does expertly:
Return to Table of Contents
Or use video game/computer game style imagery, like this infographic calculating how doomed the Stranger Things characters are in Season Five...

Or opt for a futuristic employee handbook. Because Year 3000, we're coming for you.

The future of graphic design in 2023

So, what do you think of these predictions for graphic design trends in 2023?

Are there other significant events you believe may have influenced these trends? Or any other styles you expect to make it big?

One thing's for sure: the world of design is constantly evolving. Keep scrolling for a roundup of last year's graphic design trends to see exactly what I mean.

8 Graphic Design Trends That Will Define 2022

The events of 2020 are set to influence graphic design trends for years to come.

We've had the pandemic. The Black Lives Matter movement and #StopAAPIHate came into prominence. We also encountered devastating climate disruptions. Plus global political changes.

In the corporate world, these events have changed the way businesses and marketers communicate with customers.

There has been a visible move towards being more inclusive. Brands are also working towards backing up statements with facts and statistics.

More brands are using vibrant colors. Branded memes have become popular again.

What design innovations will we see dominate the landscape in 2022? We highlight the biggest graphic design trends below.

Not a designer? No problem. Create your own infographic today with Venngage's Infographic Maker.

Graphic Design Trends 2022:

Click here to see the graphic design trends of 2021.

1. Inclusive visuals

Showcasing the diversity of human life is a necessity now more than ever before. That's why it's the top graphic design trend of 2022.

At Venngage, we've been regularly using diverse icons and illustrations in our templates to reflect our workforce and audience.

We've also been writing about diversity in design and creating visuals around the topic, such as the informational infographic below.

The events of 2020 around racial reckoning had been a long time coming. Brands have since realized the importance of creating a more representative marketing strategy.

Companies are now sharing the makeup of their workforce. They're also implementing inclusive visuals in their marketing campaigns. 2020 has impacted the way brands approach representation.

You can see how Slack has been populating its visuals with more diverse groups of people over the last year.

And it isn't just on highly visible platforms like Instagram where Slack has been showing its diversity. Slack's landing pages have diverse faces greeting users.

Creating visual marketing materials that appeal to wider audiences is fast becoming the default.

We're seeing more images and icons that reflect more races, genders, and body types. Cis-gender, White, able-bodied males were considered the default in visual media. That's slowly beginning to change.

By being more representative, brands can reach audiences that they hadn't catered to before. It also helps reflect the world as it is now. Plus, this approach helps attract a more diverse workforce.

Another major business software that's regularly incorporated inclusive visuals is Trello. Here's the homepage with a host of diverse people illustrations.

Hubspot is another huge brand that has embraced diversity in its visual marketing strategy. From the homepage to social media visuals, Hubspot is highlighting how diverse businesses can be.

Take a look at how Shopify has been including diverse imagery throughout its site. This is a great way to show consumers that your brand is for everyone, not just a narrow audience.
Return to Table of Contents
Search Engine Journal has been creating gorgeous and diverse blog headers all year. Here's a selection of our favorites below. You can see the diversity of races and abilities showcased in these visuals.

In 2022, showcase the diversity of the world in your marketing designs. It's a great way to reflect your vast customer base and cement your brand as part of a bigger whole.

2. Fun data visualizations

Last year, we saw a proliferation of data visualizations in the fields of healthcare and marketing. This was understandable. There was a lot of complex data to share with the pandemic raging on.

With hosts of bad infographics being shared online and on news channels, there was a call for simplified data visualizations. That's the route a lot of marketers took.

Creating simple charts and graphs that shared a story was the best way to keep audiences engaged and informed.

It looks like brands have taken that approach to a whole other level. Instead of simple charts, we're seeing more fun data visuals becoming the graphic design trend of 2022.

Twitter marketing has been creating colorful and engaging charts and graphs for a variety of topics over the past year.

These data visualizations easily catch the eye of users on Twitter. But they're not just visually appealing. These graphs cover fun topics like gaming or summer activities, like this tweet thread.

The pivot to fun data doesn't come as a surprise. 2020 and most of 2021 have been emotionally challenging, to say the least.

Users in the B2C and B2B sectors are looking for a mental break when they look through social media.

LinkedIn Marketing has also taken to creating data visualizations about relevant topics. But the brand is using a lighter tone, like in this tweet about inboxes.

The chart is simple and clean. It's unmistakably a data visual made to arrest the eye. But once you start reading the content, that's when you see that LinkedIn is having a bit of fun.

Hubspot's Instagram has a number of delightful data visualizations. We love their use of color, or lack thereof, depending on the topic.

This graphic design trend works best if you don't do too much. Keep the design simple and the content relevant.

Venngage ran a few data stories on Instagram using this method. A single color theme ran throughout the visuals. This helped keep the story in focus.

Data visuals have become part and parcel of marketing now. We know that users are going to stop to look at a chart or graph.

But brands have moved away from sharing yet more devastating news about the pandemic. Instead, they're creating data-related content about topics that are appealing and enjoyable.

At Venngage, we've been designing fun data visualizations for a while. We've created infographics about The Avengers, Game of Thrones, Netflix fonts, and Disney villains.

For example, here's a simple but fun customer journey mind map example that brands can be inspired by.
Return to Table of Contents
Data is important, especially in the wake of the pandemic. With rampant misinformation, there has been a rising demand for brands to be more accountable. But that doesn't mean that data needs to be boring.

Brands can have some fun with topics. Just ensure that the content remains relevant to your audience and niche.

3. Bold backgrounds

We've seen a move towards muted colors over the past few years. But graphic design trends for 2022 are going back to bolder and brighter colors.

While these colors won't be the focus of designs, they will help visuals stand out in the busy online space.

Spotify has been using bold backgrounds across its social channels over the past year.

Visually, the bold colors, contrasted with the lighter text, make the images pop on a social feed. It immediately makes you want to click to find out more.

This is a trend that has caught on with other brands, even outside the entertainment sphere. Mailshake has embraced the multicoloured bold background on its blog posts.

This consulting pitch deck exemplifies the direction we're talking about it. It's multicolored, not very bright, but bold enough to draw the eye.

Note how the boldness of the background doesn't take away from the key elements in the visuals. You can still read the text, see the icons, and understand the core message of the deck.

The same goes for this poster header. You can see the icons blend into the background colors. The white padding helps keep the icons in focus.

Don't know how to create a bold background for your poster? Easily design visuals like the above using the Venngage poster maker.

Bold backgrounds are one of the graphic design trends that returns regularly.

What's interesting about them is that these backgrounds aren't meant to overwhelm the text. Instead, it's a tool to make the information stand out.

Buffer has been incorporating bold backgrounds across its Instagram posts, Stories, and IGTV. Here's a selection of the brand's posts on Instagram.

They aren't shying away from using an array of colors. And neither should you!

Similarweb's branding has leaned strongly into a bold blue background. The company has tailored its icons to match, creating a cohesive brand presence across social media and its website.

Bold backgrounds can be overwhelming if you overuse them. They can also saturate your feed very quickly. We suggest using a combination of bright colors and muted tones. This will feel soothing for the eye.

Here's a Venngage business proposal template that demonstrates how you can use a bold background wisely.

Only a few pages employ the bright colors in the background. The rest of the pages have a white background and use bold colors as highlights.

Bold backgrounds have made an unexpected comeback in time for 2022.
Return to Table of Contents
With so much content being shared online throughout 2020-21, it isn't surprising that brands have gone back to this old favorite to capture audience attention.

But remember to use bright backgrounds sparsely. They are meant to make the information on a page stand out, not drown it.

4. Colorful icons and illustrations

Sticking with the theme of color, it wasn't surprising that brands decided to pair their bold backgrounds with equally colorful icons and illustrations.

Icons have long been a powerful marketing tool. They share messages at a glance and are universally acknowledged.

Sprout Social has taken the colorful route with its icons. Note how the brand combines the colorful icons with bold backgrounds. The contrast is startling and engages the eye immediately.

Most icons mean the same thing in multiple languages. This makes them an easily accessible way to reach audiences.

We've been seeing illustrations become more popular over the years. There was a heavy focus on stock photos and images a few years ago. But illustrations are making a comeback.

These illustrations from Toolbox HR are certainly a joy to look at. There's a good mix of interpretative illustrations and simple icons.

The brand is really leaning into colors with its visuals. Though there isn't a color scheme to follow, the visuals unmistakably belong to the brand.

Interestingly, while flat icons and illustrations were all the rage for 2021, we're now seeing a mix.

Flat and 3D icons and illustrations are being used across the board. The primary connection between them is how colorful they are.

This short video from Pipedrive demonstrates how important color has become in the marketing sphere. With just three colors, the illustrative video looks bright and catches the eye.

Most importantly, it gets the message across to anyone scrolling through their timeline.

Databox is another brand that has embraced a few of the graphic design trends of 2022. The company has started using colors in a big way.

You can see the hues in its backgrounds, icons, and illustrations. We also love how the site is using diverse people icons in its headers.

Salesforce has also been using a wide array of colors for its illustrations, as you can see in this post.

The colors are used strategically, in chairs, shirts, and plant pots. It's subtle enough to draw the eye without overwhelming the reader.

Here's another example of subtly using colorful icons from Zendesk. The background colors are more in keeping with the muted shades of last year, but most of the icons pop off the screen.

This is the kind of illustration that will have even the most ardent doomscroller stopping in their tracks.

At Venngage, we've been creating a host of templates that incorporate colorful icons and matching illustrations, like in this plan template.
Return to Table of Contents
Colorful icons and illustrations are visually appealing but they still need to adhere to your brand guidelines. They also need to reflect the central message of your blog posts, social media posts, or infographics.

With Venngage, you can access 40,000+ icons, including flat and 3D icons. We also have over 500 diverse icons for your people infographics, completely for free.

5. Serif fonts

Serif fonts made a comeback for 2021. It looks like they're here to stay for 2022, as well. These classical type fonts have been in existence for centuries.

They can look outdated sometimes, which is why we see them falling out of favor.

But serif fonts are also elegant fonts. They look stylish and nostalgic. But more importantly, because brands so often use sans serif fonts, any serif font immediately catches the eye, like in this eBook example.

And in a crowded online sphere, particularly because of the pandemic, arresting users' attention has become paramount.

One brand that has embraced serif fonts over the past year is Intercom. They're using a stylish version on their homepage that manages to marry a classic style with modern aesthetics.

The brand has also been using serif fonts for its podcast series.

Mailchimp has adopted serif fonts for its brand for a while now. Here's their homepage with a very classic serif font greeting users.

Serif fonts look dependable and calming, which is what users need to see right now. Mailchimp has paired its brand fonts with the right visuals on its homepage to create that effect.

Users in the B2B sector want to connect with brands that are trustworthy. This is especially true in the volatile environment we currently live in. That's what a serif font can do.

This theme of trust and reassurance continues through Mailchimp's Twitter feed.

And their podcast art.

As well as Mailchimp's blog titles.

Brand consistency is crucial in an online space that is overwhelmed with content. Mailchimp has found the formula that makes them recognizable.

Even Shopify has embraced the serif font trend for some of its Instagram posts.
Return to Table of Contents
Fashion brands often use serif fonts in their marketing visuals. Here's London Cashmere Company pairing a serif font with its Instagram post.

If you're looking to incorporate serif fonts in your marketing visuals, Venngage has a list of the best free fonts available right now. And we have a whole guide on how to choose the right fonts for your designs.

6. Branded memes

Everyone loves memes. Or at least, they love to hate memes. It's impossible to avoid them. There's a meme for everything. And everything can be turned into a meme.

Some memes tend to catch on faster than others. Viral memes do have a short lifespan, though.

They can fizzle out within a day, or even within a few hours. But some memes are everlasting and continue to be recognized years later.

As with fun data visualizations, the state of the world in 2020 and 2021 impacted how brands use memes. This has given rise to one of the most fun graphic design trends of 2022: branded memes.

Posts like this one from Shopify are becoming the norm, even in so-called serious niches.

The reason why this meme works is because of its simplicity. The actors and the context may not be relevant in a few months. But the visual is so simple that it conveys the story the brand is trying to tell.

And that's the key to meme success. You don't want to invest time in a meme that nobody will understand in a few weeks.

The visual also needs to stand on its own. The best memes say plenty without any context.

You can find inspiration from Foundation Inc. The marketing brand has been choosing the best memes for its social media. It's safe to say they've become a lean mean meme machine over the past year.

What works with Foundation Inc's memes is how easy it is to understand the visual. You don't need any background. The context is obvious.

For example, should you have watched Ancient Aliens to understand the fourth meme? No.

You can tell that the man in the visual is trying to say something he thinks is profound. Of course, knowing the context makes the meme infinitely funnier.

Sprout Social took a different approach to the meme format in 2021. There was an online trend about describing attributes associated with Zodiac signs.

The social media brand shared this business-relevant meme.

Buffer has also been getting into the meme game with this grid. I'm sure every social media manager will recognize these feelings.

The Olympics birthed a lot of memes that are sure to gladden a sports fan's heart. SEMRush embraced the format and brought it into the world of marketing offices.

Sticking with the sports theme, this meme warning about PBNs couldn't be more obvious.

Like Foundation Inc, SEMRush has gone all out on its meme marketing. Here's how they repurposed a popular dog meme to showcase a product feature.

Zapier took the meme format to an interactive level. Check out this thread where the brand created 'Employee of the month' badges for users' pets.

What a fun way to improve engagement and lighten the mood!

Over on Instagram, Zapier continued to keep things light with this recently popular meme. It's a great way to highlight the usefulness of their product.

Memes are fun and engaging. They share universal messages which make them an easy visual to adapt to your business needs.
Return to Table of Contents
The important thing to remember with this 2022 graphic design trend is avoiding overuse. Memes can become stale very quickly.

Don't rely on memes as the sole method of visual communication. Use a variety of visual tools and pepper in memes from time to time.

7. Quotes

If there's one thing we know about graphic design trends, it's that they're cyclical.

A handful of years ago, quotes were all the rage. Inspirational quotes from marketing gurus, business tycoons and experts were everywhere.

Then people started getting frustrated with the same quotes showing up all the time. Or worse, being forwarded to them by over-eager relatives.

That's now changing. Here's a quote LinkedIn shared highlighting a user's reading initiative. This quote serves as social proof. But it also shows that LinkedIn is engaging with its community.

We're seeing quotes make a comeback but with a difference. We aren't seeing the same inspirational quotes from before.

Instead, the quotes being shared in marketing visuals have more to do with education than inspiration.

Here's another example from LinkedIn. The post includes a quote both in the text and in the visual. This gives users plenty of context.

It's a great way to spark conversation. Which is exactly what this campaign was geared towards.

LinkedIn wasn't afraid to throw it back to the old classics on Twitter, though. Here's a quote from Aristotle for the brand's #MondayMotivation posts.

Keap has been using quotes from its customers as social proof. This isn't a new social media method but we like their visuals. They're including the quote alongside an image of the individual.

Teamwork has also been using customer quotes for its social media visuals. A strong quote, paired with an image of a real person, is great for social proof.

When Teamwork doesn't have an image of the customer, they've used a quirky illustration instead. It's a good substitute and does the job.

Buffer has been using quotes from blog posts as a teaser. This is something we're seeing much more of over the last year. And it's going to continue as a graphic design trend in 2022.

Zendesk has also been using quotes for teasers in its #VillageAtZendesk interview series. The quotes are a great way to encourage users to click on the link and read more.
Return to Table of Contents
Here's an Instagram post from Asana with a quote and a branded image of the speaker. It's a clean and attractive visual that reflects the brand and the message they're trying to send.

The use of quotes in visual marketing has evolved. There's certainly room for quotes in marketing collateral now. The trick is to find one soundbite that stands out and use that for your visual.

8. Social screencaps

Brands have been sharing versions of the same post on multiple social media channels for a while now.

But each platform has its unique voice and appeal. It isn't always feasible to create separate content all the time.

Brands need to share announcements, contests or product launches on all channels. And they want to share it at the same time.

The way to do this is through social media screencaps. They have been gaining popularity amongst individuals and brands.

If you take a look at Hubspot's Instagram posts, you will often see these types of images appear. The posts are screenshots of tweets overlayed on Hubspot's signature brand visuals.

This trend is fascinating and we can't help but love it. There's no way to share posts from Twitter to Instagram at the moment. After all, Twitter is a very text-based medium. Instagram is entirely visual.

But these marketing tips and tricks that Hubspot has shared are relevant to their audience. No matter what platform they're on!

That's why Hubspot has taken to screenshotting these tweets and sharing them on its Instagram.

Zapier is another brand that's been going down the social screencap route. The brand has adopted this graphic design trend in time for 2022, primarily as social proof.

It's a clever way to cross-pollinate between platforms while showcasing the power of their product.

Last year, we saw the rise of social slide decks as a method of sharing multiple visuals on different channels. While slide decks have caught on heavily, we've seen the graphic trend of social screencaps take over in time for 2022.

Lululemon has also been sharing positive feedback from its customers by screenshotting tweets for Instagram.

The brand shares a carousel of tweets about one type of product per post. For example, this one focuses on their athletic shorts.

This trend is catching on beyond Twitter and Instagram. Brands on LinkedIn are utilizing posts from other platforms to engage their audiences.

Foundation Inc has been sharing screenshots of tweets by its CEO, Ross Simmonds, as well as other marketers.

This is the kind of content that speaks to the brand's audience but isn't readily available on LinkedIn to share. Screenshots of these posts bridge that gap.

Brands aren't just sharing tweets on Instagram and LinkedIn. Zoom has been sharing its TikTok videos on Instagram.

Instagram's new video settings allow a variety of sizes. And TikTok's vertical orientation fits perfectly on Instagram.

And Zoom is sharing their TikToks on Twitter, as well.

Channels like TikTok are geared towards lighter content. But that doesn't mean that content can't live on other platforms.

Users aren't visiting social media for sales-y content. They want to be entertained while they learn tips and tricks. Bringing multiple platforms together through social screencaps helps solve that problem.

Conclusion

The graphic design trends of 2022 are a direct fallout of the pandemic and the changing social and political landscape of the world.

These events have had a profound impact on the way brands communicate with their customers.

But it's also changed how brands present themselves. There has been a great deal of self-reflection over the past 18 months.

Brands are attempting to put their best foot forward in every aspect of their business life.

The visuals that companies adopt will act as a window into their ethos and mission. That's why we're seeing more inclusive visuals and data visualizations.
Return to Table of Contents
Plus, branded memes are likely to remain trendy in the near future.

If you want to see how the graphic design trends of the past few years have changed, scroll down and take a look. We've collected all the research Ryan McCready conducted on trends from 2018 onwards.

7 Graphic Design Trends That Will Dominate 2021

With so many large-scale changes in the world over the past year, brands haven't been able to take many design risks this year. They also have to do a lot more with less this year.

What graphic design trends will dominate in 2021? Check out some of our biggest graphic design trends below.

Graphic Design Trends 2021:

1. Muted Color Palettes

2. Simple Data Visualizations

3. Geometric Shapes Everywhere

4. Flat Icons & Illustrations

5. Classic Serif Fonts

6. Social Slide Decks

7. Text Heavy Videos

Click here to see the 8 Graphic Design Trends from 2020!

1. Muted Color Palettes

Muted color palettes really took over the graphic design world last year, and show no sign of stopping anytime soon.

I try to use them in my graphic design work for Venngage as much as possible:

If you're not really familiar with muted colors, they are basically vivid colors that have had their edge taken off with an infusion of black, white, or a complementary color.

After years of bold and bright colors, people seem to want something a little more relaxed and understated.

Especially with so many negative, confusing and loud messages we have all been receiving over the last year or so.

Muted colors feel safe and secure, even nostalgic.

One brand that used muted colors exceptionally well last year was LinkedIn, and they have continued to do so.

However, unlike last year, the messaging and visuals had to change a bit to fit the current climate.

It has to be difficult to be a networking platform in the middle of record unemployment, with a long economic recovery ahead.

In addition to making a graphic feel more authentic, muted colors also feel very natural and organic.

uses muted colors throughout all of their visuals and it fits their health-conscious brand perfectly:

With health and wellness being a topic on most people's minds, I think that organic muted colors are going to be used by a lot of consumer brands going forward.

Personally, I like using muted color palettes because they blend well with text. It doesn't matter if you use a light font color like below:

Or a darker font-the text really stands out against the muted backgrounds and other elements:

In this template, even the small white text is easy to read because of the muted background color:

Unlike some fast shifting graphic design trends, I have seen that color palettes usually take at least 3 or 4 years to become overused and not trendy.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
So don't be scared to swap your color palette to something more muted like Social Media Examiner has done:

Or better yet, use your brand colors as a jumping off point and create a few secondary color palettes that you can use in your visual content.

2. Simple Data Visualizations

I also think someone should be able to understand a data visualization without much extra context. You really shouldn't have to explain what you're trying to show.

In this example you can clearly see that search volume around health and fitness keywords crashed in April of last year:

But some designers have been chasing style over substance to stand out on social media or Behance.

Or they just overload their readers with way too much data, so the main point is lost in the noise.

Not sure what I'm talking about? Check out this example :

Anyone know what they are trying to convey with this graph? Me neither, and it doesn't help that half the graph is cropped out in the feed.

Twitter Marketing could have used a similar graph to show off their growth, but they use a very easy to consume pie chart:

They also highlighted exactly what they wanted a reader to take away from the graph by calculating the growth percentage.

Comparing this to the previous example, you can almost instantly get value from this data visualization.

Honestly, Twitter Marketing has been doing a lot of this lately and I think it's going to be very popular going forward.

There is a ton of complex data flying around in all parts of our life. As a designer or communicator, you should be making that data less scary and easier to comprehend.
Read More: 14 Visual Content Marketing Statistics to Know for 2020
Lately, people have been dealing with tons of data, so don't make them work to understand your visualizations. Because they won't...they will just keep scrolling.

As much as the simple pie chart gets hated on, it's a pretty handy data visualization. I use them all the time!

With this data visualization you can see that "personal growth" was the most popular achievement:

Bubble charts are also great if you want to make a direct comparison between two things, like below:

These examples may be extremely basic, but they also help people understand the data in seconds. Plus, each of these simple data visualizations work really well with other graphic design trends like muted colors and flat icons.

But sometimes you don't even need to create a graph or chart to visualize your data. Just create graphic with an interesting data point or statistic like this:

It will get your point across a lot clearer and quicker than trying to use a complex visualization. And when you're sharing these visuals on social media, that counts for a lot.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Plus, people will remember that data or piece of information a lot longer if presented in that fashion.

While you're working on a data visualization, try to think about what you want to say with your graphic.

If you want someone to focus on a single data point, the data visualization will be a lot different than one where you compare multiple things.

3. Geometric Shapes Everywhere

One thing that really surprised me this year was that a ton of brands have started using geometric shapes in their designs.

Last year there were a plethora of designers using flowing and abstract shapes in their designs:

But those have been replaced with pretty rigid, hard-edged geometric shapes.

Not that I'm complaining-geometric shapes are a lot easier to create and use!

If you look at some of the other graphic design trends this year, the shift actually makes a lot more sense.

When you use these geometric shapes, like below, it can add order, consistency and structure to a visual:

Zendesk has been using geometric shapes all over their design assets It has almost become a recognizable part of their brand.

While the images they use may not always be consistent in style, they all feel consistent because of the similar geometric shapes.

This is a simple design trick that you can apply to your own design assets. With Venngage, you can use an image frame to make a ton of different photos feel similar. Like so:

Or just use a single background shape to make a bunch of random icons look consistent:

This graphic also blends geometric shapes with a muted color palette as well.

Because geometric shapes are so exact and precise, they create a lot of good contrast when used with a more natural muted color palette:

The right amount of contrast, like between a soft muted color palette and hard geometric shapes, can make a visual very eye-catching.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Last but not least, you can simply use geometric shapes this year to add some texture and depth to your graphics:

Or make them part of the main focal point of your graphic:

As you can see, there are a ton of ways that you can use geometric shapes this year! So get out there and start creating.

4. Flat Icons & Illustrations

Like I said above, graphic design trends are pretty cyclical. After a while, something will go from trendy to overplayed and then back to being trendy again.

After writing about flat icons in the first edition of this article almost 5 years ago, I have seen this trend come full circle.

For example, this is what Mailchimp was using back in 2015:

Which doesn't look too different from some of the other visuals being shared and created almost 5 years later!

This isn't a bad thing-I just wanted to illustrate how design trends come and go.

Now if you're creating a ton of visual content, these flat icons are ideal because they can be adapted for a lot of different graphics like social media visuals, infographics, or presentations.

These flat icons can also be consumed very quickly. For example you can probably guess that the top left image has to deal with fitness and the bottom left with news.

Even if you saw those visuals without any context or text, you could still understand what the designer was trying to say.

The same can be said for this template:

There are a few ways that you can use flat icons this year to upgrade your visuals. One of the easiest is to use a single icon like in these social media visuals from :
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
You can even inject your branding or brand colors into graphics with these flat icons. Just look at what has created lately:

If they would have used a stock image, they wouldn't have had such a consistent visual brand across their site and social media.

But I think the best part of these icons is you can easily change their color, size or orientation. This also makes it easy for non-designers, like myself, to create amazing visuals.

5. Classic Serif Fonts

If you're like me, I think it helps to remember that serif fonts have little embellishments at the top and bottom of letters:

This would obviously mean that sans serif fonts are missing those.

use a variety of serif fonts throughout their designs but I think its most powerful on their landing pages:

Each of these landing pages is targeting a pain point that people running a business may face. I think the serif font helps position Mailchimp as a tool those people can depend on to help them succeed.

They use a simple font to set the tone of their whole site and although they are a huge company now, it feels very authentic.

Ellevest is another great example of this feeling of trust in action, with serif fonts being used across their website and shares:

They specifically help women invest, bank, and improve their financial future, which can be scary for all of us. I know I am terrified even thinking about buying a random stock.

But with a serif font permeating their brand, each social media post and blog post seems trustworthy. It almost brings back memories of classic banks and financial institutions of the past.

Imagine if they would have used a bold or brash font like below:

Would you want to give a company like that your money? Especially in this climate! No chance.

Schools, health departments and other similar organizations will be using a lot of these serif fonts for the exact same reason too:

Like I stated earlier with muted color palettes, brands are trying to seem a lot more genuine and positive going forward.

Some brands are even using serif fonts with muted or neutral color palettes to really drive the point home.

Another design trick is to use serif fonts as headers or in short phrases, like above.

They aren't the easiest on the eyes but, as you can see in this graphic below, they create a lot of great contrast with a sans serif body text.

I think it's because their serif font makes the information and photos feel like they came from a real person, not a bot.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Overall, the app just seems a lot more trustworthy than many other dating apps, in an industry that has been dominated by some unsavory behavior. Just take a look Tinder's branding and shares:

This is a HUGE difference between the two, but they are looking to attract basically the same users.

So when you want to use a new brand font, take the time to think about how it's going to fit into your visual brand.

6. Social Slide Decks

Social slide decks are exactly what they sound like: slide decks that were created to share on social media.

These slide decks are mostly shared on Instagram or LinkedIn because of the way that those platforms handle images. They could work on other platforms but the experience wouldn't be as smooth.

Additionally the algorithms on Instagram and LinkedIn seem to promote these slide decks a lot more than a single image.

If you follow us on LinkedIn you have probably seen some of our social slide decks like so:

These slide decks get about 10-20x more impressions and clicks then a simple visual or graphic.

But recently I have seen a lot of brands do some very interesting things with these slide decks, especially on Instagram!

Zoom has put out a few decks that can help you use their product:

I really like this approach because you can still activate your followers to take an action, without needing a direct link. This slide deck also is a unique way to announce a new product feature too.

Asana used this approach to announce some new data that they collected:

They also used very simple data visualizations to make the information easy to understand without much context!

The design pros at Typetopia create a ton of these informational slide decks as well. I am a big fan of their approach because they are basically just infographics that have been repurposed for Instagram:

Brands like Quickbooks are able to pack a ton of information into each slide deck, without just listing it all on a single slide as well.

You can also combine static images with videos and more on Instagram to create a more engaging experience for your audience.

In this example from Lululemon, they use the second and third slide to give the follower more context about the simple video.

If you are a frequent Instagram user, you probably have seen people sharing these slide decks to share messages around social justice, mental health and voting.

That's where I really first noticed these slide decks taking off. Mainly because these decks are so easy to create. They can engage your audience in a new way and are very easy to share.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Plus, the chances of people reading your whole slide deck on Instagram is pretty high, especially when compared to the caption.

But not every slide deck has to be serious-some can just be a fun way to engage with your followers. Like so:

So no matter what your goal or industry, I think your brand could take advantage of these social slide decks in 2021.

7. Text Heavy Videos

As people will likely continue to work remotely well into 2021, shooting new video content is going to be very difficult.

You can't really jump over to your video room and shoot a quick video with your team anymore. Or even hire a freelancer very easily.

At some point, people are going to get tired of seeing someone talk directly to their computer.

I know I am, especially because I already have all my meetings like that.

So I really believe that video content is going to lean on text and motion graphics a lot more this year. Kinda like this example:

How important is #branding for a company? This Friday, our last session of #ReimagineWithWrike features Dimitrios Papadogonas, VP of Marketing NA at @SolarEdgePV. He'll share some insightful stories on his experiences as a veteran in the industry. Join us! https://t.co/krAgYhKhpK pic.twitter.com/ev1yTA36FY

- Wrike (@wrike) August 25, 2020

Slack has been using very text heavy videos all across their social media accounts lately. They range from very simple announcements like below:

Something about an agenda just makes it feel real. 💫 Check out the personalized sessions that'll take place at #SlackFrontiers 2020. The agenda's now live on the site! https://t.co/Ir9mvlFnkZ pic.twitter.com/OgSfBc4fUL

- Slack (@SlackHQ) August 20, 2020

To a bit more complicated collection of content from their users:

You're doing great, and we want to hear about it! Share your team's remote-work success story and help create opportunity with @YearUp. For every tweet that includes both @SlackHQ and #WhenRemoteWorks, we'll donate $5, up to $200,000. Drop those stories ⬇️ https://t.co/f6dhz3u0zj pic.twitter.com/QUXYTEmXWO

- Slack (@SlackHQ) August 28, 2020

And even full product explainer videos:

Not one of those videos needed video footage to be shot, which means they can turn them around a lot quicker as well.

Instead of needing a whole production team to create a video, they can have a few people knock an idea out in a few days.

Here is another great example of using text heavy videos from Quickbooks:

Time is money and QuickBooks Cash keeps both moving for small businesses. With same-day money in and out processing, you can access and move your money faster.

- Intuit QuickBooks (@QuickBooks) August 6, 2020

I like how they get right to the point with this video, which is super important on social media.

Additionally, you don't have to have the sound on to get the message, so even a passive viewer will get value from a video like this.

Now if I'm being honest, not every brand is going to have the bandwidth or expertise to create new content like that.

But you don't really even need to create new content for your videos this year. Just repurpose things from other formats like a podcast or interview:

You can turn a slide deck, like from the previous section, directly into a video or GIF like we have done this many times at Venngage:

Amidst a global pandemic, carbon emissions are dropping but medical waste is rising steeply.

For the 50th anniversary of #EarthDay last month, we put together a study + infographic on the full impact of #coronavirus on the #environment: https://t.co/PXXPgdsYjmpic.twitter.com/aPKO5pBwWE

- Venngage (@Venngage) May 26, 2020

I like doing this because you can get around the random cropping on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook by sharing a video instead of a static image. Plus, it's much more engaging than a blog header or stock photo.

You can even outsource your work and use user generated content, to create a video:

A place to connect, create and communicate. Take a look at how doing business on LinkedIn has helped these marketers succeed.

- LinkedIn Marketing (@LinkedInMktg) July 27, 2020

As you can see these simple videos can help you repurpose a lot of content for different platforms and networks.

Even if your company is cutting down on content creation, you can really give old content new life with a simple video or slide deck.

Conclusion

As you can see, this year the graphic design trends are not going to be changing THAT much.

In fact, minimalism and simple graphics are probably going to be very popular as brands try to stretch their budgets.
Return to 2021 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
If you think we missed something, reach out to me on Twitter @RyanMcCready1.

Now if you want to compare the trends to some in the past years, just scroll down!

We have collected all of the past graphic design trends below.

8 Graphic Design Trends for 2020

Design styles that were very unique just a few years ago have become just another common tactic used by massive corporations.

So to stay ahead of the curve, be sure to check out the 8 Graphic Design Trends for 2020 and beyond below!

The biggest graphic design trends of 2020 are:

1. Muted Color Palettes

Muted colors have been slightly desaturated with black, white or a complementary color. They are basically the opposite of vivid colors.

Presidential candidate and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg even selected muted colors for all of his campaign and branding:

Now don't worry, the design world isn't going to get less colorful this year. The colors might just be a little more reserved across the board.

I like to think of muted colors as vivid colors that have had their "edge" taken off with an infusion of black or white. The chart below is a good example of both light and dark muted colors actually:

When you're working with a white background, try to use lighter muted colors and vice versa for black backgrounds. This will ensure that the colors blend well, instead of introducing a lot of harsh contrast.

Additionally, you can use a muted background color to make simple text or content a lot easier to read.

You can even use a muted font color palette to tie the whole graphic together:

There's no shortage of color in any of these graphics. The main colors just don't dominate the graphics like some of the trendy colors of the past.

After years of loud color palettes, these muted colors can be used by brands to signal a move towards the future.

For example, the vivid colors previously used by Apple in their marketing, and even the new iPhone colors, have been replaced by more muted tones.

As you can see, these muted colors make the product feel a lot more modern and current. The Apple Card gradient, which would normally feature loud or bright colors like with Apple Music, actually uses muted colors too!
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
And like last year, once Apple starts doing something, the design world follows.

One final thing that I want to touch on in this section is that muted colors can make your designs feel a lot more natural. And trendy lifestyle brands are taking notice. From the fitness innovators at Classpass:

And Zume, which is trying to eliminate food waste on a global scale:

2. Color Gradients

For the third year in a row, gradients are going to be a major trend in the graphic design world.

The staying popularity of gradients was one of the biggest surprises that I ran into while researching this piece. Honestly, after their nostalgic comeback tour, I thought the world would move on to something new.

But each year it seems like designers keep finding new ways to use gradients in their designs.

The year 2020 is no different. Starting a few years ago, gradients were mainly used as eye-catching backgrounds, like in this example from INC:

Then last year gradients became the focal points of a lot of graphics:

Now as the novelty starts to wear off, I believe that gradients are going to be used as one of the standard elements of graphic design.

I know that sounds like it might be a negative statement, but it isn't! Instead of being thrown away as another passing fad, gradients are finding a life throughout the design world.

For example, Grammarly used gradients instead of flat colors in their social media graphics:

The designers at Trello uses them to accentuate their blog headers and social graphics too:

Instead of being the main focal point of these designs, the gradients are just one of those elements of graphic design that elevates the graphic.

Gradients can be used to add some depth to complex illustrations, like below:

With simple gradients, there's a dream-like quality added to these illustrations.

Gradients are used a little more subtly in these Twitter illustrations below, but I still think that they add a lot of depth and texture to the illustrations:

As brands continue to use these types of illustrations, gradients will replace the flat colors in an attempt to further differentiate themselves from other companies.

I truly believe that if it would have been released last year, the gradient would be a lot more vivid and colorful. But as you can see, the card feels a lot more professional, modern, and reserved by avoiding those loud colors.
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
The muted gradients in the example below invoke a similar feeling:

The color palette also blends well with the black background and fonts, like we saw in the first trend.

So as you can see gradients show no sign of slowing down, but the way you use them in 2020 has to be a lot more innovative than in previous years.

3. Abstract & Dreamy Illustrations

The illustrations that Mailchimp adopted last year probably led the rapid rise in popularity of these types of illustrations:

As first movers, these illustrations were great because your brand would be the only one using them. They also would stand out against a sea of stock photos and low effort graphics.

However, as more brands started embracing simple illustrations, the uniqueness and effectiveness of the graphics have kinda worn off.

I think that your illustrations need to get a little more imaginative, abstract, and even dreamy to really stand out in 2020.
Check out some of the unique illustrations has been using lately:

Skillshare also took this abstract approach across their blog images:

Because your brand is producing these illustrations, they can be extremely specific to your topic or idea as well. No more using boring stock photos in articles or on social media!

It seems some brands decided to take it up a notch on the uniqueness scale this year. As you can clearly see in this example for Dropbox's monthly playlists:

These examples are literally one of a kind, and you can tell that the designers wanted to create something special. Also, look at how well they used a muted color palette across all the graphics!

Although these graphics are very creative, you still can pick up on their message quickly.

I think that's an important thing to remember when working on abstract graphics like this. Try to make sure that your audience can interpret what you are trying to say, especially if it's being used in a business or marketing capacity.

Apple stores seem to have taken their illustration game to a whole new level of abstract this year:

I have to say that it's a nice change of pace, for a company that has always embraced minimalist designs. Although, as you can see, this type of graphic really pops when presented along the clean lines of an Apple store.

But I think my favorite part of this shift to the more absurd is the exaggerated and abstract illustrated people. Like these dreamy examples:

This designer even uses gradients to add texture and depth to their abstract masterpieces:
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
This seems to be another way that designers are moving away from simple and realistic illustrations, as they attempt to stand above the noise.

But, ever the innovators, Slack has a used simple hack to get around this by just adding their brandmark to the bottom of each.

Now when anyone sees these images, they know it came from Slack! A simple hashtag can be used to make sure your message or branding is crystal clear as well:

4. Heavy But Simple Fonts

Over the past few years, I have been seeing minimalist and handwritten fonts lose a lot of their popularity. Especially with large brands.

This shouldn't be a huge surprise to people who have been paying attention to the design world lately.

Last year I predicted that bold brand fonts , like in the ad below, would be very popular going forward. Especially as the design world continues to buck some of the previous graphic design trends.

But this year things are getting bolder, with heavily weighted fonts being used a lot more frequently.

There are a ton of weights for fonts, ranging from thin to regular to bold, with a few steps in between each as well.

Heavy fonts are usually a bold or extra bold font-which gives them a "heavy" appearance. These types of fonts can give your designs a modern and contemporary feel.

For example, take a look at the header font in the infographic below:

The strong modern fonts contrast with the cute dog pictures. I do think that contrast is what makes this graphic so interesting and powerful.

They also used a lot of reserved and muted colors as you can see above.

Try to only use these heavy fonts when you only have a short bit of text or as a header, like above. Otherwise, it will make your graphic pretty hard on the eyes of the reader.

See how Chainalysis uses the bold font only for their header, and then a regular font for the paragraph text:

SMLXL only uses their extra heavy font for short phrases or ideas:

This measured use of bold text not only directs the reader to where they should look first, it also doesn't overwhelm them with heavy fonts.

They can also become the main focal points of a graphic as well. Especially on social media, where you want to get your message across quickly and efficiently.

In these examples from Hootsuite, there isn't much to the graphic, but the bold font still catches your eye:

Usually, the font or title of a social media image like this isn't the main focal point of a graphic. But in these examples, they are the star of the show.

If the designers would have gone with a thin or light font, readers probably would have scrolled right past it.

As you can see, these heavy fonts can make short phrases feel a lot more powerful. In each of the examples above, the small bit of text feels large and impressive. With another type of font, the feeling wouldn't be the same at all.

You can match the heavy fonts with a powerful or inspiring message for double the impact:
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Now, I know that most of the examples above have all been sans-serif but not all heavy fonts have to be. It just happens to be a lot easier to increase the weight of a sans-serif font because of the, well, lack of serifs.

That said, the team at Acoustic have used some amazing heavy serif fonts in their graphics lately:

Just remember, when using any kind of heavy or bold font, don't overuse it. A heavy font will have more impact when contrasted against a more neutral background.

5. Beautiful Flowing Shapes & Lines

Designers are going to continue to push the envelope in 2020, rejecting overly geometric, proper, and rigid shapes that were once so popular. These will be replaced by more flowing shapes, patterns, and lines, like below:

I think this shift has accompanied the abstract illustrations and muted color palettes that brands are embracing this year too.

As I noted above, muted color palettes feel a lot more natural. Flowing shapes can be used to convey the same feeling. Especially because there are not many right angles or perfect shapes found in nature.

A designer can use flowing shapes and lines to make their graphics seem down to earth, creative, and authentic.

For example, HubSpot, a big company with over a thousand employees, has been using a lot of flowing shapes lately:

This plays well off of other big enterprise companies that seem to use more professional and rigid graphics.

The design assets for their conference, Inbound19, was basically taken over by these flowing shapes too:

Plus, I'm guessing after the tens of thousands of marketers who attended the conference saw the beauty of these flowing shapes, their popularity is going to continue to grow.

As you can see in the example above, heavy and geometric fonts pair extremely well with these flowing lines and shapes because of the contrast. Not sure what I'm talking about?

Check out the contrast between the header of this page, and the flowing pattern on the right:

The header basically jumps off of the screen. The same thing can be said about the font used example below:
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
The hard angles of the font stand out against the flowing shapes and really grab your attention. Even when the background color changes, the content is still very easy to read.

These flowing shapes look amazing on the high definition screens that so many of us are glued to:

Actually, that might be the biggest driving force that has brought these flowing shapes and lines to the masses.

6. Genuine, Subdued, & Neutral Stock Photos

A few years ago, bright, bold and colorful stock images become extremely popular. Designers were cranking up the saturation or boosting colors, and the photos didn't even look real.

But once color trends start to shift, stock photo trends are pretty quick to follow.

For example, these photos really look like something that your trendy friend might have posted on Instagram:

The photographers that took the example photos might have even toned down the colors to make them work well with a muted color palette.

Like I have stated a few times in this article, muted color palettes make graphics seem more natural and authentic.

Because the past is always seen with rose-colored glasses, I'm pretty confident that you can tap into the positive nostalgic feelings of your audience with photos like this.

Speaking of the past, last year I recognized that stock photos that feature people need to be a lot more authentic, almost candid, to succeed. That trend continues this year, with a bigger focus on neutral color palettes across the board.

This combination of straightforward compositions and muted colors will make the photos feel even more genuine.

I mean, the bottom-left photo looks like you snapped your very fashionable friends just hanging out.

This shift continues to push back against the overly edited, posed, and produced stock photos that some companies still use.

Why do they still use these? I have no idea. Especially when you can find some of these winners in just a few clicks:
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
I know "genuine stock photos" might seem like an oxymoron. Especially because the point of most stock photos is to be ambiguous enough to be used in a bunch of different situations.

But if you know what to look for and follow some of the tips above, you can find a super authentic stock photo in no time.

Plus, you can find these great examples and millions of more stock photos for FREE on Venngage.

7. Minimalist Landing Pages

Most of the other trends in this article have been reactions to popular design trends of the past. With muted colors becoming popular after vivid colors dominated, and abstract illustrations replacing the realistic icons.

However, I think that the shift to somewhat minimalist designs and homepages has also been driven by the need for better load times and smaller page sizes.

If you weren't aware, Google rewards pages that load fast with better spots in the search rankings. This can be a huge deal for a lot of SEO-focused companies!

used a similar layout, embracing muted colors, heavy fonts, and abstract illustrations as well:

With a flat background and modular design, these homepages can easily be used for mobile or desktop users too. Sometimes, when a company uses a large photo, video, or illustration, that shift isn't as seamless as it should be.

That's another positive aspect of these minimalist pages, they a lot easier to navigate for the user. Instead of distracting elements, the messaging or information stands out instantly.

It's hard not to immediately be drawn to and click on the main purple button. And that's the point!

That said, you don't have to avoid using an image, video, or graphic. Just make sure the rest of your page is easy to navigate and the image, like below, is actually optimized.

If you were curious, that GIF in the example above was around 100KB, which is TINY in the grand scheme of things.

One final thing I really like about some of these minimalist landing pages is that they make things easy for new and returning users. Just check out how easy it is to sign in to your account below:
Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
It's literally one of the first things you see on the homepage! Now if you don't have an account you can quickly sign up for the service as well.

Little user-experience decisions like this can really help push your visitors in the right direction and convert them into long-time users.

So just remember that in 2020, sometimes a picture is not worth a thousand words. Especially if that picture increases page load time.

8. Better Branded Animations

I think it's safe to say that reaction GIFs are used so frequently, they have just become part of the way we communicate.

But because they are used so much, these types of GIFs have lost some of their original punch.

Some of the most popular ones really just fade into the noise of social media, instead of sticking out like they used to.

Now, I'm not saying you should stop using these types of GIFs...just don't use them exclusively in 2020.

It's pretty easy to create your own branded GIFs, even if you don't have a designer on staff. These branded GIFs will have a much bigger impact on your audience, especially in the digital world and on social media.

The GIF below from Revolut could have been a reaction GIF from Friends or The Office:

We just reached 7 million customers! How about that for some #MondayMotivation? A huge thank you to all of our customers, old and new for believing in us.💙 pic.twitter.com/A3IUnkmq9P

- Revolut (@RevolutApp) September 2, 2019

But to celebrate hitting 7 million customers they created a pretty unique GIF featuring their mascot.

MeetEdgar took a similar approach when talking about a giveaway for their users:

Again, I bet I could find both reaction GIFs to replace both of these in a few seconds. But those don't have the same impact as something that is unique to your brand or design team.

You can even mix some of the other graphic design trends into your GIF, as did below:

Bitcoin - it's just like us pic.twitter.com/Cs0JM07WJf

- Cash App (@CashApp) September 25, 2019

This may be the most absurdly unique GIF I have seen in a while, in a good way. That said, it fits their overall brand extremely well. They seem to lean into the weird.

These would make you stop scrolling or want to learn more about what each was trying to say. And that's the whole point of a lot of GIFs.

I would recommend taking the time to create more branded GIFs this year. Because honestly, the reaction GIFs are about as eye-catching as a stock photo now.

Congratulations! You made it through the latest installment of our graphic design trends series. With this knowledge, you're ready to take on the world in 2020. I guarantee it.

One of the best things about the trends this year is that all of them work together pretty well. You can easily add a muted color to your flowing graphic, all without throwing off the vibe.

The muted color palettes blend well with the new crop of genuine and authentic stock photos.
Click here to jump back to the biggest graphic design trends in 2018 Or click here to jump back to the biggest graphic design trends in 2017 If you liked this post, why not check out our top marketing trends for 2020? Return to 2020 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
A heavy font can even be used sparingly on an abstract illustration, and without distracting from the design.

As you find different ways to combine these 8 trends, I think you will be able to create something truly unique this year.

Now that you have seen what will dominate graphic design trends in 2020, why don't you take a look at the trends that were popular in 2019!

8 Biggest Graphic Design Trends of 2019

Last year was all about taking risks in graphic design.
Click here to jump back to the biggest graphic design trends in 2018 Or click here to jump back to the biggest graphic design trends in 2017
But most of the graphic design trends I predicted last year have become mainstream. With brands like Apple, Google and other tech giants embracing bold and unique designs trends.

So you're going to need to take it up an extra notch, or three, to be seen and heard in 2019. That means more vivid colors palettes, bold fonts, and futuristic patterns.

Luckily, this guide will help you stay ahead of the curve.

1. Pops of Vivid Colors

You may have noticed the world of design feels a little more colorful lately. You would be right.

Splashes of electric yellows, bright corals and vivid blues are replacing the reserved colors of the past. More brands and designers are adding vivid colors to their palettes for 2019 and beyond.

I love it-more color is always a plus in my books!

Or literally any of the colors used in this beautiful annual report:

I believe that this shift towards more vivid colors is a continuation of the rejection of bland minimalist designs and colors of the early 2010's. Also, as brands proceed to fight for our attention, they must take bigger design risks.

Last year was dominated by bold colors, this year very vivid and bright will reign supreme.

As you can see, they used a bunch of vivid color palettes to announce the new iPad Pro...and it was a hit!

We have already seen vivid colors start making their way into other Apple graphics as well:

But I think this year these vivid colors will become part of their core creative and brand strategy. Plus these colors just look amazing on their, and other brands, ultra HD device screens.

is another big brand that is usually ahead of the most popular trends, and this year is no different. Bright, vivid colors have made their way into their marketing material:
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
And on their wildly popular app:

We saw Spotify embrace gradients, bold colors, and flat design before it was fashionable, and I see bright colors taking the same path.

It's like the two trendy color palettes of the past few years teamed up to create something very unique.

2. Strong Typographic Focal Points

Over the past few years, we have seen bold fonts and typefaces become the norm.

This bold font makes it easy to read the text on social media feeds and on mobile devices. As well as instantly projecting strength, innovation, and individuality.

However, as you can see in all of these examples, the bold font is often the supporting partner to the other elements of graphic design.

But this year the bold font will become the main focal point in a lot of graphics. Especially if your graphic only has a few seconds to grab the reader's attention.

Each of the font-heavy posters stands out like a beacon, compared to the other futuristic-looking posters. Even if you knew nothing about the conference or company it would pique your interest.

This bold font was used throughout the rest of their conference material and it helps project a daring and confident message.

All of this was achieved with a single bold font, and no supporting images.

This bold font just screams strength. It's extremely fitting for an athletic display. Plus those posters will definitely stand out on the busy streets of NYC.

If you're looking for something a little more colorful, check out the bold font used on this d esign project from CalArts :

It dominates the graphics but fits extremely well with the vivid color palette. Could you imagine a minimalistic font having the same effect? I think not!

This example is begging you to read more. It could even catch your eye from across a crowded room.
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
I do think it's important to point out that I'm not advocating only using text-heavy graphics. There should be some other interesting elements of graphic design included, like in this gradient-filled festival flyer:

The main header and font of each example definitely grab your attention, but the other elements could be what catch your eye first.

So don't forget to include some of these interesting elements, even if you want the text to be your central focal point! The harmony between all of those elements could really make or break your designs in 2019.

3. Futuristic Influences Are Mainstream

I guess since we are technically living in the future that so many 80's films predicted, it's time for our designs to reflect that.

This means a lot of futuristic patterns, colors and ideas are about to dominate the design world for the next few years.

We do have most of the futuristic devices they predicted in our pocket each day. So you might as well take advantage of that tech with your design work!

I believe that this approach will help brands create unique content that will stand above the noise on social media.

They could have taken the boring route that so many brands take and just refresh their typeface or logo. But they have let the futuristic patterns, textures, and colors define their branding across all of their content.

Additionally, I don't think it's a coincidence that the rise of vivid colors matches up almost perfectly with the explosion of futuristic influences. They both have been used recently to stand out from the noise created by other brands.

When futuristic designs and vivid colors are used together, they can create something really cool. For example, these album covers from the europe.collective project looks like they were ripped from a futuristic record store:

Honestly, these are works of art and are likely to stick in someone's mind a lot longer than some of the other album covers I have seen.
Gradients and other color transitions Holographic and reflective elements: Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents :
Plus these futuristic examples will look amazing on your iPhone, Android or Mac screen. Or on the side of a building, like with this innovative event poster example:

With futuristic designs, you can take a lot of risks and let your creativity run wild.

Let's break down some of the common elements of these futuristic designs:

...and more! But since we don't know what the future holds, there's no right way to do it! So get out there and create something that looks like it was ripped straight out of your favorite science fiction movie.

4. Light and Dark Color Schemes

You may have noticed that some of the largest companies are adding light and dark modes to their apps. Or embracing light and dark color schemes across different devices and avenues.

You may be asking why I'm highlighting these companies now. I do like talking about tech companies but that's not the reason.

Instead, I wanted to point out that the biggest brands in the world of tech are embracing this dual-colored app design trend. So it's pretty easy to see the graphic design world wholeheartedly adopting it this year.

These apps use different modes to make the apps more useful for the user depending on the situation. You can use this same flexible technique in your design work to instantly adapt to many mediums or screens.

Like I said above this dual color scheme makes the poster a lot more flexible. If you need to hang it up on a dark wall, the white colored poster is perfect.

But it also won't stand out if you need to place a poster on a blank office wall, which is where the black color scheme saves the day.

With this kind of technique, you're not putting all your eggs into one basket. Saving you from a ton of wasted time and effort.
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
The light one could catch the eye of some people, but the dark one could do the same thing for another group.

The change between light and dark graphics can be quite subtle. For example, in these graphics they only really change the borders from light to darker colors:

It may seem like a lot of work to create multiple versions of your design but with Venngage's My Brand Kit, you can switch between color palettes with a single click.

You can also import your brand colors, fonts and logos into your Brand Kit. Then you can automatically apply them directly to your designs or presentation templates. Like so:

You already have a battle-tested palette of colors that your audience recognizes. So why not use them!

5. Complex Gradients and Duotones

Gradients are one of my favorite things to add to any design project to give it a little more depth. Plus, like some of the other rising graphic design trends, they look incredible on mobile devices.

With their vivid colors and futuristic patterns, they feel right at home with some of the other graphic design trends of 2019.

However, I think this is the year the gradient grows up and is used in more ways than just a simple background. Just like any new trend, people are going to find unique ways to use it as time progresses.

Source

Overall it's a simple way to differentiate from the competition that even the most novice designers can emulate.

After seeing the rise of gradients last year, we added the gradient backgrounds to Venngage. Apply them to your designs in a single click:

In these examples, the gradients are the main focal point and dominate the graphics. In the past, they would have of being pushed to the background and only played a secondary role to another element.

This approach takes a little more skill to master, but definitely will stand out:
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
And if gradients were used to advertise, say, a conference on the future of design, I think it's safe to say they are here to stay.

These slides are literally called "Future Proof " and feel like they were pulled straight from an episode of Star Trek or Blade Runner. I could honestly look at them all day, or make them the background of my laptop. Actually, maybe I will!

Duotones are another design tactic that fits extremely well with the other design trends. Most graphics that use duotones feel very futuristic and colorful, almost by definition.

I like duotones because you can make almost any image match your company branding. And as you probably know, keeping things consistent is extremely important in the design world.

Additionally, like gradients, they really pop when used on a white background, social media or a mobile phone.

6. New "Colorful Minimalism"

I think it's pretty common misconception that minimalist designs only used black text and white backgrounds. Or another combination of the two.

But minimalism is actually about paring down design to only the necessary components. It's seen as the rejection of complicated and cluttered ideas.

Many people have interpreted that as using only muted and neutral color palettes. Especially after the main tech giants used it for about a decade in their marketing.

A lot of the graphic design trends I have witnessed over the past few years have been a reaction to that kind of minimalism. From the explosion of hand-drawn graphics, bold color schemes, and abstract patterns. Each of those trends is the opposite of what minimalism is at its core.

Despite that, this year, some of those more complex graphic design trends are going to mix with traditional minimalism to create a new type of minimalism. One that is dominated by color and creativity, instead of blandness and conformity.

Each poster is traditionally minimalist, with not a lot of flair or unneeded elements. And without the vibrant gradients, it's just another boring poster.

But this simple color addition makes it very eye-catching, without abandoning the main tenets of minimalism. It masterfully walks the fine line between too dull and too complex.

Just be sure that they don't dominate the graphic, and instead are used in a supporting role to other elements.
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
In each of the graphics, both a futuristic pattern and color are used to up add a little something extra to the brand mark. Without those elements, I think this would just be another boring logo.

It honestly looks like they were able to combine almost all of the graphic design trends we have talked about so far with the minimalist ideals. We've got a bold font dominating a few graphics, a gradient peeking through and even a futuristic pattern making an appearance.

Now if you don't want to go the color gradient route, you can still inject some color into your designs. In this presentation template example, they use only three colors to build an interesting visua l :

The slides use exactly the same layout throughout the whole presentation, only swapping the colors on each. This minimalist approach keeps the presentation cohesive and eye-catching, all without being too complex.

The designer used exactly what they needed to get their points across, no more and no less. And at its core, that's what minimalism is all about.

7. Dynamic and Complicated Hand-Drawn Illustrations

Custom or hand-drawn illustrations are an excellent way to make your visual content stand out. And stand above all the other brands that take the easy way out.

That's because no other brand is going to be able to exactly replicate these visuals. Competitors can copy your color scheme, your social media strategy and the stock photos you use.

Plus, in the quest for a strong brand, unique content such as this is extremely valuable.

That's why I believe that hand-drawn graphics and illustration will continue to be a graphic design trend this year.

However, like some of the other graphic design trends we saw roll over to this year, things are about to get a bit more complicated.

This year that's not going to cut it! Because everyone else picked up on the simple sketch trend, it's not unique anymore.

Like I said above, you're going to have to take it to the next level with your hand-drawn illustrations and visuals.

Mailchimp , among others, has risen to this challenge and blown the doors off of it with their custom illustrations.

These illustrations were added to literally every page of their website, and all social media accounts. And I kinda love it.

Additionally, they used these custom illustrations to help inspire their customers to be themselves and embrace simplicity...as well as reject the overly polished company image that they see online every day.

Their designers have always been known to take big risks, and this one seems to have paid off. It was talked about by every designer and marketer for weeks after the rebrand was unveiled.

But this year they invested in some more dynamic illustrations across their social media accounts:

I like that these illustrations look like they were all created by the same designer, which is very difficult sometimes. Especially when they have a whole team of designers working on one project.
Return to 2019 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
This method makes each share or email from them look like it came from a single voice, that their readers can easily recognize.

In this noisy world that we all live in, that can be a huge benefit. Also, it's nice to see them using some very vivid colors in their designs!

At Venngage we got the memo as well when we created this fun Halloween infographic:

One of our designers created each of the illustrations from scratch, and it makes me smile each time. There are a ton of similar Halloween infographics in the world, but ours is incredibly remarkable because of the custom illustrations.

They actually were one of the first companies that I noticed creating these works of art. And they have been creating amazing illustrations for their content ever since!

8. Authentic and Genuine Stock Photos

As you have probably noticed many brands are creating some very creative designs to seem more genuine. Or to make them feel more authentic, instead of a faceless corporation.

This push into the more real and genuine will be seen in the type of stock photos they use this year as well.

I feel that a lot of stock photos have become too professional, polished and vague. In their quest to reach as many people as possible, these photographers choose a safe subject.

Overly edited photos are also out this year, readers really want more genuine and authentic-looking photos of people. The viewer should be able to see themselves reflected in the photo.

These new stock photos look like they were taken with someone's personal camera or phone. Kinda like the examples of people below:

These examples honestly look like they were taken by a bunch of friends hanging out, not by a professional.

The same thing can be said about these photos as well! In each of these free stock photos, the colors look real and not like it was overly edited:

Almost like something you would see in your Instagram feed from your cousin that travels too much.

And I was able to find those examples relatively easy, so it baffles me when brands all use the same generic photo.

As a reader, this photo tells me nothing about your content because it's so general!

Instead, shoot for photos that help you tell a visual story and add to the narrative. Instead of just filling an open space on your blog or social media feed!

For instance, compared to the example above, these photos would work much better in a tech-focused blog article:

Like I said previously, these photos depict a real scene that you could put yourself into. And they feel like they were snapped in the moment.

Not meticulously planned like some of the examples below:

Ugh, that fist bump photo makes me cringe a little bit.

Now in my experience, the laziest content creators love the generic and overtly planned stock photos. Ones that took them a few seconds to find, and have already been used by millions of people.
Return to Table of Contents
I hate those kinds of stock photos.

I mean, if you can't take the time to create or find a better stock image, why should I take my time to read it? I think many of you will agree with that statement.

So in 2019 don't be one of those creators, instead strive to be more weird, unique and genuine with your visuals!

And best of all, you can find these great examples and millions of more stock photos for FREE on Venngage now:

Now that you have seen what will dominate graphic design trends in 2019, why don't you take a look at the trends that were popular in 2018!

The biggest graphic design trends for 2018:

1. Multiple brand color schemes

Traditionally, companies have a few colors that they use across all of their branding and design work. This helps people recognize them out in the world, on social media and other places online.

But I think this design "tradition" is going to be completely upended as brands look for more ways to stand out in 2018 and beyond.

In fact, companies rebranding with a plethora of colors schemes is one of the first graphic design trends that I see really taking off.

Spotify started doing this a few years ago in all facets of their design but they were one of only a few.

Now they have such a strong visual brand that I know something came from Spotify almost instantly.

Dropbox also decided to completely ditch their old color palette in 2017 to help update their brand and reach.

Usually, a rebranding effort updates the font or graphic of a company logo, but this one was completely different.

Instead of changing their logo design, which everyone already knew, they added a ton of new official brand colors to use with it.

They built this new branding to show that great things can happen when diverse minds work together. And I hate to say it because some people were not big fans, but I kinda love the rebrand.

They already had a logo that everyone knew, but now they have a ton of new ways to use it. When you are a massive company like Dropbox that needs to appeal to almost every industry, this kind of flexibility is ideal.

I also think that this change really reflects their growth as a company from a free place to store your school paper, to something that connects the creatives of the world.

Just take a look at how they evolved their social media presence from last year:

To this year with the rebrand:

It's almost like night and day. Who would have thought that breaking design conventions would have allowed for so much creative freedom?

However, I do think that this kind of rebrand can only work with a company that is as big and recognizable as Dropbox.

If we want to compare the two rebrands, I think that eBay would win. That isn't because I was not impressed by Dropbox's efforts, I just think that it fits eBay's core business and products better.
Return to 2018 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
Plus, they are using the rebrand across all parts of their platform.

The designers at eBay have used the color upgrade to unify millions of products across their site.

They may not all share the same colors, but they have the same feel. Even though it's a mix of pastels and bold colors, the site still looks incredibly clean.

Additionally, they have found a way to inject color into a place that is usually boring and bland: the background.

This subtle boost of color makes almost everything they share on social media stand out from the rest. Are you seriously going to be able to scroll past this pastel mixer?

2. Color gradients are making a comeback

Whenever I think of color transitions and gradients, I can't help but remember the bad word art from Microsoft Word over the past 20ish years.

As kids, we thought this was the best way to make your report on dinosaurs look professional. And I think that we were on to something back then.

Because in 2018 color gradients will be literally everywhere, from web design to Twitter headers, and even presentations. Instagram, always ahead of the curve, has used it in their branding and logos for the past few years, actually:

Now the rest of the world is starting to catch up.

This is a common way for sites to keep a simple background, and add a few flourishes. Otherwise, you're stuck with a pretty boring single-colored background.

What I haven't seen much of is gradients being used in every piece of visual content, like Mixpanel did:
Return to 2018 Graphic Design Trends Return to Table of Contents
This wholehearted adoption of color gradients gives the company a lot of creative freedom, without straying too far from their brand. Because in this case, multiple color gradients is their branding.

The graphs and charts are by far my favorite use of color gradients. It adds that little something extra and helps them stand out from the noise. These principles are similar to website design must-haves.

Polaroid , with a more subtle gradient:

It adds so much extra power to the image.

All this with a simple gradient, a design trick the internet loves to hate. But as we've seen in these examples, they are a great way to add a little bit of eye-catching color to your design. Plus, they can help improve any image or stock photo.

3. Better branded social media images

Last year I talked a little bit about using more authentic photos in all parts of your design and marketing strategies. This year, I really want you to focus on extending that trend to your social shares as well.

Readers and consumers use social media to distract themselves from what is happening in their life.

They don't want to see a tenuously relevant stock photo that you picked in two seconds for the sake of having an image. That shows readers that the person who produced the content didn't care enough about their work to find an impactful image.

If the person who created the content doesn't care, why should you?

For example, if you were scrolling through your Twitter feed, would you click on the tweet that used this image?

Now, technically either would work for the same tweet, but the one from Cubeit is the clear winner. By a mile.

How do I know this? Because that image made me stop in my furious scrolling tracks and want to read the article.

I must sound like a broken record by now because of how often I talk about not using bad stock images in your design work. But I also believe that this is one of the easiest ways for your brand to stand out on social media.

The image will be the first thing the readers are going to see on social media, and maybe then they'll read the text.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Graphic Design Trends that Will Dominate 2023 - Venngage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ready to learn which design innovations will dominate? Find out what graphic design trends 2023 has in store here...