Graphic Design Trends that will be Big in 2019
The new year is upon us and it’s time to look at some of the biggest trends in graphic design. As a designer, keeping up with trends is a must! Knowing what to offer clients so they will love you is all based on trends. If they’ve seen something used by their favourite brand and then you offer them a similar style, they will love it.
From the looks of it, 2019 is gearing up to be a year full of irony and contradictions. Bold colours are still in, just as a new moody and vintage feel is making waves. It’s a year where tons of brands will be incorporating made-to-order illustrations after the trend blew up in 2018. At the same time, photography is leaning more towards the natural and unstaged while adding a tinge of storytelling with colours and atmosphere.
We’ve chosen 6 of the biggest graphic design trends for 2019.
Branded Illustration
The use of illustration in graphic design and branding is not a new phenomenon but it has been growing steadily in the last few years. What we have seen as a huge progression in the world of illustration is branded illustration. Brands are hiring illustrators to create an illustrative style that is only for them. Not a set of stock illustration which anyone can use.
The style of the illustration has mostly been bold, colourful and with a mid-century modern style. As the year goes on, we are sure to see other styles of branded illustration so keep your eyes peeled. You will see this in digital design, websites, packaging, and fashion.
It’s important to note that this style of illustration is done in vector, It’s not a hand-drawn style. Even hand-drawn illustration styles are done in vector. If you aren’t an illustrator, it’s time to learn!
Three-Dimensionality / 3D
The use of 3D is gaining more attention this year. Already a common part of animations, three-dimensionality is making its way into different fields. We are seeing a rise in 3D fonts, 3D compositions, and graphic posters. The difference between a classic 3D animation and what we are seeing now is a deviation from natural three-dimensionality. The compositions are timeless, futuristic, poppy, vibrant, naturally impossible, and in some cases almost tactile.
This is a trend we will be seeing lots of in all fields of design, not only graphic design. Time to take some tutorials on 3D rendering apps!
Isometric designs
This type of illustrative design has been a favourite on infographics and technical websites. Last year it started spreading into other fields through web design and landing pages. Since it’s such a practical style for showing data and pieces of a whole, isometric designs are not going anywhere.
Isometric designs are taking on a life of their own and we can’t wait to see how it evolves. It’s like living inside a little video game and we are really excited.
Asymmetry
Even though symmetry brings a general sense of balance and harmony, asymmetry brings even more. It’s visually rich and enticing, it gives a feeling of natural spaces. We are seeing asymmetry a lot in web design and digital graphic design. It is also making an appearance in branding and print design. Even some packaging design has applied asymmetry into their art.
This design trend might be big right now in 2019 but it’s actually a timeless trend. It’s making waves now and will probably do so again in the future just as it has in the past.
Vintage moody photography
As graphic designers, we know how boring and unoriginal stock photography used to be. With the rise of photo stock sites like unsplash and rawpixel, we have seen a big switch to a more personal and unique approach to photography. We have more options for our designs, no more corporate boringness.
On top of that, 2019 has brought on a vintage mood to photography. Something completely attainable through the use of filters and colour effects. Any photograph can be given the vintage feel in no time and Instagram is loving it.
Bolder Gradients
Gradients have been a big graphic design trend for a few years now. But was is happening for 2019 is that it’s getting bigger and better. The gradients are bolder, the colours are stronger. They are being paired up with duotone styles, making it even bolder!
Gradients are present in branding and are huge in web design and illustration as well. 2019 really is the year of bolder gradients. Don’t be scared to use strong gradients in your designs, and don’t just think of gradients as tools for backgrounds either, they can be used in anything!
