Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
The world of graphic design trends is undergoing a profound change, much like the impact of photography on the art world in the 19th century. Artificial Intelligence is at the center of this creative shift, revolutionizing our methods of creation and visual styles.
To help us predict the next big things in design, we spoke to the global community of creatives that work with thousands of small businesses every year through VistaPrint’s design services, including 99designs by Vista. And this year’s graphic design trends reveal an artistic revolution in the making, from 3D hyper-surrealism and digital destruction to bento box grids and garden cutouts.
Let’s take a look at how businesses are using these design trends, and discover how to make them work for your own branding in 2024.
The Top 10 Graphic Design Trends for 2024:
- Future Fusion
Amidst the backdrop of rapid technological advancement, brands need to strike a balance between futuristic designs and a relatable feel. Future Fusion, a 2024 design trend, is all about juxtaposition. The color palette shifts dramatically, with deep browns, blues, and blacks as the foundation, punctuated by vibrant neon purples and pinks. This fusion blends the cutting-edge with the human, making your brand more relatable and approachable.
Textures embrace a gritty, dark aesthetic incorporating glitchy elements, sharp edges, and digital fonts balanced with vibrant colors. This approach harmonizes the cutting-edge with the human, making your brand more relatable and approachable in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
- 3D Hyper-Surrealism
In the realm of design trends for 2024, we find 3D hyper-surrealism—a style that seamlessly blends hyper-realistic and surreal 3D designs. It incorporates abstract and organic shapes, vibrant colors, and experimental fonts. This trend leans into bold self-expression and serves as a form of believable escapism and excitement for what’s possible.
- Bento Box Grids
The Bento box grid trend in graphic design revolves around the artful arrangement of boxes in varying sizes. This design approach finds its applications in diverse formats, from flyers and brochure layouts to digital, web, and mobile design. The primary emphasis lies in establishing information and visual hierarchy, as well as structuring and organizing content to guide users or highlight specific elements.
This design approach offers a dynamic way to showcase numerous elements in a small space, similar to the experience of reading comics.
- Cluttercore
Cluttercore celebrates self-expression in a bolder, louder, and more colorful way. This design trend embraces thick strokes, vibrant colors, and deliberate overlap of graphics. It thrives on grabbing attention and embracing excess and extravagance.
Essentially, cluttercore is a liberating celebration of mess, offering a unique form of self-expression in response to external chaos.
- Inflatable 3D
Inflatable 3D is a design trend that harnesses nostalgia and feel-good designs. It serves as a playful nod to the bubblegum pinks, blues, and iridescent color schemes of the 2000s era. Bubbly fonts and shapes take center stage, creating a playful and bouncy design aesthetic that establishes a heartfelt connection with the audience.
- Digital Destruction
Digital destruction emerges as a captivating rebellion in a world of flawless digital art. This trend embraces fragmented and chaotic designs, transforming imperfections into visually striking compositions. Pixelation, fractured typography, and distortion serve as a bold counterargument to clean and tech-centric design trends.
- Freehand Revival
The freehand revival trend draws inspiration from the Japanese aesthetic philosophy known as wabi-sabi. It finds beauty in imperfections and impermanence, inviting us to explore the world of hand-drawn lines with delightful wobbliness. This trend creates a soothing and visually pleasing effect through carefully curated color palettes.
- Anime Bold
Anime Bold brings the captivating allure of anime to graphic design. It embraces exaggerated characters, expressive energy, and eye-catching visuals. The bright, bold, and vibrant colors infuse life into the animated and exaggerated anime style, creating a visual feast for the eyes.
- Garden Cutouts
Garden cutouts draw inspiration from the beauty of nature. This charming trend uses shapes and colors reminiscent of plants, flowers, and leaves to create a serene and botanical design. It offers a refreshing break from our digital lives, providing a tactile experience that appeals to our senses and our longing for a connection with the tangible.
- Graphic Graffiti
Graphic Graffiti draws inspiration from the vibrant world of graffiti and the neon-soaked energy of the 80s. This trend blends industrial elements, spray-painted text and symbols, and a collage/sticker book aesthetic. It boldly celebrates individualism and self-expression, standing in contrast to the advancement of AI technology and design software.
Ready for the biggest 2024 graphic design trends?
Graphic design is not just about aesthetics; it's about storytelling, connection, and making your mark on the world. Whether you're a small coffee shop embracing cluttercore vibes, a local boutique diving into digital destruction, or an online startup finding solace in freehand revival, use these trends to infuse creativity into your branding, tell your unique story, and connect with your audience in a new way.
