There is a saying that goes like, ‘everything old is new again.’ This statement stands true for whatever is happening in the graphic design arena right now. The last few years saw a massive increase in the experimentation of designs, especially when it comes to colors, styles, and fonts. As per experts, those practices will keep gaining traction in the current and upcoming years too. There will also be newer styles, new concepts, and bolder designs even with much emphasis on minimalism and simplification. Some old favorites will make a strong comeback with edgier, updated looks. We can safely say that exciting stuff is in store for graphic designers and businesses that will avail their services in 2018 and beyond.
If you like contemporary designs, and if you are looking for ways to add some flair to your unique layouts, take a look at the most prominent trends that are likely to dominate 2018 and maybe also the years ahead. Get ready to impress your viewers and customers!
Responsive logos are essential
It was almost a decade back when responsive designs had started redefining website development. The primary objective behind making sites responsive was to give the audience the same ease of use on various mobile devices. However, the idea of reactive logos is still new. Many brands have started to refresh their logos to make them look more modern yet simple. They are also altering their logos to add a festive or seasonal flavor to them from time to time. What better way to stay contemporary and relevant, right?
Gradients are back, and they are being called color transitions now
Even a few years ago, gradients were everywhere. From website buttons, headers and footers to backgrounds and presentations, gradients reigned supreme, and apparently, designs looked cool if you used them. Then, around 2006-2007, flatter designs started to push gradients out of the frame. However, now it has made a comeback and has evolved quite a bit over the years. In fact, now it is back as a flat design enhancement. Many graphic designers are referring to this comeback as ‘flat 2.0’ or ‘semi-flat design.’ 2018 will see widespread use of vibrant user interfaces, website backgrounds, illustrations on promotional materials, digital branding and overlays. It is time to get experimental with more colors and even more shading, then!
Graphics require depth; hence the use of shadows is important
Shadows are indispensable when it comes to creating depth in graphics. Just like gradients, shadows got pushed aside when flat designs took center stage. There was no realism, and extreme minimalism and preference for two-dimensional elements had rendered graphics uninteresting and straightforward. Now that the focus is again on livelier designs, shadows are starting to play a critical role in determining visual hierarchy, input fields and call to action zones on websites. The shadows do not necessarily have to be black or ash, edgy or small. They can be of any size, even soft colored and subtle. However, they should correctly create the illusion of depth.
Duotones are gaining much popularity
Well, duotones are primarily dependent on a printing process that creates double-toned images. This technique has found new use in the digital world with imaging software. The software can create duotones easily along with multiple variations of monotones and tritones as well as ‘fake duotones.’ Designers are using this technique to create unique designs within limited color palettes that are complementary to semi-flat designs.
Patterns inspired by the designs of 80’s and 90’s are catching eyes
Remember the pretty pastels from the 80’s and 90’s? Those geometric and abstract patterns impressed many then and also over the years. Many designers are reusing those models to create designs that add a nostalgic flavor to their creation. Moreover, incorporating these patterns into layouts makes them semi-flat, thereby meeting the requirements of contemporary platforms.
Livelier designs are preferred; thus animations and GIFs are necessary
With countless websites and apps in existence, each one is fighting for just one moment to catch the viewer’s attention. That is what micro-animations and Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) help to do. They attract viewers’ attention and hold it for at least a short span of time. It is in this short while that brands try to deliver their message to the viewers. Thus, nowadays, there is much emphasis on micro-interactions that micro-animations and GIFs help to achieve, which is why their popularity is only growing with time. Designers continuously try to reinvent the ways of delivering the brand message. The use of subtle colors, prominent fonts, and eye-catching images is going to be as important in 2018 as it was in the previous years if not more.
Bold typography is going to grab the limelight
Go for bigger and bolder fonts to create a design that will have the most impact in 2018. Of course, there will be artistic effects, but one has to admit, bold headlines catch eyes faster than artistic ones do. Fonts like sans serif that have been dominating the digital space for quite some time now will remain as relevant as ever. Also, there will be more variety in typefaces this year.
The experts at BigDropInc.com are of the opinion that as the resistance to flat design movement is getting stronger with time, more and more attractive trends are starting to come up in the graphic design landscape. Undoubtedly, the design scene is getting more interesting each day as the emphasis on individuality and originality keeps intensifying. Many brands are trying to rope in their audiences, adding exciting aspects to the designs of their logos, websites, brochures and more. With so many options to consider and the ever-increasing competition, there is an acute need to start taking risks and break long-set patterns. 2018 is going to offer much creative freedom to graphic designers as well as brands when it comes to what they want to do with their skills. This liberty will hopefully inspire some awesome designs.
Author Bio – Barrack Diego is a freelance content writer. He has written many good and informative articles on different categories such as Web Design, SEO and Business. He is very responsible towards his job. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with his friends and colleagues. To know more about web design you can visit BigDropInc.com
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