Top 8: Graphic Design Trends
Ready to level up your graphic design content and abilities? Here are the top trends of ‘22 you need to know!
The year of creative pragmatism..
This year, we saw how the lingering pandemic took a toll on literally everyone! For visual designers, it shifted the way we communicate and express ourselves as a brand or an individual.
With all the uncertainties in this digital space, it’s pretty difficult to predict the upcoming graphic design trends— not to mention every social media update. So we’re taking a closer look at how emerging trends in graphic design will shape marketing, reporting, hiring, and even how we communicate with each other on a daily basis.
We’re also sharing some graphic design tips and trends that you can apply to your presentations, reports, infographics, and social media content. Read on to learn about trends that are likely to impact your creative work in 2022!
2022 Graphic Design Trends For Designers and Creatives:
1. Fluorescent Color Palettes
From neon green to acid yellow, fluorescent color palettes are infiltrating every corner of Instagram – bringing a perfectly progressive, Gen-Z aesthetic to the table.
Fluorescent colors are one of the hottest design trends of 2022, and they can be used in a variety of ways. If you’re targeting an older demographic, experiment with subtle accents – such as text highlights or sticker icons.
To take this trend even further, pair neon shades with the hottest trend of the decade: gradients.
2. Contrasting Fonts
Mixing typography styles isn’t anything new – but in 2022, expect to see this trend pushed even further.
Mixing typography styles isn’t anything new – but in 2022, expect to see this trend pushed even further.
Contrasting fonts have been on trend for some time now – but this year, it’s all adding different typefaces to a single word or sentence. The result is fresh, fun, and rebellious.
Experiment pairing modern fonts with slab serifs, or elegant scripts with a simplistic sans serif. The bigger the contrast, the better the result.
3. 60s and 70s Iconography
If it feels like it belongs in Austin Powers, it’s bang on trend in 2022.
If you’re feeling a wave of nostalgia every time you scroll on social media, it’s no surprise – design elements from the 60s and 70s are everywhere right now. To recreate this trend, think funky fonts, checkerboard details, flower-power icons, and a healthy dose of retro.
For a fun twist, experiment with pops of bubblegum pink alongside classic color ways of cerulean blue and avocado green. The groovier the better, baby!
4. Bubble Fonts
Millennial readers rejoice, this trend is going to hit you right in the 90s feels.
Bubble fonts are back! Letters should be bursting at the seams, plumped up like pool floats, with liberally applied, almost cartoonish highlights for extra dimension.
This trend is all about exaggeration, so don’t be afraid to throw in a bold color palette to make these inflated letters really… pop.
5. Risograph Print Effects
Simplistic yet colorful, risograph printing brings the art of small press zines to our social media feeds!
Traditional risograph prints are made by applying layers of color to a surface, often with varying levels of opacity. The result is inconsistent and littered with texture. On social media, this trend has been digitized – but all the perfect imperfections remain.
The key to success? Keep it simple. Stick to one to three bright colors and strong shapes – the magic here is all in the application. Look for fun opportunities with color overlap, irregularities, and texture.
6. Modern Gradients
Subtle transitions are out, clashing color palettes and gritty applications are in.
If you’ve ever experimented with graphic design, you’ll probably know a thing or two about gradients. This year, it’s all about dialing up the color contrast. Think candy pink with scarlet red, or acid lime with soft lilac.
Combine with layers of grit and grain, and use shapes to guide your transitions. Hearts, stars, squares, and loose swirls are all trending right now.
7. Grit and Grain
Polished perfection is out. Gritty textures are in.
If you want to give your designs an extra edge in 2022, it’s time to ramp up the grain and add some noise – we like it loud over here. Injecting a bit of commotion to a smooth pastel gradient can totally change a design story – subverting a sweet palette into something grungy and cool.
If there’s one thing we know in 2022, it’s that graphic design is all about expression and rebellion. So expect to see lashings of grit and grain all over your feeds.
8. Maximalism
It’s time to let your inner maximalist run wild. And the number one rule? Break the rules!
Throw everything you know about color theory out of the window, because maximalism is set to be a huge design trend in 2022. Dial up the saturation and don’t hold back – white space has no place here.
Think quirky illustrations, pop art-style references, and opposing patterns. If it catches your audience off guard, you’re on the right track to a great maximalist design.
Remember, you don’t have to follow every trend!
Graphic design trends are not a one-size fits all for designers and creative entrepreneurs! Focus on staying true to your brand and what feels right to you when reaching your business goals. And, when you feeling like switching things up a bit and jumping outside of that box, go for it!
One final note: It’s totally okay not to follow any of the trends we’ve just mentioned! It all boils down to creating graphics and visuals that will truly resonate with your audience, whether it’s trendy or not. Happy designing!
