As we step into 2022, the world of design is poised for exciting transformations. Five key trends are predicted to redefine visual aesthetics, offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches. Let's delve into these game-changing trends that are set to shape the year ahead.
Trends in design
In design, trends can often surpass their reputation as snazzy fads
- They reveal ideas and styles that are relevant at a moment in time
- Trends offer a reflection of our society and the ideas that drive us
- 2021 was a wild ride
- What were the trends that had us hooked last year? What do they say about the way we’ve lived since the pandemic, and how we’ve coped with the chaotic energy of a lingering pandemic?
Gooey Blobs and Liquids in 3D Art
Leaning on a sense of randomness and abstraction, these fluid and glinting organic shapes shift and move like aquatic creatures, in ways that defy logic and any notions of gravity.
- In our hyper-digital, always-switched-on world, it’s easy for visual ideas to be reappropriated without relevant context, which often blurs the original intent of a piece of work.
Nostalgic Resurgence
Techniques and ideas born in the 1890s resurface
- Airbrushed illustrations and typefaces reminiscent of the 60s and 70s are everywhere
- A shift in the profession where type designers are becoming more of a craftsperson
- This trend will be shaped by how designers tweak the rules
Set In Motion
The time is ripe for studios to create distinct, “ownable choreography” that becomes synonymous with a brand
- There is a significant delineation between projects that use animation to bring static assets to life and those that use motion to create personality
- How designers tackle this divide will be key to how this movement evolves in the future
Intense, Retina-searing Colours
Recently, intense gradients and blazing hues have become emblematic of the current, get-up-and-go creative landscape
- This could be a movement, a characteristic of the zeitgeist, a colour uprising, or just a trend
The 90s Are Back
An obsession with lo-fi 90s aesthetics, punctuated with light leaks and over-exposure, has definitely taken over the world of photography.
- The trend points to an understated intention of moving away from the hi-def, ‘perfect’ image, a sentiment that perhaps is rooted in the recent renaissance of film photography.
