Graphic design trends are an essential part of the web design and development industry. Since most companies use a website to promote their business and sell products
or services, it makes sense to keep abreast of changes and trends that can be used for better engagement, marketing and customer conversion. As a top web development company, we’ve seen a lot in our two decades of creating award-winning websites, and we believe these are the 8 biggest trends in graphic design that will dominate in 2020.
8 Graphic Design Trends That Dominate 2020
Gradients and Duotones – Gradients have grown in popularity since last year, especially in logo designs. Gradients and duotones are both styles of color transitions
that often include bright shades for strong contrasts between the outer edges. Where previously one color might have been enough, the use of gradients and duotones builds up an element with a little more pizazz.
Contrasting Color Schemes – The use of contrasting color schemes and minimalism is increasing. As other trends emerge, such as asymmetrical layouts, such as color contrast can compliment those by providing some form of color symmetry. Technology companies in particular have used more light to dark contrasting schemes. Contrasting colors have also been added to minimalist designs by replacing white space with lighter, softer color tones that serve the same purpose without looking grim and bare and instead are warm and inviting.
Asymmetrical Layouts – As almost a natural response to the grid-based designs that have dominated websites in recent years, asymmetrical layouts are emerging. Rather than following a sleek, now expected design, the asymmetrical layout can spark curiosity and interest because the design seems more vibrant, especially when combined with other trends mentioned here.
3D Design – 3D design has been on the rise lately, mainly because of the ability of devices to display them correctly more easily, which is important when you consider the percentage of mobile Internet users. The additional depth levels for both graphics and typography are used to create compelling elements that pop off the page and make it hard to look away.
Focal Typography – Fonts are used on their own as a design element. As with creating a custom artwork, designers now combine fonts to create poster-style elements that are easy to digest, regardless of the type of device.
Use of Vivid Colors – Because viewers need to be involved, vivid color is more commonly used in eye-catching elements. Lighter colors that are bright and intense also promote the concept of energy and youthfulness, making them very attractive to happy, fresh brands looking to make a splash with a young audience. A word of warning; vibrant colors are best used in moderation as overuse can be overwhelming and elements won’t stand out.
Custom artwork – Using custom artwork quickly replaced stock options. In addition, the custom illustrations range further and wider in scope and use, from delicate and elegant illustrations to artsy or cartoonish images. Because they are creative and original, custom illustrations better suit both a brand and a message, making them a popular choice for an engaging website or marketing element.
Authentic Photos – Similar to the point above, it has become the popular route for moving away from generic stock options and towards more authentic photos that someone clicked on their iPhone. The advantage of this toned down photo type is that it adds an element of realism to a site, making it less polished which can be very important depending on the brand style.
It comes down to
The bottom line is that while we don’t own a working crystal ball, it’s a good bet that most of the ideas we’ve outlined in our list of the 8 Biggest Graphic Design Trends to Dominate in 2019 will stay true. Since we expect most of them to bloom not only in 2019 but also in the next year, they should be considered to increase engagement and conversions both on websites and in marketing efforts.
