DESIGN TRENDS TO EXPECT IN 2021
2020 has been a very odd year for creatives in all industries. Creatives everywhere have had to adapt or die so to speak. The world has been jettisoned into online everything. Distance learning, working from home, tele-docs, shopping, and entertainment has all had rapid growth due to the pandemic. This has translated to design as well. With more emphasis on online and mobile graphics and video that look good in that medium are becoming prominent. So, you may be wondering what to expect going into 2021.
3D DESIGN INCLUDING TYPOGRAPHY
New tech, faster speeds, and advances in augmented reality / virtual reality are pushing the envelope of what we can expect in 3D design. Expect to see more of it in social media, UI, apps and everything else. This is true of Typography as well. You’ll see the normal geometric typography but what is becoming real popular is playful organic and realistic. Expect to see more realistic lettering with lighting and shading that makes the letters jump from the screen and seem real enough to touch. In 2021 it should be fun to see what people do in the 3D space.
MUTED COLOR PALETTES
According to venngage.com, muted color palettes will be even more popular in 2021. The muted toned-down colors tend to feel more organic. They also have feel safe and trustworthy which is important in year that has been full of mixed messages. You are likely to see that health and wellness fields have already adopted that palette. It has been dominating many designs in 2020 and doesn’t look like it will slow down going into 2021.
GOING FURTHER WITH EMOJI DESIGNS
Who doesn’t love emojis? Heck, they are so popular that there was a movie about them. They are a quick and fun way to show emotion and feeling. Mainly on social media, it’s a great way to create a reaction and response. They don’t have to only be for social media you can use emoji’s to give character and lighten the mood of your designs.
RETRO FONTS
Retro fonts come and go in popularity. What seems to be a trend right now is the mixing old and new and fonts. Or reimaging retro fonts.
SIMPLE DATA AND INFOGRAPHICS
There are so much data and info that we are consuming nowadays. It is easy for it to become a mess of noise. So simplifying the message and data design will be important in 2021.
3D CUBES / VOXEL DESIGN
If you have been around children you’ve probably seen these cube designs. Whether it looks like Minecraft or the Legos these 3d block designs are popular. They are like 3d block versions of a pixel.
GEOMETRIC SHAPES
A trend has been emerging with geometric shapes. Single individual shapes collectively creating larger more advance ones. Blocks of strong solid colors and outlines mixed to create interesting combinations. Expect to see more of that in 2021.
VIDEO TRENDS
And if you are wondering what the video trends may be for 2021 we have you covered as well. It seems the trend is less production and more interactivity. And more content created to be consumed with mobile devices such as vertical content.
- Expect more interactive videos and videos with hotspots.
- TikTok Style videos
- Zoom Style videos
- Less Production
- More Vlogs
- More videos that don’t need sound
- More Vertical Video
So, 2020 has been a confusing mess for many creatives but 2021 does seem to have a direction. We have listed some of the trends that are expected to shape that direction. Are these styles you’ve already embraced in your own work? If not, you might consider it.
Very excited that the retro fonts are back in!