Top 2024 Graphic Design Trends For Brands
Design trends evolve with each passing year, reflecting the changing tastes, technologies, and cultural influences. Every year we see certain design styles pop up on websites, packaging at the grocery store, or social media posts – and they evolve quickly. While we never suggest chasing the latest trend (that can be gone before the ink dries on your new packaging), it can be helpful to continually evaluate trends alongside your brand and make informed decisions about whether or not it’s time to evolve your brand. An evolutionary rebrand can also be much less involved and disruptive to your audience than a revolutionary rebrand.
Juxt’s lead graphic designer, Shannon Smith, has curated a list of the top design trends worth taking note of so far this year. From playful bubble text to eco-conscious natural materials, these trends showcase the diversity and creativity driving contemporary design. Let’s explore these trends and see how they can inspire your next project.
Bubble Text
Bubble Text features text rendered in rounded, bubble-like shapes, often with soft edges and a playful aesthetic.
Characteristics:
- Rounded, soft-edged letterforms
- Often used for informal or whimsical designs
- Creates a sense of fun and light-heartedness
This trend is perfect for brands looking to convey a sense of joy and approachability. It works well in contexts like children’s products, casual social media posts, and playful marketing campaigns.
3D Generative AI
3D Generative AI involves the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to generate three-dimensional objects and scenes, often with dynamic and complex forms.
Characteristics:
- Complex, dynamic shapes and structures
- Incorporates elements of randomness and life-like imagery
- Offers opportunities for highly detailed and immersive designs
AI certainly isn’t going anywhere, so it is very cool to see what it can do. This cutting-edge trend pushes the boundaries of creativity, allowing designers to craft unique, intricate visuals that stand out. Ideal for futuristic and tech-oriented projects, it demonstrates the growing synergy between AI and design.
Abstract Gradients
Abstract Gradients are smooth transitions between two or more colors, often used to create depth, texture, and visual interest in design compositions.
Characteristics:
- Smooth color transitions without distinct boundaries
- Creates a sense of depth and dimensionality
- Can evoke a variety of moods depending on color choices and composition.
Abstract gradients offer versatility and can be used to add a modern, dynamic touch to backgrounds, logos, and illustrations. They are effective in creating a visually appealing and engaging atmosphere. We utilize gradients in our designs at Juxt; it allows us to utilize our brand colors in a fluid, engaging way.
Glass Morphism
Glass Morphism is a design trend that mimics the appearance of glass, featuring translucent and blurred elements with subtle shadows and highlights.
Characteristics:
- Translucent, frosted, or blurred surfaces
- Simulates light reflections and refractions
- Creates a sense of depth and realism in digital interfaces
Glass morphism adds a sophisticated, sleek feel to digital interfaces, making it ideal for tech products and app designs. It enhances user experience by providing a sense of depth and realism. We’re also seeing it used by churches a lot this year – especially in their social or website graphics
Retro and Nostalgia
Retro and Nostalgia involves incorporating design elements from past eras, typically from the 70s to the early 2000s.
Characteristics:
- Vintage typography, color schemes, shapes, and imagery
- References to specific historical periods or cultural movements
- Evokes a sense of familiarity with bygone times
This trend taps into the emotional appeal of nostalgia, making it perfect for brands looking to connect with audiences on a sentimental level. It’s especially popular in the fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment sectors. We’re also noticing young people’s affinity for this retro vibe; brands are targeting young adult or teen audiences with this design style for campaigns.
Bento Grid
The Bento Grid is a design layout inspired by the Japanese bento box, featuring a grid structure that organizes content into neat and visually appealing compartments.
Characteristics:
- Grid-based layout with clear divisions between content sections
- Emphasizes organization and simplicity
- Offers flexibility for arranging diverse content types within a unified structure
The Bento Grid is excellent for creating clean, organized layouts. It’s particularly useful for websites and apps that need to present a lot of information in a structured, easily navigable format. We see this used often, and we also notice that people who love organization really dig it (including our own Juxt team members). Bento’s website (matching its namesake) uses this style throughout their site, so it is cool to navigate through.
Natural Materials
Natural Materials refer to using elements derived from nature, such as wood, stone, or plants, in design to evoke a sense of warmth, authenticity, and sustainability.
Characteristics:
- Textures and patterns inspired by natural elements
- Earthy color palettes and organic shapes
- Conveys a connection to the natural world and promotes eco-consciousness
This trend especially highlights eco-conscious design, appealing to audiences who value sustainability. It’s ideal for brands in the wellness, beauty, and environmental sectors, creating a grounded and authentic feel. Oftentimes, when people see a product packaged with kraft paper and earthy tones, it subconsciously influences consumers to assume it is a ‘clean’ product. So, brands should make sure to use this style properly, and that it aligns with what they’re offering.
Bold Type + Vivid Color
Bold Typography + Vivid Colors involves using large, attention-grabbing typefaces alongside vibrant color palettes to create visually striking and memorable designs.
Characteristics:
- Strong, impactful typography with high contrast and large letterforms
- Bright and bold color choices that demand attention
- Creates a sense of energy and excitement in design compositions
This trend is all about making a statement. It’s perfect for advertisements, posters, and any medium where grabbing attention is crucial. The vivid colors and bold typography create a dynamic, energetic vibe all the way around!
Vintage Sign Typography
Vintage Sign Typography refers to the distinctive lettering styles found on old signs, often characterized by hand-painted or neon signage from the mid-20th century.
Characteristics:
- Ornate, hand-crafted letterforms with unique flourishes and quirks
- Reflects the craftsmanship of traditional sign painting techniques
- Evokes a sense of nostalgia and authenticity reminiscent of classic storefronts and advertisements
Vintage sign typography adds a touch of charm and authenticity, making it perfect for a brand that wants to evoke a classic, timeless feel. It’s great for restaurants, boutiques, and artisanal products. A perfect example of this is Magnolia by Chip and Joanna Gaines – they employ classic and clean, vintage typefaces for their branding and in their several shops at The Silos in Waco, Texas.
Doodles and Handwritten Elements
Doodles and Handwritten Elements involve incorporating hand-drawn illustrations, sketches, or typography into design compositions to add a personal touch and whimsical flair.
Characteristics:
- Playful and informal illustrations or lettering styles
- Adds a human element to digital or printed designs
- Conveys a sense of creativity, spontaneity, and individuality
Hand-drawn elements bring a unique, personal touch to designs, making them feel more relatable and authentic. This trend is ideal for creative industries, personalized products, and casual branding. It is also a great way to add variation from a brand’s typical serif or sans-serif typefaces, especially when it fits a design just right.
The 2024 design trends that we’re seeing are diverse and dynamic, reflecting the innovative spirit of contemporary design. Whether you’re drawn to the nostalgic charm of retro elements or the cutting-edge potential of AI-generated 3D visuals, there’s something for everyone and every brand to take a look at, especially if you’re exploring a rebranded or brand refresh. Embracing these trends can help your designs stay relevant and resonate with your audience, especially with active social media or web communications!
If our design trend list inspired you to explore these trends and incorporate them into your creative projects – our branding experts can certainly help with that! Juxt Marketing is a branding, design, and marketing agency based in Atlanta, Georgia that can serve as your outsourced marketing partner from wherever you are. We can put our 20 years of experience in brand strategy, identity, graphic design, web development, and digital marketing to work for you.
Reach out at [email protected] or visit juxtmarketing.com to chat about how we can serve your business!