Graphic Design Trends 2023
With the passing of time, designers are finally coming to understand the value and benefits of unique and divergent approaches to creating visuals. What is predicted to be on the stage in 2023? Among lasting survivors on numerous ranking lists, there are also unexpected arrivals that will blow customers’ minds with their brightness and powerful message-delivery capacity. Stay tuned to see how the design history is going to unfold.
Design Trends’ Overview
No matter how stereotypical it may sound, the beginning of the new year is like turning a book page—target audiences expect unparalleled ideas and impressive art decisions to capture their attention. Knowledge is power, so trend-spotting is a worthy analysis to consider. It will move you closer to customers’ expectations and fuel your own creativity with new inspirational sources, such as:
Psychedelic
Some of the hallmarks of psychedelic art and design include whimsical fantasy imagery, kaleidoscopic and spiral patterns, overpoweringly bright and contrasting color schemes, artistic chaos, extremely intricate details, and original typography.
Experimental Typefaces
Experimental typefaces usually stem from the display family and have an unexpected look or interaction. They break all the fundamental rules of traditional typography, such as contrast, endurance and consistency, and push the letters to the limit, making them visually bright and unconventional. These text styles include whimsical lines, colors and surprising letter shapes. As a rule, they are used in design to denote anything new, unconventional, beyond simple categorization or expectation, and something that confuses or disrupts the norm.
Liquid Gradients
Liquid gradients and graphics are also a popular graphic design trend in 2023. This style uses fluid textures, shapes and colors that seem to flow, creating a sense of movement in the design, making it attractive and something that will stand out from the crowd. In the color palette, they can range from discreet to brightly colored to holographic.
This trend is perfect for creative, modern businesses that want to emphasize and impress customers with their branding materials. Also, liquid gradients cause a “wow effect” when added to illustrations, graphic posters and web design. Using fluid shapes and colors, businesses can create unique brands that will stand out from the crowd.
Mysticism
In the context of design, mysticism includes iconography related to astrology and divination, illustrations of mystical creatures, sorcerers, and dark nighttime environments. The trend also draws heavily on popular symbolism, including zodiac signs, all-seeing eyes, lotus flowers and sacred geometry. As in the past, these symbols act as talismans, filling the natural and heavenly world with an occult and deep meaning.
Mystical designs use a dark, muted, calming color palette. They are created with fine lines and organic curves that feel soft and delicate. Present are the images of moon, stars, meditative or magical gestures. All this draws attention to the trend and plunges the audience into the mystery of mystical ideas.
3D
3D design is becoming very diverse. It has already started to gain popularity in the previous years and will gain even more of it in the future among various branches of design. In the coming year, its possibilities are endless. With the ability to reproduce textured and realistic objects with crystal-clear clarity, it is a unique form. 3D design becomes even more detailed, impressive and textured. Glossy, metallic, edible and fur 3D designs will look as realistic as possible while being used in impressive compositions and interesting forms. One of the popular directions of 3D design will be plasticine clay, which is made with imperfect uneven surfaces, shaped as if by fingers. It shows all the beauty hidden in imperfection. In 2023, 3D design will mix with 2D and may also become a part of a mixed dimension.
Mixed Dimension
The boundary between physical and online life is becoming more blurred as people spend more and more time online. And, in 2023, graphic designers are completely destroying this boundary by adding their digital designs to real photos. This trend focuses on bringing the vibrancy of color, joy and whimsy into real life from a photo card. This design also shows the world as we would like to see it, a place of discoveries and miracles, offering a lot of space for the flight of the designers’ imaginations, while they creatively color everyday life. Life can sometimes seem bleak, and the creative power of art offers us an escape and reminds us that we can create magic, add humor, and experiment if we only dare to.
Metaverse
As the world moves more online and into virtual reality, the field of graphic design is also adapting and changing. No longer do graphic designers create only printing products. Now, with the rise of the meta universe (metaverse), they are increasingly creating designs for interactive experiences in virtual reality. Since this field is still in its infancy, the potential for graphic design in this area is huge, as no one can say exactly what this virtual metaverse will look like in the future. As more global brands and companies move into virtual reality, there is a growing demand for graphic designers who can create immersive designs for virtual reality. In 2023, we’ll see even more futuristic design developments for the metaverse, using holographic, neon palettes, avatars in the form of human-alien hybrids, and characters from the future. Some of these designs can be effectively created with the help of text prompts in the AI graphic design tools like Midjournery.
Expressive Lettering
Typography art isn’t just about letters—it is about transforming multiple visual patterns into language characters people are accustomed to. If you prefer the boundaries of traditional text writing, ensure your message will convey a sense of multiple perception layers. That could be words that are harmoniously tuned to the woodcut background or resemble painted tree leaves, as well as signs that are made of twisted lines.
Ukiyo-e
This Japanese art genre has enabled designers to transform flat vector layouts. Such rendering doesn’t have to depict particular characters only—it is just a special suite of lines and shapes to describe any object of the surrounding reality. The Ukiyo-e method combines fluid and blurred-like image elements with bright and frequently exaggerated details.
Geometric-Fueled Designs
This trend reflects people’s desire to organize things efficiently, so the chance that it will ever disappear is little to none. Geometric patterns are expected to evolve even more during 2022. Just imagine different-shaped puzzle pieces, creating a harmonious view. Visuals are made of separate geometric shapes here, which increases their entertainment and communicational value.
Escapism
In psychology, this notion is used to describe people’s desire to get rid of boring or unpleasant life moments through entertainment and imagination. In art, this genre finds unique paths between fantasy and casualty. Building a magical world with the help of professional illustration software, such as Amadine, is a great experience for newcomers. In this case, interested parties focus on the storytelling capacity of their works, designing special characters in a fairy tale and cartoon-like form.
At the same time, this unique style isn’t focused only on positive aspects. Thanks to implementing somewhat psychedelic patterns, masters depict good and evil within one layout.
90s Nostalgia
Trends that seem to fade forever can easily make a comeback thanks to people who remember and treasure those times. Seeking 90s patterns (as well as other time periods) allows brands to speak the same language with their target audience, showing they understand their needs and desires. For younger generations, modifying the 90s vibes is a gorgeous source of inspiration to experiment with.
Authentic Hand-Drawn Elements
What is the best way to highlight your brand’s authenticity and personality? Thanks to drawing, social media products achieve an incomparable soul and energy. Instead of professional photos, use the power of personalized touches in your branding.
Intricate Maximalism
This trend is more than simply the opposite of minimalism. Thanks to the analyzed concept in branding and other projects, artists can mirror their imagination and picture of the world. Such designs consist of multiple colors and patterns, which are visually harmonious and interesting to analyze.
Brutalism and Anti-Design
When there are design trends to accept as mainstream, there will inevitably be counterpart opinions and concepts. The anti-design is brutal and competitive in its nature. It captures viewers’ attention through non-matching colors, asymmetry, oxymoron meanings and visual comparisons. Such formats are challenging and make customers conjure up their rebellious side.
Y2K
This trend encapsulates the entire epoch of fashion, creativity and love for experimentation. With its roots dating back to the 1990s, its aesthetics are gentle and simultaneously futuristic. The mixtures of clothing and hardware design are spiced with modern messages, making such designs vibrant and colorful.
Wrap It Up
All in all, this year is going to flourish even more than the previous one with experiments and colorful ideas. It is time to boost your creativity and freedom and start relating to your audience more personally. Using modern software like Amadine, this task isn’t challenging at all.