Breaking All the Rules in 2022
Trends are a difficult thing to chase. They’re even harder to predict. This is far from surprising; social media, digital technology, and the uncertainty of the pandemic era have forced us to evolve at an even faster pace than usual, and brand leaders are often left scrambling to stay ahead of the curve.
The world of Graphic Design is no exception. As with every industry, design trends have taken a radically different trajectory these past two years. It’s not just the speed at which these changes occur - it’s the sheer number of variations that have emerged around every conceivable style. Some trends vanish in the blink of an eye, while others have inexplicably become an integral part of our cultural lexicon.
At Freshly Pressed, we live for these moments. Every new shape, colour combination, or unexpected presentation has us as excited as kids on a Christmas morning! Likewise, recognizing, interpreting, and adapting these new styles into our work is critical to our success as a marketing agency.
2022 is the year we cast aside our preconceived notions regarding design ‘rules’. Experimental visual concepts are appearing alongside centuries-old techniques and retro, lo-fi styles that capture the nostalgic allure of a simpler time. This perfect balance of past and future will help your design work remain modern while suggesting a certain timelessness that will continue to exist long after today’s trend has passed.
Here are the Top 5 design trends that we expect to dominate the market in 2022:
90s nostalgia
Y2K
Expressive and experimental lettering
Ukiyo-e flat design
Parametric patterns
90s nostalgia
Every generation naturally connects their happiness to a particular decade. For Millennials and Gen Z, the VHS-preserved 90s represents their ‘happy time’ - and TikTok and lo-fi content influencers have brought 90s nostalgia back into the mainstream. Pixel graphics, bright block colours, vintage frames, dripping slime, smiley/emojis and the dial-up aesthetic of the early internet have all seen a surge of popularity, championed by shows like Netflix’s Fear Street and retro social media filters.
90s nostalgia is ideal for brands, campaigns, and products that recall the culture of this era. 8-bit gaming, Spice Girls albums, bold fashion trends, and new editions of vintage brands are given a sense of authenticity when aligned with looks and conventions that reflect the optimism of the decade. Examples of this can be seen in Playstation’s 25th Anniversary campaign, 2020’s ‘Groundhog Day’ Big Game spot, and Tony Hawk’s relaunching of his brand.
Y2K
Trends are all about change - and very few historical milestones capture the essence of generational change better than Y2K. Inspired by the mid-90’s and early 2000s, this trend is bringing a retro futuristic edge back to design. We’re talking shiny materials, crude interfaces, low poly CGI, bubblegum pink, blue, and iridescent colours, all influenced by the crisp uncertainty of the technological renaissance of the time. The year 2000 is when the future arrived, and the primary goal of the Y2K trend is to convey that sheer excitement of possibility. As the line between our real and online lives continues to blur, more and more designers are dusting off these design concepts to remind us of a time when the future was nothing but bright.
Expressive and experimental lettering
When approaching a specific design style, it’s important to acknowledge your audience on a global scale. As businesses continue to place more focus on their online presence, designers have been busy developing new ways to convey meaning from culture to culture without compromising on the overall design aspect.
2022 will be a year of opportunity as we push the boundaries of creativity and expression around typography. The playfulness and vibrancy of over-exaggerated and experimental typographic styles, as well as motion design, will play a significant role in breaking the mold of traditional design.
Ukiyo-e flat design
While experimental design lies at the forefront of contemporary design, 2022 will also see the resurgence of centuries-old artistic practices. Modern Ukiyo-e takes its inspiration from the traditional 17th-19th century Japanese woodblock technique which embraces limited perspectives, geometric shapes, and flat colours to reinvigorate and bring fluidity to vector images. One of the most famous examples of this style is “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”, an Edo-period work that now adorns thousands of walls around the globe.
Parametric patterns
Let’s face it - staring at a blank wall is dull. Without some visual cue to express scale, depth, or movement, even the most vivid colour choice will fail to engage a client’s attention.
Patterns remain a key element to brand design, as they add personality and visual interest to solid backgrounds. Statement patterns and parametric design consists of fluid, three-dimensional patterns that are based on geometric structures. These techniques give the viewer a sense of dynamic mobility, as well as convey the complexity of an object or idea.
When discussing trends, the conversation inevitably comes back to ‘Why are trends so important?’
It’s helpful to think of design as an ongoing conversation between you and your client. The more you learn about them, the better you can predict their response to certain prompts. Graphic trends are therefore constantly evolving to align with a modern customer’s needs. The latest eye-catching designs may get you short-term attention, but taking the time to assess your target audience - and forging an authentic connection with them - is what will put you on the path to lasting success.
We predict that 2022 will be all about evoking bold reactions and inspiring a transformation in your clients. These Top 5 Trends have already begun to make an appearance over the past twelve months, and they will continue to grow in popularity in 2022. We couldn’t be more excited by the challenges, possibilities, and opportunities they present!
~ Genesis & Steve
Senior Graphic and Web Designer | Senior Copywriter
