+ Our Team Discusses Design Trends in 2022 & Predictions for the Future
Our Team Discusses Design Trends in 2022 & Predictions for the Future
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Credits
We’re now entering the fourth quarter of 2022 – and at this point, it’s pretty clear what design and marketing trends have been leading the way so far.
You could see design teams go all out in terms of bold color palettes and typographic layouts; motion and interactive elements were major factors in design – and social impact served as an underlying concept of many branding strategies.
But there are a few months left until 2022 officially wraps up – meaning there’s still time for discussions.
So, we asked our team what designs were trending and what they predict for for the future – and Pastilla’s art director, Youna Jang, senior graphic designer Gabriel Cespedes, and others in the team have gladly shared their insights and visions for the remainder of 2022.
Here’s what they had to say!
Youna Jang – Art Director
According to Pastilla’s Art Director, Youna Jang, when it comes to the leading design trends, 2022 was – and continues to be – heavily influenced by:
- 90s elements in design
- 3D Art
- Unexpected mix and match
- Clean but disrupted designs
- Eco-friendliness and sustainability
- Social impact
She then goes on to elaborate:
“Designs that care about the social impact and what’s on the news are designs that matter. We have to be aware of what’s happening in the world to speak better in our designs. The design speaks louder than before because it’s a way to communicate the company’s values – and not only to market and promote their product. We see that people care more about the impact they make choosing their product, so this trend of seeing the social impact and better designs matter.”
Youna Jang also points out that fashion and web design seem to be meeting head-on when it comes to aesthetics:
“Fashion is also a huge part of design trends, even outside the fashion industry itself. But while graphic designs may be heavily inspired by the 90s style, it’s still important to add something new on top of the old.”
Youna also noticed that there’s an inclination toward clean but disrupted designs:
“We still like to keep things clean – but, at the same time, keep the visuals interesting. In other words, clean design elements would be disrupted in a way – and I believe we’ll be seeing a lot more of that free-spirit-minded attitude in design, too.”
Gabriel Cespedes – Senior Graphic Designer
Gabriel Cespedes, Pastilla’s Senior Graphic Designer, mainly focused on typographic layouts and designs, noting the following:
“Experimental and unique typographic layouts and designs continue to be more and more prominent in major design campaigns. In particular, I’ve seen the kinetic type being embraced not only in the corporate world but heavily pushed by certain big design studios, too.”
He goes on to add:
“There’s a sense of originality obtained when using code to influence lettering. Every time you use it, it creates something new.”
Another major trend seen throughout 2022, according to Gabriel, is the inclusion of motion: “Motion plays a big part in this, as well. We are used to seeing things move in everyday life. So, static imagery just does not stand a chance next to something coming alive – especially as of recently, with so many tools and learning paths to doing so.”
He also touched on the subject of branding and marketing campaigns:
“I feel like more and more big companies, like Nike, are looking for young and risky designers that curate their own style, which the companies use to seem more relatable to the consumer. That will continue to be a big trend in the design world specifically, and I think it’s both good and bad for different reasons:
It is good because it gives the designer the opportunity to shine on a larger scale with originality. However, the downside is that companies create new campaigns so often that there’s no longer any consistency besides what company the campaign is for. Designers can flourish by staying in one pocket of design – but moving forward, I feel like they’re going to have to be more flexible in the areas they’re knowledgable in.”
Bella Wang – Graphic & UX/UI Designer
Bella Wang, Pastilla’s Graphic & UX/UI Designer, noted:
“For many years now, Sans Serif fonts have been taking over all the big-name brands, and it has been a designer’s mission. According to clients, that is – to create something “simple,” “bold,” and “minimalist.”
“However, I believe that more Serif fonts will come out this year.”
And when it comes to combining typography and color, here’s Bella’s take:
“In 2022, we’ve been seeing a lot of use of bright, vibrant colors, as well as some old-school retro looks in graphic design. While we’re still getting the hang of how to pair up this new trend with the various typography in the world, I think it definitely isn’t a bad idea to look at some beautiful – and almost timeless – Serif fonts.”
Mark Yoder – Jr. Designer
Mark Yoder, Pastilla’s Junior Designer, agrees with Gabriel Cespedes that motion will continue to play a major role in design trends:
“With TikTok and Instagram reels starting to take over social media, companies will use motion as a way to create more branded content and target those specific feeds in an effort to engage their audiences. Interesting ways of creating brand messages that use motion in unique ways will be key.”
He also noted the growing popularity of 3D elements:
“Custom 3D graphics will continue to grow as another way to stand out from the crowd. Creating dreamlike, colorful 3D graphics that can mix well with 2D elements will be highly desirable.”
Much like Bella, Mark didn’t fail to mention typography:
“Custom typography will continue to grow as a way for brands to distinguish themselves from the competition in an easily replicable way. With so many fonts already in existence, unique and experimental fonts will become even bigger and more mainstream than they currently are in certain spheres.”
Another trend he highlights can be summed up as the “play and delight” approach, or as he puts it:
“It’s more of a feeling than an actual method, but I believe they kind of go hand in hand. The number of companies opting for a more playful and lighthearted approach to their branding will continue to grow. Bright colors, cute characters, and humorous messaging will all be leveraged by brands who want to dial up their relatability, as this can often work rather well on social media channels. Some brands will embrace this fully, while others will use it in smaller doses; it all depends on their audience.”
And finally, Mark emphasizes authenticity:
“Authenticity has to do more with the messaging. The graphic style that goes with this type of approach is usually highly stripped back and minimal. In a very quick-moving online world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern the real from the fake, many companies will really lean into this idea of authenticity and honesty. Being very clear and truthful about the company’s underlying goals and what they are doing to achieve those goals. That could mean being more eco-friendly or ethical than their competitors – or just having a very understated approach where the brand isn’t trying too hard to be something it’s not.”
