Barely two weeks from the end of the year, I’ve taken the liberty of gathering some of the graphic design projects that caught my eye most; there are surely more, but I don’t have the time or the space to cover them all. Here’s my round-up of the best graphic designs of 2020.
Just to be clear, this isn’t a ranking — it’s a list where I give a very short description of each project and the reasons I decided it belonged in this article.
Best graphic designs of 2019 2020
The future aint the same as it used to be by Chris Labrooy
A project by Chris Labrooy’s graphic design studio in video and animated form, combining the latest technology to show classic American, British and German cars customised into flying inflatables.
Don’t miss the images — enjoy.
Why?
- For the use of colour.
- For how the project was conceived.
- For the eighties look.
Excalibur Limited Edition packaging by Fengsheng Cai
An elegant, powerful packaging design combining colours and semi-realistic textures superbly to evoke the imagery of the King Arthur legend — a graphic design worthy of this list of the best graphic designs of 2020 that has already won more than one award.
Why?
- For how it was conceived.
- For its ability to convey an idea.
- For the use of semi-realistic textures.
Take off by Sergi Delgado
Sergi Delgado created this poster for the Take Off Festival, where we see one of the web design trends for 2020 in action: heavy contrast and the use of negative space to form new shapes.
Why?
- For the chaotic composition of the elements.
- For achieving a balanced result and a very coherent line.
- Because it’s one of the graphic design trends of 2020.
The Happy Show by Stefan Sagmeister
It’s no surprise that one of the gods of graphic design appears in this list of the best graphic designs of 2020: Stefan Sagmeister, creator of an exhibition filling the entire second floor of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London to show us his particular view of the human mind.
Why?
- For the creativity of the project.
- For being untameable.
- For his constant innovation.
- Because every corner of the exhibition is brilliant.
- For being part of a whole.
Nike X by Steven Harrington
On a completely different medium from the usual, Steven Harrington’s project is a gem that links graphic design and making with the world of trainers, since he was commissioned to produce a series of illustrations to customise an exclusive model from the well-known sportswear brand Nike.
Why?
- Because illustration is on the rise and will be a trend in 2020.
- Because it picks up the most «underground» thread of trainer customisation.
- For the coherence between the work and the product.
Fanta by Dschwen
The prestigious graphic design studio Dschwen, with David Dschwen leading, brings us their particular rebrand of the soft drink Fanta which, with more than 75 years behind it, commissioned them to relaunch the company’s corporate identity.
Why?
- For the use of shape.
- For the 3D effect that breaks out of two dimensions.
- For being faithful to the brand while staying creative.
Nike by David Milan
David Milan — designer, art director and lettering artist — presents one of his many projects that could easily win best graphic design of 2020; I’ve no doubt he’s on his way to becoming a legend of design and creativity worldwide.
A poster the prestigious trainer brand Nike commissioned from him for promotion, in which we see a notable number of devices drawn from the graphic design trends of 2020, making it without question a graphic design «must».
Why?
- For the use of eye-catching colour.
- For the use of «neon» effects.
- For the heavy contrast.
- For the urban, scruffy «grunge» feel.
- For the use of lighting.
- For the combination of creative formats.
Sense of place by Leta Sobierajski
A project devoted to creating the branding for a well-known clothing label’s season, in which the maker, Leta Sobierajski, has superbly combined traditional graphic design devices with photography, art and abstract elements.
Why?
- For how the project was conceived.
- For the combination of creative devices.
- For the coherence of the result.
- For managing to open a dialogue with the viewer.
Citrix workspace by Velvet Spectrum
The graphic design studio Velvet Spectrum, with Luke Choice leading creatively, gives us this fantastic, spectacular visual project in which the illustration, the typography and the 3D animation stand out.
Why?
- For the use of innovative techniques in modern typography.
- For the striking result.
- For the visual communication.
- For the visual storytelling.
- For being at the forefront of design.
- For setting graphic design trends.
Interactive floor at ZeroSpace by Joshua Davis
Under graphic design and new technologies, Joshua Davis enters this list. An exceptional multimedia designer, he was responsible for the design of one of the spaces at Zerospace, an immersive art event staged at New York’s Penn Station.
Why?
- For being cutting edge.
- For the use of semi-realistic backgrounds.
- For the immersive experience.
Grafica Fidalga by Anthony Burrill
From Anthony Burrill comes this entirely analogue typographic and print project, appearing in this list of the best graphic designs of 2020.
Craft has always hit hard in graphic design and now, with almost everything done digitally, projects like this gain even more force through their personality and the care that goes into each piece.
Why?
- For its personality.
- For its dedication.
- Because every piece is unique.
- For having the guts to appear on a list of best graphic designs.
Atta Girl by Jennet Liaw
Another exponent of graphic design worldwide is Jennet Liaw who, through the design and execution of this spectacular mural, shows us how to take mural painting to another level.
Why?
- For its feminist subject matter.
- For the use of mural painting with 3D effects.
- For the use of large-scale type.
- For the unapologetic use of shape and colour.
Conclusions:
If you’ve made it this far I can call myself satisfied: you’re genuinely curious and hungry for creative inspiration. Congratulations — the road is long, the road is hard, but the road is lined with magnificent works of art that one day you may well be the makers of.
Until then I wish you plenty of work and the strength to keep fighting.
