We’re coming to the end of 2017, and it’s the right moment to look ahead and see what the graphic design trends during 2018 will be.
Working in graphic design has something of the fortune teller about it: we always have to keep one foot in the future, set trends and know which ones will work and which ones to follow, discarding any idea we already know won’t fly.
So without further ado, here’s a selection of ideas that will be graphic design trends during 2018, and they’re going to be everywhere.
Graphic design trends 2018
1. Minimalism and simplification
There’s nothing new about this compared to other seasons, but it does seem to have arrived to stay for a while.
So next year the trend for 2018 will be to carry on building from minimalist, conceptual imagery.
Where?
- Logos
- Business cards
- Corporate identity
- Web design
- Graphic design in general
2. Vintage
Another of the classics that arrived and doesn’t look like leaving easily in 2018; at this stage there’s little I can tell you about the vintage and retro look that you don’t already know.
In short: how cool is the old tin where grandma keeps her savings.
Where?
- Logos
- Corporate material
3. Art Line
For the uninitiated, Art Line is characterised by building from linear design, borrowing a little from the minimalist style.
The ability to create great designs from very little information without losing elegance makes this style a winner for our clients and their designs.
Where?
- Logos
- Business cards
- Corporate identity
- Web design
- Graphic design in general
4. Negative space
Negative space is also one of these trends for 2018; its great capacity for drawing users’ attention and the interplay between the shapes make this device another winner during 2018.
Generally used to convey a double meaning, with a couple of colours we already have the bare minimum to make something beautiful.
Where?
- Corporate identity
- Logos
- Cards
- Advertising
- Web design.
5. Typography
It had been decades since typography enjoyed such a good moment; not since the Bauhaus years had it mattered this much in the mainstream.
At last it can sit comfortably at the project table and claim its place in a graphic design.
Using the right typeface — the special, unapologetic one — will be as big a trend for 2018 as any other element of a project’s graphic design.
In this area we’ll see the arrival and consolidation of typefaces that mimic an organic writing style.
Where?
- Logos
- Graphic design in general
- Corporate identity
- Web design
- Advertising
6. Handmade
With the aim of getting a product that’s entirely bespoke and as personal as possible, during 2018 we’ll see this way of designing and making settle in as a trend.
One thing this kind of graphic design has going for it is its ability to build bonds with brands on a more personal level between buyer and seller, bringing those two parties close enough to practically shake hands.
Where?
- Logos
- Posters
- Advertising
- Marketing
7. Shapes and more shapes
Following on from the previous point about lines, it’s now time to talk about geometric shapes.
It’s a trend that has been worked on for a while, but next year will be when it takes on greater importance — the technique needs polishing and mastering, and that takes time.
Within this point I want to highlight the Low Poly graphic design style.
I include it under the geometric style because it’s basically the same thing, but here the idea is to fuse minimalism with the geometric style.
Or in other words: building from as few polygons as possible.
Where?
- Logos
- Corporate identity
- Business cards
8. Cinemagraphs
This device is very similar to the animated GIF we see today.
The difference between the two is that in a cinemagraph the image stays still while a small part of it moves.
Where?
- Web graphic design
- Digital marketing
9. Text and photography
We’re going to use photographs with very strong, very defined colours set against large text in a soft colour. The result? We capture the user’s attention completely and get them reading the text without realising it.
Where?
- Advertising
10. Adapting to the medium
Here we’ll see one of the trends of 2018 being the creation of all kinds of work that accounts from the outset for the medium it will be shown in.
So a step beyond the typical responsive website design: we’ll see logos and other elements become aware of the medium they’re in and display one way or another accordingly.
Where?
- Web design
- Digital marketing
And that’s our tarot reading for 2018, shedding a little light on what the graphic design trends for 2018 will be.
Related work
If you are looking to apply any of this to a specific brand:
