Top Graphic Design Trends 2024: Quick Overview
In the world of design, creativity knows no bounds. In the past, we’ve witnessed various trends spanning from vintage to futuristic aesthetics and from neon colors to pastels.
Whether you’re a professional graphic designer or just diving into the design realm, we promise a burst of inspiration and a roadmap to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of creativity.
Join us as we uncover graphic design trends set to shape the coming year!
1. Retro Rewind
While 2023 was all about Y2K, it’s time to boogie back even further!
2024 is bringing back that “ jazz” and “funk” from the 60s and 70s, adding in some warm and darker hues, neon colors, bold lines, and pop art vectors.
Apart from classic retro television and vintage cars, we’re also blending modern designs and colors with old-school illustrations and vintage fonts.
This style creates a cozy nostalgic atmosphere that’s just perfect!
2. Geometric Shapes
Geometry and grid designs are more than just the structure; they enhance the hierarchy of design while leaving space for creativity.
Stripes and grids in 2024 are transforming into abstract and fluid shapes that look as flexible as your imagination.
Likewise, geometric patterns create engaging visuals. These patterns can make designs dynamic and captivating.
Want to make your visuals more modern? Add floating 3D shapes, especially those cylinders, spheres, tori, and abstract curves. Bonus points if these shapes come in a holographic design!
3. Simple But Bold
Who says minimalism is out of trend?
Black and white is stunning, especially when you sprinkle in a touch of color — add a classic red or even a splash of neon for futuristic vibes.
Minimal designs give your products a sleek feel while keeping things simple and user-friendly. Plus, they shine a spotlight on what truly matters in your design — ideal for showcasing products in your ads!
4. Multimedia Collage
Digital collage has been a thing for awhile, but collage designs in 2024 will be different.
We’re not just sticking magazine scraps anymore. We are upgrading our collage designs to mix media, throwing in cloth or paper textures that’ll make your design more tactile, like you could reach out and touch them.
The result? A visual masterpiece that’s eclectic, eye-catching, and entirely YOU!
5. Abstract Brutalism
Just like Brutalism architecture, this design is raw. It’s gritty, yet somehow, minimal and functional.
These designs are inspired by ’90s punk and alternative music scenes, mixing with modern minimalistic touch by rocking monochromatic schemes like black, white, or shades of gray.
To make it distinctive from minimal designs, add sharp edges, abstract shapes, layers with grunge texture, grain effects, and strong typeface that stand out.
6. Hand Drawn Illustrations
Corporate graphic designs in 2024 don’t need to look all serious. Lately, people are adding cute yet professional handmade illustrations to their brand books.
Doodles make your design more unique and more fun for your customers. Because who said grown-ups can’t enjoy a sprinkle of fun too, right?
7. Rise of Risograph
Risograph is a mix of screen printing and photocopying that adds distinctive textures and colors to the prints. This super cool printing technique is becoming a big deal in graphic design circles.
People love quirky prints. And rawpixel also has a risograph photoshop effect for you to upgrade your photos. Why not give it a shot and make your design more iconic?
8. Eco & Ethical Designs
In the whirlwind of tech-savvy designs, guess what’s keeping its cool factor? Yep, sustainability!
Loads of products are rocking eco-friendly packaging — cardboard boxes, paper cups, and more. Nature’s palette like lush greens and earthy browns, coupled with charming motifs of leaves and trees are the way to go.
Remember: the shift towards sustainable packaging isn’t just about being trendy; it’s a responsible and ethical move for our planet.
Quick tip: You can easily see how your logos and designs look on sustainable packaging using our rawpixel Mockup Generator !
9. Be Authentic
Gen Z and Millennials are rewriting the beauty standard rulebook, and guess what? Realness is the new beauty! It’s something real and relatable that touches your audiences’ hearts.
So, select authentic photography that capture a wide range of facial features and genuine expressions. Real life isn’t always “picture-perfect,” and that’s what makes it awesome!
10. Inclusivity Matters
Inclusivity always matters. Today’s world celebrates diversity in races, genders, and abilities.
When we embrace inclusivity and diversity, our designs reflect the world as it truly is — a beautiful mix of all shades and shapes.
Society is diverse, and selecting stock photos that accurately reflect the real world is important for breaking stereotypes and helping everyone be seen and included.
11. Wellness & Mental Health
We’re witnessing a seismic change in the way we talk about wellness and mental health. Now? Stock photos are stepping up their game, showing off nature spa scenes, calming yoga poses, meditation moments, and the whole mental health spectrum!
And these new photos aren’t just pixels on screen; they reflect the range of emotions all humans go through — raw, real, and relatable.
We’re talking about diversity, genuine expressions, and expressive illustrations that make you nod, “Yeah, I’ve been there.”
12. Bold Colors
No design trend roundup is truly complete without diving into the color trends.
The future is looking bright — literally! And it makes sense why popping color palettes would make a great design, as it goes with almost every style from understated minimalism to vibrant maximalism.
Feeling minimalistic? Pick a sleek design with a splash of bold color that pops just enough to catch the eye. You can’t go wrong with bold colors like red, yellow, and orange or neon colors like bright green and pink!
13. Muted Natural Tones
Peach Fuzz is PANTONE’s color of 2024. It represents a cozy dream that wraps you in warmth and togetherness. It represents what the 21st century is yearning for: closeness, connection, and compassion.
Apart from peachy tones, muted earth tones are also having their moment. Thanks to TikTok and social media, we witnessed Tomato girls aesthetics, and a recent shift to Latte’s hues.
Colors like soft terracotta evoke warmth and grounding, while dusty sage greens or muted olive tones are like a calm, zen oasis. Mauve or dusty rose adds a touch of softness.
2024 is the year that warm and comforting colors come together to paint our world!
14. Metallic Touch
The metallic touch is taking the creative world by storm, giving your creations a solid, three-dimensional edge.
Metallic fonts, like liquid metal fonts, possess kinetic depth, almost like they’re dancing off the screen or page. Plus, you can add colorful holographic colors to the fonts or metallic backgrounds for a lively upgrade.
So, don’t be afraid to forge your design with an extra futuristic makeover.
15. Bold Fonts
2024’s vibe is a total mashup of contrasting elements — retro vs futuristic, minimal vs maximalism, bold colors vs pastel palettes.
But among the colorful trends we’ve been exploring, bold typeface stands out.
2024 is the year you restrain from blocky and stern fonts. Instead, for retro designs, opt for flared fonts to nail the nostalgic mood while adding a modern twist. Alternatively, stretchy elastic fonts add a playful bounce.
It doesn’t end there. Pioneering brands are having a blast with typography-focused designs. They keep it simple and functional — just cool texts and vibrant colors.
Another way to make your fonts more interesting is by embracing a serif typeface.
You didn’t read that wrong! Serif typefaces might often be used on formal designs due to their elegant decorative strokes at the ends of letters. However, they can pop up as a modern and chic detail for your logo, poster, and aesthetic designs.
16. The Rise of AI
As AI tools become more accessible, it is not surprising to see more designs with the help of AI. Many people are using AI as design assistance, making the impossible possible.
When you add an AI graphic to elevate your design, make sure to explore new creative horizons. You can take surreal images as inspiration — people are trying out something truly out of this world!
At the same time, many people are experimenting with different prompts to give AI-made images a lifelike touch, steering away from hyper-realistic styles. This shift aims for images that feel genuine and relatable.
17. Made by Designers
With the birth of accessible AI, people are craving a human touch — designs and graphics that are made specifically by real people, for real people. Something crafted by hands, hearts, and creative minds.
At rawpixel, our shelves are stocked with photos, illustrations, templates and designs whipped up by designers, ensuring authenticity and creativity.
And that wraps up our forecast for the most anticipated design trends of 2024. From the clash of retro and futuristic vibes to the bold versus pastel palette showdown, it’s been a rollercoaster of creativity.
Written by Ketsarin J., co-curated by Tipsuda C.
