Hello fellow designers, creatives and curious folks. We hear it all the time. We look for it all the time. We see it out in the world, scroll through it on tiktok. We are always chasing that dragon. The ever present, ever changing and ever elusive "HOT NEW DESIGN TRENDS."
The ones clients just need because they are SURE these new trends they can't put their finger on will work for their new product they plan to launch after Thanksgiving and expect to see BILLIONS in revenue from.
Well, after that way too long intro: buckle up. We're going in. These are some of the 2024 design trends that I predict based on what we've seen so far.
Handmade. Anything handmade looking. Doodles, illustrations as a respite from the .ai heavy designs we saw in 2023. The pieces that connote a human touch and differentiate themselves from the uncanny valley world of ai.
Unexpected typography These designs pay homage to the lost art of actual writing - not to mention cursive writing (which isn't even being taught in a lot of schools anymore). Expect to see more use of handwritten fonts that give a personal and human touch.
70s Revivalism is sparking a comeback. Finally! I welcome this comeback to folk design, to traditional arts and the most amazing inspiration of all (and often our first time creating): Arts and Crafts!
Digital collages will continue to grow. We see this in news, entertainment, fundraising, movies, music - you know name it. Digital collages allow for endless possibilities and offer designers a versatile and visually captivating way to tell stories and convey messages by combining different elements.
I'm seeing a pattern here. All of these design trends point to one feeling: nostalgia. Nostalgia makes us feel good. It helps us remember the happy times. Is this emphasis on a nostalgic aesthetic a purposeful tactic to divert attention from the reality that reminiscing is often more enjoyable, secure, and simply less anxiety-inducing than contemplating the future? Maybe. I'm not sure what the world will look like at the end of 2024. But until then, I think we can count on being soothed by more human-centered, handmade looking designs and collages that throw away notions of .ai and embrace the familiar.
Ashley, What a fascinating connection you are drawing between design trends and the overall cultural mood of anxiety.