In 2022 we embraced the 90s, leaned into maximalism, had fun with typography, played with motion, and removed depth from our designs. So what can we look forward to in 2023?
After reviewing numerous articles, here are the most popular 2023 design trends (in no particular order).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Whether it’s hand drawn or created by AI, illustrations are an excellent way to add a unique touch to your designs. And not just flyers, they’re perfect for show signs, social media, mailers, and more. “The other positive to unique hand-drawn illustrations is that other brands cannot copy them, as that image will be unique to yours.” (outsourceaccelerator.com)
TYPOGRAPHY
I can’t stress enough how important typography is. That’s why we saw an emphasis on it this year and we'll see it again next year. Don’t be afraid to experiment with various typefaces. Some great ones to work with are bold fonts, 3D typography, distorted type, flared sans serifs (moving away from standard sans serif but not quite into serif), and even condensed letters.
But, before you get too crazy, I highly suggest you check out my article, Typography Basics, to make sure you’re keeping your designs legible while making a typographic impact.
INCLUSIVITY
This shouldn’t be a trend, it should be the norm, but incorporating inclusivity into your designs “showcases the beauty of who we as species are.” (outsourceaccelerator.com) Showcasing your products with people from varying genders, cultures, race, ability, accessibility, etc helps to envision your product in their life.
3D DESIGN
The opposite of 2022’s removal of depth is 2023’s embrace of 3D elements. Incorporate these popping graphics into your design by adding shadows and contours allowing your audience to “visually enjoy the volume of the product.” (behance.com)
90’S NOSTALGIA
We saw this in 2022 and it’s here to stay for 2023. Nostalgia is powerful so it’s no wonder 90’s vibes are sticking around. The quirky and cheerful feel can be achieved with typography, color, and icons (especially sticker style).
DARK MODE
Dark mode or dark theme has been around for a while and is something we’ll be seeing a lot more of. If you’re designing for digital (instead of print) this is something to really think about. Being easier on the eyes, this will help to reduce eye fatigue, which means more time spent on your site.
MOTION & ANIMATION
What can I say, movement grabs attention! That’s why this trend will be continuing on into 2023. Similar to 3D design, animation brings a sense of life to something flat. Plus, “these scroll stoppers are expected to result in higher conversion rates, more traffic, and engaged leads in your pipeline.” (designpickle.com)
GEOMETRIC SHAPES
If you’re looking for simplicity, try adding geometric shapes to your design. Made popular with the Bauhaus style in the early 1900s, this aesthetic is a pillar in graphic design.
DATA VISUALIZATION
Remember infographics? This is similar but a key difference is data visualization focuses on just one type of graphic - map, graph, chart, or diagram - making them a lot less work.
BOLD COLORS
Engage your customers by using bold colors to support your design. These bright colors tie nicely into the 90’s Nostalgia and Dark Mode trends. When I say bright, I don’t mean neon, think more along the lines of jewel tones - ruby, amethyst, peridot.
If you need a little refresher on color theory, take a look at my article, The Value of Color.
We all love a good trend, but remember, you don’t have to utilize all of these (or any of them) if they don’t fit with your brand. But, it is fun to shake things up every now and then to offer something fresh to your customers. What will your 2023 designs look like?