5 Graphic Design Trends in 2023

Everything from logos and websites to advertisements and product packaging has the ability to either positively or negatively influence your outlook on a company or service. We know that keeping up with graphic design trends can feel overwhelming—after all, it’s almost like we have a new one every day!

But with that many options comes the opportunity to stand out in your industry by creating a unique visual identity for your business, product, or brand. With that in mind, here are 5 graphic design trends you need to know in 2023 so you can apply them today.

Be authentic and transparent with your visual language

A big part of branding is developing your visual language, and the authenticity of that language is integral to the success of your brand. Your visual language should be authentic, transparent, and consistent across all visual media—logo, social media images, website design, printed collateral, marketing visuals, etc.

This helps customers to recognize your brand from the get-go, which is important when your company or product is competing in a saturated market. Additionally, your visual language is the first thing that customers interact with when it comes to your products or services, so it can make or break their initial experience with your brand.

Collaboration will be key

As the industry continues to change and evolve, we’re seeing a shift towards more visual-focused marketing strategies, like video. As a result, marketing teams are leaning towards more collaborative processes when it comes to designing marketing assets. Not only do designers, videographers, and marketers work together to conceptualize and create compelling content, but they also sit side by side while editing it.

With tools like Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and even Google Drive, working together to create one cohesive video has never been easier. And while the video content is being created and edited, the marketing teams are next door creating the assets that will be used to promote the video. This allows for a seamless, brand-wide rollout in both visual and written communication.

Flat design will continue to be relevant

Flat design has been a significant trend for the past few years, and brands have been able to use it to create visually impactful content, as well as scale their work across all devices. However, we’ve seen the rise of new design trends, and many designers believe that flat design will become obsolete. While it is true that some of the concepts associated with flat design will be phased out, the general aesthetic of using bold, simplistic colors and shapes will remain a key element of design.

Flat design has become an industry standard that spans across all industries and disciplines, which means that it’s been tried and tested. There are few industries that don’t use flat design in some way, meaning there’s minimal risk in relying on it as a core part of your visual identity.

Check out our library with hundreds of collections of flat illustrations for your design project!

Video integration will be imperative

Another trend that’s been steadily rising over the past few years is the trend towards video-first marketing strategies and the integration of video into other channels such as social media, email marketing, and even online shopping. This shift is due to the fact that people are spending more time watching videos than reading articles or blogs.

Although reading is still a key part of the customer journey, it’s important to note that a customer who is watching a video about your product or service is already 70% more likely to buy than someone who is reading about it. And with the increase in social media use—as well as the fact that videos have greater engagement and click-through rates than text-based posts—it’s no surprise that social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn are shifting towards video-first strategies.

More immersive experiences will be demanded

As humans, we’ve always been fascinated by what’s beyond our reach, and that’s why experiences like travel, foodie tours, and concerts are so popular. But these types of experiences are not just popular—they’re required. And while they’ve been around for a while, they’ve become increasingly more mainstream as society has become more visual and virtual.

People want to experience a brand’s culture, philosophy, and lifestyle through more than just a screen. They want to feel it, which is why things like pop-up experiences, immersive events, and even augmented reality have become so significant. These experiences have the ability to go beyond visuals, creating a lasting impact on your customers and their perceptions of your brand or product.

Conclusion

Graphic design is much more than just creating logos or creating advertisements. Graphic design is the process of applying visual communication and visual aesthetics to a wide range of disciplines, including product design, architectural design, fashion, public relations, marketing, software development, etc. When we think about the future of graphic design, we often think about what the core concepts and elements of design will be.

And while some trends hit their peak and others are introduced, it’s important to remember that what really matters is the context and application of these trends.

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