The past couple of years have been challenging, hectic, scary, unpredictable, and many more things all at once.
From the Black Lives Matter movement to a global pandemic and the threat of nuclear war, the likelihood is all of us have felt more unrest in the last two years than in the rest of our lives. Surely 2023 is time to wind down and feel more human?
Pantone ended 2022 by announcing that Viva Magenta will be the colour of this year – a colour dripping with emotion. They said: “It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.” Sounds good to us!
Pantone’s yearly shade will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the designs and creative decisions we all make in the next 12 months – so what else is on the agenda for this coming year when we look at design trends? Here are a few of our favourites.
#1 Brands making a human connection
Consumers and businesses alike crave genuine human connections when experiencing different brands. These connections usually come in the form of an emotion – ranging from relatability and empathy to humorous moments and tongue-in-cheek straplines. A great way to create connections through your brand is through rich photography and/or videos, as well as through your brand’s tone of voice. Inclusivity and diversity should be at the foundation of your designs which will expand your connections and reach.
#2 Data visualisation
Our brains can process visuals 60,000 times faster than text, and with the average consumer’s attention span being just 8 seconds, great data visualisation remains a super important trend to focus on for 2023. From 3D infographics to LinkedIn survey visualisation, you need to share clear, user-friendly, attention-grabbing data.
#3 Virtual reality
In recent years, the Virtual Reality market has grown significantly in the tech space as well as in popular culture. Most industries want to grab attention and showcase the cutting-edge new technology they are applying to differentiate their business. Illustrating this with stunning futuristic/AI themed visuals, luminous accents, 3D components and bright gradient overlays all help to reinforce the latest tech your business is investing in.
#4 Expressive typography
Expressive typography breaks the rules of typical font display to ensure your unique messaging is communicated to your audience, and to help you stand out from the crowd. It can use font, size, repetition, form, colour, contrast, position, and space to evoke a feeling or send a message.
#5 3D graphics
3D elements are way more diverse than we give them credit for, and can reach out to your audience and give depth to your designs without appearing cute and cuddly. Think 3D scientific drawings and diagrams that give great insight, 3D icons that jump off your web page, and 3D infographics that communicate your processes and data. 3D fonts, 3D brand elements, 3D animations – why be flat when you can be fantastic?
So there we have it, the biggest trends that we think will take the design world by storm in 2023.
Want to talk more about creating inspiring designs for your business? Feel free to get in touch.
This latest thinking article was written by:
Grace Williams
Head of Design
