The world of design sees different trends as the years go on, and it seems designers are taking a new approach in 2021. Venngage, a digital platform that allows users to create personally customized infographics, has predicted the design trends for 2021. This platform has a pretty solid idea of what designs will be trending because they are not only a platform to create designs, but they are innovators of the industry. Here are design predictions from Venngage for 2021.
Muted Colors
Muted colors seem to have taken over in 2020, and this trend is continuing to rise. Rather than have bright colors that pop, many brands have toned down the colors to appear soft.
Brands have transitioned their designs from bright colors to neutral and muted tones. One of the main reasons brands are making this switch is so their users can focus more on the content. When there are bright colors in infographics, the user’s attention is drawn to the colors instead of the text. The text stands out more on muted tones compared to bright colors.
Throughout social media, there is a visible transition from once bold colors to neutral tones. Even fashion trends have seen an increase in muted and neutral colors, and this trend is taking the world by storm. The muted colors are aesthetic brands are looking to achieve, and more and more brands will continue to follow.
Simple Data
Instead of crowded infographics and designs, brands will lean more towards simple visualizations of data. When creating designs with data and statistics, all of the information feels important. However, too much information can overcrowd the design, and it is more effective to use simple visualizations.
When the designer focuses the content on simple statistics, the information is more digestible. Whereas if a user had read an infographic with considerable numbers and percentages, they would feel overwhelmed and unsure of what is significant.
One of the most meaningful takeaways from creating graphics with data is to consider how you want the data to be received. What information is meaningful, why does it matter to the user, and what will they do with that information?
Geometric Shapes
The trend of geometric shapes saw a rise throughout 2020, and this trend only seems to be growing into the new year. Throughout the internet and social media, geometric shapes have been a tremendous part of layouts. The consistency of the brand’s designs may not lie within the images, but they are consistent with the geometric designs.
Abstract shapes and patterns sit in the background of the design while the content is at the forefront. The harmony of the geometric shapes and the muted tones make the designs look fun without taking away from the scope.
Flat Icons
One trend that went away but is slowly coming back is flat icons. Instead of three-dimensional icons, two-dimensional icons, also known as flat icons, are here to stay. As you can tell from the other trends above, designers focus their abilities on content that is easier on the eye. The goal is not to create elaborate designs, preferably creating simple designs, focusing on the content.
Serif Fonts
Instead of using detailed fonts, designers are turning to the classics, the serif fonts. These fonts are basic and easily legible fonts that are used universally. The leading overall trend in brands is simplicity. Serif fonts make a brand look classic, elegant, and trustworthy.
Along with the other design trends, the font is crucial because it is where the content lies within the design. The content should be effortless for the user to read and digest, and serif fonts efficiently get the point across.
Simple Slide Decks
As social media platforms are becoming more advanced, designers find ways to make them as functional as possible. Designers can do this is by creating multiple slides and images for a single piece of content.
Instead of a singular image fitting all of the design and text, designers now have an extended canvas to share information. This trend is on Instagram and LinkedIn, where the pictures seamlessly transition from left to right, one after the other.
Text Heavy Videos
This past year set the precedent of working from home, which means that video production teams do not have visuals, sets, and backdrops to use in a video. Designers have turned to create videos that are text-heavy instead of visual-heavy.
The users can effortlessly read along with what the voice over is saying, making the information digestible. Creatives have done an outstanding job of adapting to the pandemic by making videos more focused on text instead of visuals.
Overall, Venngage has the right idea with the prediction of their trends for the new year. New and innovative design tactics were used during the pandemic, and the innovation will continue to be used in the new year.
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