26 Feb Futuristic past with a diverse personality: 2020 graphic design
I believe this year is more about predictions than graphic design trends because in 2020 it’s all about breaking rules. It’s the dawn of a new decade, and there’s a feeling in the air that anything can happen, that we are about to witness the next evolution of society and culture as we know it and graphic design won’t stay behind.
As the value of design rises, brands will feel the need to go crazier and that’s why 2020 graphic design will be unexpected and groundbreaking.
Futuristic
With all eyes worrying about the future that lies ahead, it isn’t strange that one of the strongest themes in 2020 graphic design is the futuristic, sci-fi genre called cyberpunk. It will be well represented in the neon-infused color palette, and light effects will continue to be a strong inspiration.
Personality
Over the past decade, learning graphic design has become more and more accessible. That means there are a lot of new kids on the block trying to make a name for themselves on their own. So, if you want to stand out, you’ll have to be true to yourself and stop trying to imitate what someone else is doing. Your personality is your signature. This kind of vibe will bring back the DIY aesthetic with a whole new twist and will reinvent street style art. Slowly the 90s and 80s aesthetics that we all have been loving for too long will leave a space for something brand new, straight from the future, and we can’t wait to see it.
Revival
However, this “looking forward” spirit doesn’t mean we are not going to bring something back, we love it and we are going to keep doing it. What makes 2020 unique is “hyper-pastiche”, designers will be tempted to revive and recreate pretty much all of the different eras. Whether it’s Victorian or Medieval, Art Deco or Art Nouveau, past art styles are merging with modern designs in one crazy but logical collage, in which this disparate aesthetic will feel like a cohesive piece, and each era will contribute equally.
Diversity
Simple illustrations, typography craziness, monochrome themes, shiny metals, cyberpunk aesthetics, earthy vintage colors, minimalism spirit, liquid patterns… 2020 graphic design will be super diverse and impressive. We’ll see amazing design work with lively typography, hypnotic color combinations, retro-style designs filled with future, geometrical line art, handmade doodling, and much more.
A street art style mascot design by byX
A messily hand-drawn font for a paper cup design by halorena
Private party 🍹by Diana Stoyanova
FELETTI – Le Tavolette Classiche by Happycentro Design Studio•
Scratch by Ashford Stamper
Scary Tales vector illustration by Christos
A layered, collage-style book cover design by Meella
A cyberpunk book cover design with saturated shades of pink by CirceCorp
GĄSKA NA HELU – PLAKATY by Ewelina Gąska
2020 will be about opposite elements coming together: light and darkness, past and future, nature and technology, real and artificial. Some can think these graphic design trends or predictions are just a coincidence, but I think they are saying something about the times we are living. We are embracing everything we are, without denial, and we are entering to the electrifying era of change.
May this be your mantra, “It’s all happening!”