Our predicted design trends 2022

The chaotic events of the past year will undoubtedly affect design trends in 2022. Climate disruptions, the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement are all examples of huge events that will influence design. Read on to discover the trends which we predict will be popular in 2022 and several years beyond.

Business marketing materials are showcasing a much more diverse range of people. There is more representation of different ethnic groups and people with various disabilities, rather than showing an able-bodied white person as the default. At StudioLWD, we make an effort to use illustrations, icons, and photography to ensure we are implementing inclusive visuals. 

The events of recent years have made brands realise the importance of being inclusive and creating a representative marketing strategy. Over the last year, Slack has been implementing more inclusive visuals in its campaigns and website design. Their visuals represent both their diverse workforce and audience. 

Slack’s inclusive design

The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired graphic designers and branding experts to represent wider audiences by being more representative, highlighting different cultures and beliefs.

We believe that 2022 will be a big year for type. Expect fun characterful letterforms, bold colours, flowing lines juxtaposing with sharp shapes. Title sequences on films and TV may well have inspired type designers during the pandemic while binge-watching media on streaming platforms. For example, it is now more popular than ever to add personality or motion to typography.

Nike’s ‘New Play’ campaign

In Nike’s ‘Play New’ campaign, they contrasted elegant flowing type with vivid modern colours. These fresh visuals are perfect for capturing the attention of their target audience. 

Minimalism has been a huge trend in the past few years. This has resulted in countless brands having extremely similar, unrecognisable visuals which aren’t very memorable. However, we have seen this trend slow down recently with some people being more in favour of playful or bold designs.

Maximalism is all about turning up the volume – using bold colours, patterns or objects to create a strong aesthetic which is super eye-catching and unforgettable. However, this isn’t to say that minimal layouts will be on their way out, but additions of maximalism can create a very powerful look and feel. 

Dropbox’s new maximalist branding

An example of a brand that has embraced maximalism in its design is Dropbox. They have used bold colours, diverse patterns and type to create unique visuals across their advertisements and website. 

With so much talk about the environment recently, it is very important for brands to demonstrate their commitment to climate action and sustainability. It is no longer enough to simply use green colours to show that they care about the planet.

Karibou by Firma

As well as using sustainable materials in their packaging or printed materials, their commitment to the planet should be reflected in their visuals. Anton Pinyol, co-founder and creative director at Firma, explains: “Design for sustainability-focused brands used to be full of clichés in terms of colours, textures, typography and visuals. Greenish colours, textured materials, brushes, plants and hands that are holding the world. Modern brands, though, are moving beyond to embrace a radically new attitude full of digital language and bold identity.”

In 2022, expect to see environmental designs with unexpected colour palettes, textures and icons which all make a nod to sustainability. 

As you can see, graphic design trends are always changing. This is why it is important as a business to be adaptable if you want to stay relevant for the modern customer. 

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