11 Top Graphic Design Trends For 2024

Introduction

Staying relevant in the world of graphic design is a constant challenge. As trends evolve and technologies advance, it's easy to feel left behind. But fear not! Here at Stymix, we're dedicated to keeping you ahead of the curve. Join us in exploring some of the top graphic design trends for 2024.

1. Minimalism
2. 3D Design
3. Retro Pixel
4. Maximalist Typography
5. AI-enhanced Graphic Design
6. Nostalgia Design
7. Gradients
8. Abstract Artistry
9. Cyberpunk Aesthetics
10. Bold typography
11. Geometric Shapes

1. Minimalism

Minimalism is a great graphic design trend of 2024. It is timeless and will probably never go out of fashion.

• This trend is rooted in the 20th century, with artists and designers such as Piet Mondrian and the Bauhaus movement.
• It retains simplicity and elegance while adding subtle complexities and layers.
• Minimalist designs use clean lines, lots of space, and only a few colors to look elegant and easy to understand.
• It's really popular on websites, product packaging, photographers, and designers because it helps their work stand out without distractions.

Minimalism Graphic Design examples

Minimalist Product Packaging

Photo by Kafeel Ahmed on Pexels

Minimalist graphic design is so popular in product packaging. One of the best examples is Apple's. Apple's boxes and packaging are very minimalist, with simple designs that make their products look classy and modern. Apart from tech products minimalist packaging is getting popular with consumer goods as well.

Website Design

Websites like Medium and Dropbox use minimalist designs with clean layouts, easy navigation, and minimalistic interfaces. Popular brand Gucci also follows the same trend for their website.

Tech Company Logos

Logos for tech companies like Google and Airbnb are minimalist, using simple shapes and clean letters to look modern and cool.

2. 3D Design

3D design is like stepping into a whole new dimension of creativity. It's all about bringing objects to life in three-dimensional space, adding realism to visual experiences.

• This trend has skyrocketed in popularity as technology advanced, allowing designers to create immersive environments, lifelike characters, and stunning visual effects.
• From product showcases to animated videos, 3D design has become an indispensable tool for brands looking to captivate their audiences and stand out in a crowded market.
• Whether it's a dynamic website interface, a captivating advertisement, or a mesmerizing video game, 3D design has the power to transport viewers to another world.

3D design example

Product Showcase

Image from cgifurniture

3D designs are trending now for showcasing products in virtual galleries. You can view products in 3D, rotating them, zooming in, and exploring every detail as if you were holding it in your hands. A popular example is Amazon's 3D Product View. 3D design is also popular for showcasing planned structures such as these booth designs by 2XRdesign.

3D UI Design

Picture a brand logo that comes to life with 3D animation, transforming from a static image into a dynamic emblem that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression.

Character Design

Video game developers are getting more and more reliant on 3D design for character creation. Sculpting models with detailed textures and realistic proportions, 3D characters are not just for animations. They are also very trendy in creative designing on websites. 

3. Retro Pixel

Retro Pixel is like a blast from the past in the world of graphics & design. And these designs have became trendsetter in recent years.

• Retro Pixel brings back the nostalgic charm of early computer graphics and classic video games like Super Mario, Pokémon, Pac-Man, and Minecraft.
• Hence these designs evoke feelings of childhood memories for a wide range of audience, tapping into a sense of fondness for the early days of gaming.
• It celebrates the simplicity and charm of pixel art, which uses square blocks to create images with a distinct retro aesthetic.
• While originally associated with video games, retro pixel has expanded into other areas of design, including branding, packaging, and digital art.

Retro Pixel Design examples

Pac-Man x Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut's collaboration with "Pac-Man x Pizza Hut" featured pixelated pizzas and Pac-Man-themed packaging, celebrating the retro gaming culture.

Retro Game-inspired Logos

Logos designed in pixel art style incorporate iconic symbols and characters from retro games to evoke feelings of nostalgia.

4. Maximalist Typography

• Maximalist typography is all about breaking the rules and making a bold statement with text.
• Unlike minimalist design, maximalist typography embraces complexity, abundance, and creativity.
• This trend features extravagant, eye-catching typography with elaborate details, vibrant colors, and intricate embellishments.
• It is often used in branding, advertising, and editorial design to create memorable and impactful visual experiences.

Maximalist typography examples

Poster Designs

Posters featuring maximalist typography showcase bold letters in vibrant colors and intricate patterns that dominate the composition, commanding attention and leaving a lasting impression. 

Website Headers

Many websites such as Sigma-ai utilize maximalist typography in their headers, with extravagant and elaborate lettering reflecting the brand's luxury and avant-garde style. 

Packaging Designs

Brands like Hershey's have used maximalist typography in their packaging, where the brand name is prominently displayed in bold, expressive lettering that emphasizes the product's uniqueness and exclusivity.

5. AI-Enhanced Graphic Design

AI has become incredibly popular since 2022, and it has had a huge impact on graphic design, too. From 3D designs to Typography, UX/UI to web design, with AI, you can now create any design they want.

• AI-enhanced graphic designs are the new way designers are using computers to help them make the best graphic designs in less time.
• This trend in design means using smart computer programs and AI to make designing more accessible and fun.
• With AI, designers can fix pictures, suggest how things should look, and even make unique designs just for you!
• AI graphic designing is like having a super smart helper by your side, making designs faster, better, and more creative than ever before.

AI-enhanced Graphic Design examples

Photo Editing

AI-powered tools automatically enhance images, adjust colors, and remove imperfections. That saves a lot time and effort of designers. You can even enhance graphically designed images with AI.

The most popular AI platforms for graphic designers are Adobe Sensei and Canva AI photo enhancer.

Layout Optimization

Design platforms such as Sketch and Figma utilize AI to suggest layout options based on user content. This streamlines their process of creative designing and improves workflow efficiency. Builder.io has a plugin that can generate image with AI for you in Figma.

6. Nostalgia Design

• Nostalgia design is all about bringing back the good old days - the 90s, 80s, and 70s through design.
• This trend taps into feelings of nostalgia, making people remember and feel good about the past.
• Nostalgia design uses elements from the past, like retro colors, vintage fonts, and old-school graphics, to create a sense of familiarity and warmth.

Nostalgia design examples

Vintage-Inspired Logos

Brands such as Levi's often incorporate nostalgic elements into their logos, using retro typography and classic imagery to evoke a sense of history and tradition.

Classic Movie Posters

Film studios may create special edition posters for classic movies, featuring iconic imagery and typography from the original release to celebrate the film's legacy and evoke feelings of nostalgia among fans.

Throwback Packaging

Products like candy or cereal often feature nostalgic packaging, with retro graphics and fonts that harken back to the designs of decades past.

Retro Gaming Art

Video game companies like Nintendo or Sega frequently release games with retro-style artwork.

7. Gradients Design

• Gradient design is one of those trends in graphics artwork that never gets old. It's simply about blending colors seamlessly from one shade to another, creating smooth transitions and captivating visual effects.
• This trend adds an extra dimension to designs, offering a modern and dynamic aesthetic that catches the eye.
• Gradients can be used subtly to add a hint of color variation or boldly to make a striking statement, depending on the desired effect.
• From vibrant and bold gradients to soft and subtle ones, this design trend offers endless possibilities.

Gradients in graphic design examples

Buttons and theme

The social media platform Instagram has incorporated gradient backgrounds and buttons in its user interface, adding a modern, dynamic, vibrant, and bold touch to its design. While IG used multicolor gradient, we chose a more subtle gradient for Stymix.

Background

The music streaming service Spotify uses gradient backgrounds while playing music and even in their website design. Stripe website also incorporated gradient.

Logo

Apple's logo redesign in 2023 featured a subtle gradient effect. It was transitioned from one shade of gray to another, adding a bit of culture to the iconic symbol. They also opted to use multicolor gradient for their headlines on their official website.

Adobe's Creative Cloud logo also contains vibrant gradients. It basically symbolizes the diverse range of creative tools and possibilities available to users.

8. Abstract Artistry

• Abstract artistry in graphic design embraces the freedom of expression and creativity. With forms, shapes, and colors, these graphic designs evoke emotions and provoke thought.
• This trend breaks away from realistic depictions and focuses on exploring the beauty of form, color, and composition in a more subjective way.
• Abstract designs often feature fluid lines, geometric shapes, and vibrant colors. That makes the viewers get more engaged with the artwork on a more visceral level.
• Whether used in logos, illustrations, or website designs, abstract artistry adds an element of intrigue and originality to visual compositions.

Abstract artistry Example

Website

Amy T. Won's portfolio website website features abstract artistry in its design. With fluid shapes and artistic strokes, it reflects the artist's own style of artwork.

Album Cover Art

Many music albums feature abstract artwork on their cover. They are designed using shapes, colors, and textures to capture the mood and essence of the music. Future's DS2 is such an album. 

Campaign Design

Niche Tea combined abstract illustrations and patterns inspired by nature and energy. It really powered up the brand's messaging.

Corporate Branding

Some companies, such as Airbnb, use abstract elements in their branding to convey creativity, innovation, and a forward-thinking approach.

9. Cyberpunk Aesthetics

• Cyberpunk aesthetics is all about imagining a futuristic world where cities glow with bright lights, and technology is everywhere.
• It's inspired by stories and movies where the future looks a bit dark and gritty but also really high-tech.
• Cyberpunk designs use things like bright neon colors, futuristic-looking letters, and cool effects to create a unique and edgy style.
• It's like stepping into a world that's exciting but also a little bit mysterious.

Cyberpunk aesthetics Example

Posters

Posters featuring futuristic cities lit up by neon lights and bold, futuristic typography evoking the cyberpunk vibe of a cool sci-fi movie. Apple tv+ series Invasion has used this theme for their posters.

Logos and Designs

Brands like the game Cyberpunk 2077 incorporate cyberpunk styles in their logos and designs, using bold colors and futuristic elements to create a modern and edgy look.

Websites Design

Websites with flashy effects and modern designs transport you into a cyberpunk world. With neon colors and sleek interfaces, these sites make you feel like you're part of a futuristic adventure.

10. Bold Typography

Typography is a significant part of graphic design. It's getting bolder and bigger nowadays.

• Though it's a part of the maximalism trend, it mainly focuses on typography in bold fonts.
• It uses big, thick letters to catch your eye and make a clear point.
• It's used in things like print and digital advertisements for headlines, and logos to make sure target audience notice them the right away.

Bold Typography Example

Branding

Netflix incorporates bold typography in its branding. With the company name displayed prominently in thick, heavy fonts, the logo itself conveys strength and confidence.

Event Posters

Posters for events like music concerts or art exhibitions often utilize bold typography to announce the event details and attract attendees.

Headlines

The New York Times uses bold typography in its headlines to grab readers' attention and convey the significance of the news stories.

11. Geometric Shapes

This trend has been around for a while, with famous artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian using geometric shapes in their art.

• Geometric shapes in graphic design always remain a trend. It's all about using simple, precise forms like squares, circles, and triangles to create visually appealing compositions.
• This trend adopts clean lines and symmetrical patterns in geometric shapes to convey order, balance, and harmony.
• Geometric designs often feature repetition, symmetry, and abstraction. And it results in visually striking and modern aesthetics.
• Geometric shapes are trendy in modern design styles, especially on websites for architecture, interior design, and tech companies.

Geometric shapes in graphic design example

Google's Material Design

Google's Material Design blends geometric shapes into its user interface elements. Using this concept, they create a clean and modern design aesthetic for their products, i.e., Gmail, Playstore, or Google Drive logo.

Abstract Art Prints

Many abstract art prints use geometric shapes to create visually remarkable compositions. They are popular in trendy fashion and design.

IKEA's Logo

IKEA's logo features bold, geometric lettering with clean lines and sharp angles.

Modern Architecture Brochures

Brochures for modern architectural firms often feature geometric shapes to represent buildings and floor plans. Here's an example.

Conclusion

In a world where creativity never stops evolving, you need to know the most up-to-date graphic design trends. At Stymix, we're all about staying current and using these trends to create amazing designs for you. Whether you want to refresh your brand or start something new, we've got you covered. Let's make your ideas shine together!