7 Of The Hottest Design Trends For 2022

 

As the world starts to slowly emerge from a two year lockdown, we’re likely to see a huge shift in cultural reactions which will ultimately manifest within visual trends. Styles from across the decades are being given a second life and experimental designs are replacing the old with the new. A shift away from the cold Swiss minimalism which has dominated design for the last decade, expect exciting and experimental times ahead.

Here are our predictions of the hottest design trends and visual styles we think we’ll see more of throughout the next year within the world of design.

 
 

TREND 01

Maximalist colour palettes

As the saying goes – go big or go home, but given we’ve all been at home for way longer than we’d like recently, it’s time to go big! A shift towards maximalism is a direct response to the feelings towards monotonous design (and life), designers have gravitated towards colour palettes of seven plus colours, mixing bright neon hues with pastel tones to create a powerful visual punch. This is a trend we’re very happy to see gain traction and can’t wait to see how far it get’s pushed!

Style characteristics:

  • Bright, highly saturated colours

  • Five or more colour hues mixed together

  • A mixture of bright saturated colours with softer pastel shades


TREND 02

TRIPPY TYPOGRAPHY

This trend taps into the hippie culture of the 1960’s with a contemporary twist. Sans serif, Swiss style typography is being replaced with modern serif fonts with added character. Inspired by the rise of interest in self care and spiritualism, these fonts embody the idea of free spirit with an elegant sophistication.  

Style characteristics:

  • Elegant serif or hybrid fonts

  • Contrast letter line weights

  • Flowing, psychedelic, rippling lines

For some great examples, check out – Park Lane Hotel redesign by Mother London | VJ-Type | Okulus on Behance


TREND 03

a joyful revolution

The world has felt very serious recently so brands focusing on spreading more joy in the world is certainly welcomed by us! On a deeper level, we’ve seen a rise in the rejection of the hustle culture and move towards a focus on self-care, joy and finding meaning in the everyday. As a result brands are moving towards a more upbeat, light-hearted look and feel anchoring their messaging around positivity and joyfulness. Think feeling over function and engaging customers on a much more emotional level.

Style characteristics:

  • Put the feel good factor front and centre

  • Puns and witty one-liners

  • Friendly shapes and human faces

Check out – Nuud brand design by Mother London


TREND O4

THE RISE OF anti-design

The rebellious design movement, this trend is all about challenging conventions and traditional design principles. The aim? To create designs which are free from constraints, liberated to take any direction it pleases. It’s unsettling and demands attention, whether it’s legible is another question but it certainly projects energy and dynamism which is hard to ignore. Designers aren’t limiting themselves to traditional typefaces, instead opting for variable fonts, using a flexible single typeface to create richer, more customised experiences.

Style characteristics:

  • Variable fonts

  • Asymmetry

  • Clashing colours

  • Crowded elements and a breaking free from the grid


TREND 05

spirit of the 70’s

Another decade that is showing a revival and a direct response to years of minimalistic design, is the vibrant seventies. This trend began in the fashion world with brands such as Alessandro Michele’s Gucci leading the way, we’re now seeing this filter through into the wider design world including interiors, graphic design and film cinematography. Think flamboyant patterns, saturated and bold colour palettes and voluptuous letter forms.

Style characteristics:

  • Rich and vibrant colour palettes (think orange, green, yellow and lilac)

  • Simple floral motifs

  • Flamboyant repeating patterns

  • Curvaceous type


TREND 06

BRANDS IN MOTION

There’s no denying that the online space is feeling a little crowded, so brands are looking for other ways to add character and stand out - adding motion and movement is the perfect scroll-stopper. Motion adds an extra layer to a brand personality, similar to tone of voice, the way a brand moves can act as a brand characteristic that is recongisable and feels familiar.

Style characteristics:

  • Adding signature moves to characters or brand elements

  • Playful elements that interact

  • Motion timed to music is a winning combination


TREND 07

HYPER REALISM & ESCAPISM

After the few years that we’ve had, no wonder audiences are leaning towards a need for escapism! The rise in this trend also coincides with improvements in design technology and 3D rendering techniques that designers can now harness to bring scenes and products to life. It appears that designers are wading more and more into fantastical, futuristic worlds, representing the idea of escapism in it’s purest form, with the aim of letting viewers lose themselves as they explore the visual world before them.

Style characteristics:

  • Utopian, dreamy, futuristic landscapes

  • Hyper coloured scenes

  • 3D illustration rendering

  • Immersive experiences

For further examples, check out the work of Sagmeister & Walsh.


There we have it! Our 7 graphic design predictions for 2022. It’s mash up of styles and outlooks set to make an exciting year ahead in the design world, bringing a mix of the un-mixable, nostalgia, movement, and open-mindedness.

Which trend is your favourite? Are there any you think we have missed? We’d love to hear!

If you’re wanting to stay ahead of the trend and feel that it’s time for a brand or website refresh, our Design Intensives are perfect for this result. Book a call and let’s chat!

 
Helen Bamborough

A brand design studio for female entrepreneurs, in particular mothers looking to use their talents to build brands and leave a legacy beyond motherhood.

https://www.mumfolk.com
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