Develop skills to meet trends

Like it or not, the graphic design industry is changing. Everything changes; it always has, and it always will. You can keep up with and be part of the changes, or you can overlook and ignore changes and let others pass you by.

One of the simplest things you can do to better recognise trends is read reports, websites, or guides. Often, industry leaders perform original research and compile their findings in one large report, and by taking the time to actually read through it, you can almost always find something in it that’s valuable and relevant to what’s trending right now in your space.

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Watch this video containing 2023 graphic design trends.

Today’s current graphic design trends are driven by everything from the technology available for creating more engaging, responsive imagery, to the purchasing behaviour of specific customers. There are many trend forecasting sites, and it can get confusing about which ones to use for your graphic design outcomes. As design possibilities evolve thanks to the arrival of new trends and technologies, the graphic space is destined to become more exciting in the years ahead. This presents many new opportunities for designers looking to use trends as influence. However, it’s important not to get carried away with trends, and use whichever ones you choose appropriately. Just because something is new, doesn’t mean that it’s better for your work. When examining modern graphic design trends, it’s a good idea to address each concept with a little scepticism. For instance, ask yourself:

• Would embracing these trends in graphic design fix a problem for me?
• Will these trends help or hurt engagement?
• Are there companies successfully using this trend already?
• How do these new graphic design trends fit with your current brand identity?

Answering these questions will help you to decide whether you’re embracing a trend just to jump on the bandwagon, or you’re taking a step that’s valuable for you and your work. Additionally, carefully evaluating the latest graphic design trends will also ensure that you stay ahead of the curve image-wise. Just because you shouldn’t embrace every trend doesn’t mean that you can’t make some positive changes by considering new ideas. It’s practically impossible to keep your brand looking modern if you’re not aware of what’s going on around you.

Design Trend

Here are some key trends that have been identified for graphic design for 2023, alongside visual examples of each trend.²⁴

Punk Revival

Punk is a rebellious culture which has its origins in the 1970s but goes back further with the advent of counterculture in the 1950s. 2023 is witnessing a revival of its mass appeal, as everyday people are finding ample cause to rail against failing systems. Think about the Sex Pistols and the work of Vivienne Westwood in London.

Aesthetically, punk tends to be characterized by DIY techniques like scribbled lettering, cut-outs, mismatched fonts, and chaotic collages. Punk design is an overall rejection of opulence and decorum. It is non-conformist, of the age, and energetic. The images are visually interesting—you can almost hear the outcry of frustration in the jagged edges and graffiti splatter.

Folk Botanical

Patterns are a staple in design, useful for providing backgrounds or framing content. And nature is a common subject matter for patterns, as mixtures of leaves, fruits and vines create compositions as lively as a forest. But in 2023, nature patterns are getting a little less refined through shaky doodles, rough textures, and incongruous colouring.

This trend reinterprets familiar nature themes into unexpected, whimsical drawings. It also rejects the geometrical precision too often imposed by vector art tools. But the vibrancy in these patterns does not only come from the plants but from the shaky imperfections of the human hand. The effect is to make digital artworks feel organic in more ways than one.

Abstract Gradient

Gradients, or colour transitions, have been on trend for a while now, and yet, they somehow manage to keep us on our toes each year. Gradients in 2023 are no exception: this time, they are expressed in abstract shapes and diffused in blurs. The organic forms of abstract gradients create a feeling of weightlessness.

This trend encompasses noisy edges which add a touch of realism, as though these gradients consist of windswept, multi-coloured sand. Due to their soft colours, gradients are naturally calming, and the fluidity of abstract gradients bolsters this effect. And because gradients don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, there is comfort in their reliable presence.

90s Space Psychedelia

While psychedelia often takes its inspiration from nature (consider the multi-coloured clouds and melting mushrooms in many such compositions), space psychedelia is about marrying the future and the past. Originating from the 1960s and 1970s, the psychedelic style has been reimagined. Think Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground in New York of the 1960s.

This trend features 90s retro techniques like Memphis Design patterns, Saturday morning cartoon styles and colours. It mixes in futuristic themes, like androids and spaceships, vapourwave landscapes, simulated environments, and cyberpunk neon. With these bright, imaginative illustrations, the designers of 2023 are looking to the technological future with optimism and quirkiness.

Airbrush Surrealism

Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Think Salvador Dalí and Rene Magritte who created the most widely recognised images of the Surrealist movement.

This trend produces a trippy effect that subdues the usual disorientation surrealism invokes. It is as though we are in some half-remembered dream. In some cases, the blurring of colour creates a soft glow, making the image feel inviting and transcendent. All in all, airbrush surrealism fosters approachability as if to suggest that the strange has now become ordinary.

Complex Compositions

Storytelling is at the heart of design—even when it is conveying abstract traits, it uses cohesive visuals to fit those traits into a narrative about a brand. In 2023, visual storytelling is getting both more literal and more abstract through complex compositions. These are illustrations that contain several “scenes” rolled into one.

Although these designs are dense, they are often stylistically minimal, which supports the inclusion of several elements without exhausting the viewer. This trend not only keeps the viewer’s eye moving through an engaging visual, but it also reinforces the idea that we live on a spectrum, in a world of multiple stories happening all at once.

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Watch this video on these trends and more.

However, just because you need to keep up to date with what’s happening in the market, doesn’t mean that you need to change your entire look every time a new concept arrives. Understanding and using modern graphic design trends isn’t just about copying what competitors are doing. Your goal should be to let current trends inspire you or alert you when your assets might be growing outdated. The good news is that once you begin experimenting with trends in graphic design, you can track which ones work best. By measuring the performance of the latest graphic design trends in the context of your own content and design assets, you can avoid taking any unnecessary risks with your brand identity.

Graphic Design Technologies and Trends at a Global Level

Technology ensures that brands have more opportunities for exposure online. Those who want to interact with clients in a memorable way need an image, and that’s where graphic design comes in. What’s more, the online world means that companies can analyse real-time data and find out which graphical elements are having the best impact on their business. This means that brands aren’t just investing more into designers, they’re also getting a higher return on investment too! Graphic design has become a global conversation between brands, their customers, and the people with the creativity to bridge the gap.

Back when graphic design first became a fundamental part of marketing, artists focused mostly on designing logos and advertising media for their clients in the form of leaflets and banners. Graphic design was an occasional purchase, but today, it’s a consistent part of a solid branding strategy. In fact, some of the best companies in the world use graphic design every day with their social media marketing and content marketing efforts.

In a world where customers want to build stronger, more unique connections with companies, stock photography and dime-a-dozen images won’t do. Graphic designers now have the power to set organisations apart in the digital landscape, with visuals and brand photography that can capture the attention of an entire audience.

Essentially, the role of the graphic designer has changed, from a one-off contractor to an essential part of any business team. Today’s brands rely on their designers not just to create logos and tactical communication pieces, but to establish presence for them in the online world and build recognition for their brand. Graphic design isn’t just about the artwork anymore, it’s about the process of establishing a real connection between customers and companies using words, tone, images, design and technology.

Similarly, a design that inspires the world today, might be old news tomorrow. As mentioned above, the digital revolution has changed the way that graphic designers approach the industry. We’re no longer making assumptions about clients but responding to specific needs based on the understandings gleaned through studies, surveys, and online metrics. As artificial intelligence and machine learning enters the design space, it may even be possible to determine how people feel about a brand without asking them.

Here are some digital technologies that are changing the way that graphic designers engage in the latest developments in the industry, along with weblinks to examples of those technologies.

1. Digital Painting - it is the process of painting on a tablet and creating artwork on a computer. This is done through painting software that uses brushes like those found in a traditional painting. Digital layers can be used to save time. Everything from webcomics to character design and illustrations can be produced.
   The benefits of this are:
   • Timesaving
   • Easy to use
   • Accessible
   • Can be used in conjunction with hand-drawn work
2. Augmented Reality (AR) - is an enhanced version of the physical world that is achieved through digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli and delivered via technology. It combines graphics with real life and uses visual elements, sound and other sensory information through a smartphone, tablet, or smart glasses. For example, think of Pokémon Go, where users search in their real-life neighbourhoods for animated characters.
   The benefits of this are:
   • Interactive
   • Engaging
   • Sharp images
   • Collaborative
3. 3D Imagery - is a process of rendering a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface by creating the optical illusion of depth. The process duplicates the stereoscopic vision of human eyes. The image is reproduced as two flat images that viewers’ eyes see separately, creating a visual illusion of depth as their brains combine the images into one.
   The benefits of this are:
   • Makes work realistic
   • Enables 3D printing
   • Geo imagery and photorealistic components
   • Computer vision is used to create depth of field
4. Motion Graphics - is also called Motion Design, making the relationship between movement and design elements easier to understand. Motion Graphics brings design knowledge to new mediums by adding the elements of time and space to it — i.e., creating movement. Motion is used everywhere, and each situation explores its potential differently. It combines animation, sound, and graphic design.
   The benefits of this are:
   • Greater depth of experience
   • Holds the viewer’s attention
   • Ideal for app development
   • Effective storytelling tool
5. Digital Smell Technology - is the main application of e-nose. With digital scent technology, it is possible to sense, transmit & receive smell through the internet. For the user to feel more realistic effects of movies, the very new facility of digital smell in movies or games has been introduced. The perfume-making companies gave the basic idea for this for the advertisements of their perfumes.
   The benefits of this are:
   • Engaging technology
   • Not just sight, but can smell, sound and touch
   • Smelling screens are in development
   • Films can use this technology to create immersive experiences

Identify your gaps and opportunities

To be able to meet the skills demand in a graphic design career and remain focused and up to date with design trends, it is essential that you are aware of your own strengths and gaps in skill.

1 in 5 workers admit their professional skills are not up to date.
Look at the following ways you can identify your own skill gaps:²⁵

Define your professional goals

First things first, it is imperative that you have clearly defined professional goals to help you narrow down your skill gaps.

Write a list of relevant, professional goals, accompanied by a list of your current skills and proficiencies and another list of the skills you think will be required to achieve your goals. This can be an excellent opportunity for self-reflection, as well as a chance to take stock of your current skill set. From there, you can narrow down the most pressing skills that you need to develop.

Ask your colleagues

Sometimes, we just don’t know what we don’t know. At times like these, it can be helpful to get an outside perspective. For example, you might ask your colleagues to write down your five greatest strengths and weaknesses. Ensure these are constructive criticisms based on your professional output.

Likely, there will be some overlap between the responses you receive. If so, these common weaknesses are probably skill gaps that you should address. By finding these common themes, not only can you reinforce what you are already doing well, but, more importantly, you can identify what skills you need to work on.

You could also ask your manager or other senior leaders in your organisation for tips on how you can grow your skill set. Following this, you might collaborate with your manager to create a professional development plan. Remember, identifying your skill gaps doesn't have to be a solo mission. It is usually a good idea to gather a variety of perspectives to ensure you have a well-rounded view of your skills.

Research in-demand skills

According to SkillSoft, 81% of roles will change in some way due to digital transformation. Graphic design already has a large reliance on technology and it pays to be aware of which of these are going to be most useful for your particular chosen field. Employees must focus not only on identifying current skill gaps but also on developing future-ready skills.

Given this, it is vital to stay abreast of the most in-demand skills. For instance, LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report identifies the highest and lowest priority skills in the workplace.

Look to experts in your field

This tip is simple: research a few experts and thought leaders in your field to see what skills they currently have, what skills they want to develop, and what skills they are prioritising for the future. Then, compare these findings to your current skill set. If common skills arise that you don’t currently possess, it’s probably a good idea to add these to your list.

Meeting design, technological and industry trends

Now you have identified your gaps and created some goals, you can work towards them.

Create a plan

How will you reach your goals? Write down steps you will take and give each one a timeframe to aim for. Put these in your calendar along with mentor or coaching appointments, course or seminar dates and your professional reviews at work.

Organise extra study

Sign up to relevant seminars or short courses that cover the skills you need. Search for these through LinkedIn or other reputable providers. Your employer may cover the cost of these.

Seek a mentor or coach

Arranging some one-on-one sessions with someone you look up to in your field will help you to get clear direction on actions that will help you to improve your skillset. They can help you set goals and provide insider knowledge of the graphic design field you are working towards.

Practice

With every project you work on you will be improving your skills, but before you have a professional job you may not have these hands-on opportunities, or they may not be quite aligned to your skill gaps. If you aren’t getting the opportunities, create your own. Soak up inspiration from your environment for the techniques and skills you would like to develop. Follow design blogs, watch interior design TV shows, watch YouTube tutorials and use the internet to search for design databases that showcase this skill. Practice the skills you are developing using your preferred design programs and note which parts you may need to ask someone for help with.