2024 DESIGN TRENDS.
With the rapid growth of AI, there are some that fear the extinction of well thought out design. Whilst AI is progressing at a meteoric rate, our delve into the trends of the upcoming 12 months highlights a yearning for all things retro, with content leaning into styles we’ve perhaps seen before, but with a little helping hand from everyone’s frenemy - artificial intelligence.
Pixels
Think ‘modern day mosaic’ - which is what this design trend boils down to. Since the boom of Minecraft, pixelated design has spilled out of the gaming world and into fashion, music and in some cases interior design. Elevating the style and pulling it into 2024 we’re seeing people opt for circles or other shapes over the traditional squares with this design.
Allowing images to work alongside pixelated elements or using them to create a feeling of motion in a static is something to consider when designing for the sports world. Distortion and using all elements of a design toolkit separately to elevate content whilst evoking a feeling in the viewer is something we expect to see brands trying their hand at more throughout the next 12 months.
The (un) realistic
Hyper realistic 3D designs in unrealistic settings, or more, realistic settings have seen a rise in popularity for brands across all sectors. Products have taken centre stage, as one would imagine in an ad, defying the laws of physics or sitting alongside a warped logo. Combining real world footage with generated motion pieces to create a warped reality to showcase a product.
3D graphics amongst real world scenes and playing with textures in motion seems to be where this styling is making its headway. We’ve seen makeup brands take over tube lines and Big Ben wearing a coat. Pushing the boundaries of reality within design is a trend we think will continue to grow in the near future.
Cyber distortion feeds into this trend too, with mixed reality lending itself perfectly to what this trend boils down to - which is featuring things in a space where they don’t typically belong.
Gradients/ Print methods in a digital space
Alongside the reminiscent nature of pixels and audiences leaning towards nostalgic design trends - we’re seeing the resurgence of some print methods being recreated in a digital space. Risograph printing is known for slapping you round the face with colour and this is something we’re seeing being leaned into when working with a select colour palette. Recreating old school effects in a modern space is something we expect to see more of in 2024.
Applying gradients over image based graphics using retro technology advertisements as inspiration. Gradients used in the correct way can instantly warm up or cool down an image. Adding textures such as this to designs can take audiences back - again rounding back to the nostalgic angle many are taking in their designs.
Simplicity and condensed colour palettes
Delving deeper into the condensation of colour pallets, instilling a strong brand within the sporting world is at the top of every designers list. Fans instantly recognise their team's colour and pattern, stripping things back and using only one or two colours within a graphic can be a smart avenue to explore when creating something informational such as a line up or game schedule.
Creating and implementing patterns that are clean and strict with their colourways can connect a series of graphics. Exploring different elements of clean cut, simple design is something we expect to see a lot more of in the coming months.
Holographic
Looking into colour trends in sport we predict that teams will lean more into holographic colorings. This has been seen already in football kits and on the runway as well as in several campaigns as the Y2K trend stands the test of time. Again this is a nod to past trends and nothing we haven’t seen before, but with a modern edge and the use of new technologies - petrol tones have been thrust back into the mainstream.
Especially in motion pieces, holographic effects can offer textures and dimensions that catapult design. At the end of the day - we want our social outputs to be liked and shared to gain that ever sought after reach, so posting something that is quintessentially ‘cool’ is the way to go. Bringing in elements that aren’t typically sports based opens up the net to capture a wider audience with social media being the vehicle used to do so.
Fonts
Typefaces are just as important in a brand book as colour schemes and patterns, but where the copy is placed on a graphic can also elevate it. We’re seeing a movement towards typography lockups and use of negative space within a graphic. Using functional and utilitarian design to display information on a page whilst making bold headings the main event..
Heavy serif fonts are generally used here as they merge well with other design elements - they can be seen across many sectors and add a luxurious feel to designs when used in the correct way.
Playing with copy is something that will always be done in design, especially when we look at sports graphics where oftentimes data is what is being shared. Lineup graphics and leaderboards locked into a house style can keep viewers engaged when executed well.
To Conclude
In essence we’re seeing that trends no longer sit within their own categories, and it's quite likely that we’ll be seeing similar postings from a high end fashion house and a Premier League football club. This joining of audiences online and shared nostalgia has opened up doors to allow for sports content to push boundaries and set the precedent in graphic design.
If you’re a club or organisation who wants to see where we can collaboratively take your brand, get in touch with the team here at Azzuu and we’d love to discuss how we can help you with all areas of digital content.
Written by Team Azzuu