strategic creative marketing GET IN TOUCH

MENU

instagram@2x linkedin@2x youtube@2x

A SNAPSHOT OF CONSUMER-CENTRIC DESIGN TRENDS OF 2021

REASSESSING OUR DESIGN PRACTICES

We’ve passed the halfway mark of 2021, giving us the ideal opportunity to hit the reset button on our communication tools and design practices. One of the most exciting facets of graphic design is that the consumer landscape that it aims to reach is continuously in flux. As such, the practices embedded within its execution are constantly subject to change.

DESIGN FOR EASE & TRANSPARENCY

As our one-on-one interactions have become significantly fewer, it has become increasingly important for designs to reflect a strong sense of personalisation, understanding, and trust. Communication and design in 2021 should therefore offer an added level of warmth in the overall direction of a given creative output.

You’re encouraged to rely on a few old-school design favourites:

  • Muted colour palettes with a low level of saturation
  • Simple data visualisations that make complex details easy to fathom
  • Serif fonts that are seen as trustworthy and classic

CONNECT THROUGH SYMBOLS, SPARE YOUR READER SOME PRECIOUS TIME

As readers are faced with a mass of information on a daily basis, it becomes essential to communicate in the fastest, and most efficient means possible. To achieve this goal, we’re welcoming intelligently designed symbols, as they offer a quick means of communicating - and simultaneously spare the reader the effort of navigating a complex visual. These symbols convey both literal and figurative meaning through their design - thus carrying a far stronger impact than their simpler counterparts.

The power of a symbol lies in its ability to transcend language, by communicating conceptually rather than linguistically. Businesses are leveraging this power in 2021, with a stark increase in the use of iconography and symbolic representation.

You’re prompted to embrace innovative conceptual techniques like:

  • Compact storytelling
  • Dual-interpretation animation
  • Allegorical icons

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS DESIGNS & VISUAL SELECTION

The changed consumer landscape of 2020 has afforded our creative outputs a new responsibility: to create socially conscious designs. In addition to creating designs that are aesthetically striking, designers are being called on to contribute their talents for the improvement of their community.

We see this in the rise of personalised typography and mask-wearing in the form of animations, illustrations, and stock imagery. We also notice a strong movement away from the use of conventional models in branded content, in favour of more authentic, diverse individuals. We predict that this preference will extend even further - from mere inclusivity to celebration, in the shape of powerful, inspiring visuals.

ADDING THE FINAL TOUCHES

You’re being challenged to consider all the movements in the consumer landscape to inform your research, conceptualisation, and final creative executions. This will allow you to offer visual solutions that are relevant and that resonate with your audience.

In our final article of this series, we’ll be looking at the most effective analytics for campaign success and relevant aspects of Search Engine Optimisation. Stay tuned for more thoughts and insights!

Thank you for making contact. We'll reply to your message shortly!
Something went wrong while trying to send your message, please try again later.
Thanks for signing up to our newsletter. We look forward to sharing strategic creative marketing insights with you.
Something went wrong while trying to add you to our database, please try again later.