Benjamin Thomas These shifts take place fairly instantly in the modern world, especially when major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide new functions.
But I’m also referring to structural and editorial shifts in social media platforms.
Vivid colours, geometric forms, bright and dark colour palettes, and hand-drawn images have all been prominent on social media in recent years.
Designing for genuine connections rather than trying to mimic what’s already popular will be at the forefront of 2020’s graphic design trends.
Subdued Colour Schemes
2019 saw a return of bright hues. In 2020, we may see a trend away from bright trademark colours towards more subdued tones.
The “edge” of bright colours is softened with neutral colours to create muted colours. The addition of black, white, or any complimentary colour accomplishes this desaturation.
While the aforementioned example still makes extensive use of colour, it does not detract from the readability of the text or the central message. The pictures would be much more jarring if they were rendered in bright colours.
Because of that injection, subdued colours complement neutral colours exceptionally well. The following illustration is a near-perfect example of how a black backdrop and subdued colours may work together:
The design world is not becoming less colourful despite the growing popularity of subdued colours. In 2020, this will result in a more organic appearance of design elements.
Non-Representational Pictures
Abstract drawings are a great way to stand out in the busy world of social media. Nothing uninteresting like stock images or boring designs.
The killer punch? Every organisation will interpret this style in their own way, therefore your images will never be duplicated exactly.
Casper was ahead of the curve with this development, which both protected them against imitators and gave their online persona a breath of fresh air.
The examples shown above are as one-of-a-kind as it gets. The designers put forth extra effort to produce something unforgettable; they even went so far as to use subdued colour schemes.
Now I understand how challenging it may be to create such images without a full-time artist on staff. However, many icons and drawings are available without charge on Venngage and other design platforms:
The only other issue (and maybe I’m being too fussy here) is that there is no distinguishing branding between the designs of different companies.
Original stock images
Stock photographs that were vivid in colour and style were all the rage a few years ago. Photographs would seem unrealistic because designers would boost the saturation of the colours.
The practise of using unrealistic stock photos rapidly died off. This indicates that in 2020, stock images that are more natural, subdued, and authentic will be in demand.
As more and more companies realise the importance of social media authenticity, the demand for authentic stock pictures is expected to rise.
You’re probably thinking, “Are these real stock photos?” That, all by itself, is an oxymoron. Stock images, by their very nature, are meant to be generic enough to be used in a number of contexts.
However, stock photographs that appear authentic, if not fully genuine, will be vital for your social feeds in 2018. Your company will stand out like a sore thumb if it still isn’t employing them.
Synthesising the Whole Thing
Based on an analysis of hundreds of shares and visualisations, we predict that in 2020, social media will place a premium on authenticity, originality, and transparency.
In an effort to stand apart from the crowd and to keep their fans happy, brands on social media will be putting a lot more emphasis on subdued colours, flowing graphics, and authentic stock pictures.
Do you want to incorporate these styles into your own work? Select one and begin trying it out. Then, one by one, add the remaining fashions until you have a cohesive whole.