Graphic Design Trends to Look Out For in 2023

By Joel Nekooie

As social media continues to evolve, so does the world of branding and graphic design. 

It’s a new year, so here comes a new wave of design trends! The competition is growing stronger and businesses are desperately fighting for user engagement; graphic designers are, without a doubt, in high demand right now. It’s due to these creative roles that audiences find grounds to connect with the brand, become loyal customers, and enjoy content. Essentially, good graphic design equals a brand that stands out visually. 

Since branding is one of our specialties as a media agency, we’re always adapting to changes in the design industry and applying modern techniques to our channels for increased online visibility. This is something that all companies need to be aware of since it can directly affect business leads, and it’s also a perfect example of why specialists like us exist: we mould our clients’ assets to correlate with current visual trends whilst maintaining a solid brand identity. 

Ironically, the new year favours the older styles in design. The ‘60s, ‘70s and even ‘00s influence on the art and digital experience are predicted to dominate the design industry in 2023. Nostalgia is a common theme that evokes a sense of comfort, hence, historical design will be embraced and re-explored in modern media. 

Selected by our own design team, below are some of the top trends in graphics to look out for this year. 

Motion Graphics 

Whilst static imagery can be captivating, animated graphics can really give your brand that extra creative boost and encourage more activity on your page. This is mainly thanks to the influence of short-form video such as Instagram Reels and TikTok. Flocks of users are migrating over to these platforms due to their highly engaging user base and in turn, bringing graphics to life can be much more capable of grasping interest. This interactive trend is why there is now a surge of social feed and UX designs, one example being Apple Music. 

For our sports clients, we are constantly integrating motion graphics into our video production, from long-form YouTube video openers to short-form interview content, to a multitude of lower thirds styles, to intriguing transitional motions, to looped kinetic typography, to experimental mock-ups for engagement… the list goes on!  

Without the element of animation, certain forms of content would not deliver the same effect. So, we always ensure that our motion graphics meet the same standard as our celebrated still graphics. 

Abstract Elements 

Bold, abstract shapes and geometric elements are making a comeback. You can expect sharp objects, bubbles, blobs, or freeform organic shapes to spice up designs throughout the year. Take Slack for example, which has a simple brand style but uses flat, abstract shapes in bright colours to catch the eye. 

On another note, 3D effects have also been on the rise lately, which makes sense considering the latest advancements in design technology. Since many software packages are offering high-quality renderings, immersive product experiences are becoming more favourable; you will likely notice three-dimensional elements across logos, icons, and typography in 2023. 

These are components that we often explore with clients LEN through background elements, and IMMAF in typography, though we’ve begun to incorporate many more abstract shapes on the whole. Additionally, the branding we have created for the upcoming IMMAF World Championships takes this into consideration, to keep our digital assets fresh. 

Revolutionary Design Tools

Following a revolution in design tools and downloadable material, the playground for content creators has expanded majorly. Software like Figma, recently bought out by Adobe, have changed the game and made graphic design much more accessible for everyone, non-designers included. 

Downloadable features such as brush and shape pattern packs that are compatible with Adobe also facilitate the design process for many and are further examples of how the design sphere has transformed over time. 

Our team is always taking advantage of these resources, we often use the Figma software for mood boarding and various stages of pre-production. It’s also incredibly useful for when we create draft designs or want to test feed orders. 

Maximalism

Ever heard the phrase ‘go big or go home?’ 

Gen Z and contemporary design trends have undoubtedly been defined by the shift from minimalism to maximalism — the new generation is chaotic and therefore seeks equally chaotic visuals to interact with. This maximalist aesthetic is a trend that integrates multiple design styles to give off a rougher, ‘larger than life’ effect. 

Adobe’s social feed demonstrates this and tells a story to its audience. Similar concepts are expected to take over in 2023, because it seems that plain and simple doesn’t always do the trick. 

We experiment with this the most, perhaps, on our own Uni4m pages (and occasionally, IMMAF). The mix of styles may appear destructive individually, but playing with the composition and finding a balance always results in an effective piece of content. 

Strong Typography

One trend in particular that is guaranteed to remain popular throughout the year is bold, custom typography. Font packs created by type designers, effects and distortion tools allow creators to experiment with different text styles to upgrade their content. The possibilities in typography are endless here: bold, condensed, wavy, glitch effects, grunge, broken lettering, varying depths, futuristic touches, negative space, and many more manipulations. 

These styles of confident, expressive typography make a bold statement and are often paired with real photography for honesty during times of global and local societal change. Other times, paired with a simpler but effective background to convey the message. 

We use experimental type across almost all of our large-scale and small-scale projects, for both digital and printed material. Completing graphics with spellbinding text are the icing on the cake for us, and all acclaimed designers.

Infographics

Clean infographics are always great if you’re aiming to send a message in a distinctive way. Whilst statistics and informative posts sound boring to most internet users, a good design team can make all the difference! By inserting some of the previously mentioned elements, paired with a revitalised brand style, captivating graphics can be delivered in this form. 

For our long-time clients, IMMAF, there is plenty of information that requires delivery as a governing body. We took it amongst ourselves to study and produce a vivid set of informative designs in a swipe-along, seamless format which could retain user interest, all whilst maintaining the aspect of professionalism. Take a look below! 

Colourful Tropicalism

As we mentioned at the start, the new year of graphic design will be a blast from the past. This means bringing back bright tropicalism which seemed to manifest back in Y2K. Inspired by funkadelic aesthetics along with hints of Afrofuturism, these retro design circles are being revived and are heading into the mainstream; this is particularly seen in print or poster-style graphics. Take MTV Music Week in Düsseldorf for example; it uses its own unique style of retro elements but has clearly taken inspiration for colour usage and shapes. This trend is packed with colour-rich illustrations, geometric elements and bold, ‘funky’ typography. 

Our recent social campaign activation for women in IMMAF has been graphically influenced by this rising style. Since the aim was to promote female athletes and encourage sign-ups for the upcoming World Championships, it was crucial that our designs were truly empowering. We created a series of vibrant posters using flag colours, various abstract elements, and effects to make them pop. 

Summary

There you have it. Minimalism and realism are out; experimental designs are in. 

Many of these aesthetics encapsulate the future and promote a forward-moving mindset. It’s clear that today’s graphics are moving away from clean and polished minimalism, which was popular among millennials, and instead they open a door to bold, striking digital material to grasp user attention. 

 
If you want to introduce your brand to cutting-edge designs, don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@uni4mbrand.com