18 graphic design trends that are hot in 2024

The graphic design industry is constantly evolving, with trends shifting as new technologies and cultural influences emerge. As creators and graphic designers, staying on top of these trends is essential for producing work that resonates with your audience and stands out in a crowded market.

In this blog, we'll cover the hottest graphic design trends taking center stage in 2024. Whether you're aiming to enhance your online store or looking for inspiration for your next project, these insights will help you stay current and competitive.

• Stay ahead of trends like 3D design and typography to keep your projects fresh and engaging.

• Embrace muted color palettes and asymmetrical layouts for a modern look.

• Incorporate inclusive visuals, hand-drawn art, and sustainable graphics to appeal to socially conscious audiences.

• Experiment with both minimalism and maximalism to find the style that best suits your message.

• Use platforms like Gelato to create and monetize trendy, customizable designs easily.

Stay ahead in the creative world by keeping up with the latest trends. Here's a rundown of the top graphic design trends to keep your designs fresh and ahead of the curve this year.

1. 3D design and typography

3D designs are transforming the way we perceive visuals. They combine depth and realism to create captivating designs that stand out in a saturated market. 

Here's what 3D designs offer:

• Enhanced visual engagement: 3D elements draw the viewer’s eye, making your design more attention-grabbing.

• Increased realism: The added depth and texture make graphics more lifelike, helping users connect with the content.

• Versatility: 3D designs can be applied across various mediums, from digital platforms to print materials.

• Innovative branding opportunities: Custom 3D typography can elevate your brand story, making it unique and memorable.

2. Muted color palettes

Muted colors, characterized by their desaturated and soft tones, are perfect for designs that aim to communicate calmness and elegance. 

Muted tones are perfect for: 

• Creating a calming effect: Muted colors can evoke feelings of relaxation and peace, ideal for brands focused on wellness and comfort.

• Improving readability: With less visual noise, text and other elements stand out more clearly against muted backgrounds, improving overall readability.

• Adding a touch of sophistication: Muted palettes can impart a sense of maturity and refinement to your designs, making them suitable for high-end products.

• Enhancing other design elements: Muted colors work well with various textures and experimental typography, offering great flexibility when creating cohesive visuals.

3. Asymmetrical layouts

Asymmetrical layouts break the mold of traditional, grid-like designs, starting a new graphic design trend of presenting visual content. This trend embraces imbalance and unpredictability, making designs more dynamic and engaging for:

• Increased visual interest: Asymmetrical layouts naturally draw the eye, making your design stand out and capture viewers' attention.

• Enhanced creativity: These layouts provide more freedom to experiment with positioning and proportions, encouraging unique and innovative design solutions.

• Improved storytelling: By using varying sizes and placement, asymmetrical designs can guide the viewer through a narrative in a more compelling way.

• Modern appeal: As audiences become more design-savvy, asymmetry reflects current aesthetics and keeps your work looking contemporary and relevant.

4. Inclusive visuals

By representing diverse cultures, body types, ages, and abilities in your designs, you create a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and respect for all. This approach can broaden your audience and deepen your connection with them, providing benefits including:

• Enhanced brand reputation: Brands showcasing diversity are often seen as more progressive and respectful, boosting public perception.

• Greater engagement: People are more likely to engage with content reflecting their experiences and backgrounds.

• Improved customer loyalty: When customers feel seen and valued, they are more likely to return and support your brand.

5. Hand-drawn illustrations

These illustrations bridge the gap between flawless digital art and tactile worlds, making your brand stand out in a sea of computer-generated graphics. 

Here's how illustrations can improve your designs: 

• Adds a personal touch: Handcrafted elements infuse warmth and personality into your designs, making them feel more approachable and human.

• Encourages creativity: This type of freehand revival drawing inspiration allows for a wide range of artistic expression, letting your unique style shine through.

• Enhances storytelling: A hand-drawn approach can create more engaging narratives, conveying complex messages in an accessible and visually appealing manner.

• Boosts authenticity: Hand-drawn illustrations showcase imperfections, offering a genuine and relatable feel that resonates with audiences seeking authenticity.

6. Retrofuturism

Retrofuturism is a captivating blend of past and future design elements that brings a nostalgic yet forward-thinking vibe to your projects. 

This trend often incorporates sci-fi psychedelia, vintage art revival, and retro stripes, offering a unique visual experience full of: 

• Aesthetic versatility: Retrofuturism's wide appeal makes it suitable for various projects, from brand identities to marketing campaigns.

• Nostalgic allure: This trend taps into the collective memory, evoking a sense of nostalgia that can establish an emotional connection with your audience.

• Innovative edge: Combining vintage elements with futuristic designs offers a fresh perspective, making your work stand out.

• Timeless quality: Retrofuturism merges the best of both worlds, creating designs that feel timeless and relevant.

7. Text-heavy videos

These videos rely heavily on text to convey messages, making them ideal for covering complex topics, highlighting important data, and enhancing narrative storytelling. 

Here's a look at some of their key advantages: 

• Enhanced clarity: Displaying text in videos helps to emphasize key points, ensuring that viewers understand crucial information.

• Wider accessibility: Text-heavy videos are more accessible to those with hearing impairments, allowing them to follow the content without missing out on important details.

• Better engagement: Combining text with visuals effectively captures and retains the audience’s attention, making the content more memorable.

• High shareability: These videos are perfect for social media, driving higher engagement and shares due to their clear and concise messaging.

8. Minimalism

Minimalism continues to captivate designers in 2024, thanks to its clean, concise, and user-friendly visual appeal. By stripping down elements to their core essentials, minimalism not only maximizes visual impact but also enhances user engagement. 

Here are some key advantages:  

• Clear communication: Minimalist designs strip away unnecessary elements, allowing the core message to stand out and making communication straightforward and effective.

• Timeless appeal: The minimalist aesthetic rarely goes out of style, ensuring your designs remain relevant and impactful over time.

• Faster loading times: By default, minimalist websites use fewer resources, which results in quicker load times and better performance on various devices.

• Professional look: Clean lines and orderly layouts inherently convey a sense of professionalism and trustworthiness.

9. Environmental and sustainability graphics

As the green movement continues to gain momentum, environmental and sustainability graphics are increasingly popular in 2024. 

They help: 

• Attract eco-friendly consumers: Eco-conscious consumers are drawn to brands that promote sustainability, increasing customer loyalty.

• Boost brand image: Showcasing a commitment to the environment enhances your brand’s reputation.

• Encourage responsible behavior: These designs can inspire consumers to adopt more sustainable practices.

10. Dark mode aesthetics

As digital devices continue to dominate our daily lives, dark mode aesthetics are more than just a trend—they're becoming a necessity. 

Here are some of their key advantages: 

• Eye strain reduction: Dark mode is easier on the eyes, especially in low-light environments, reducing glare and minimizing eye fatigue.

• Battery conservation: For OLED and AMOLED screens, using dark mode can save battery life, making it an eco-friendly choice.

• Sleek and modern look: Dark backgrounds can make colors and images pop, giving your design a sophisticated and contemporary feel.

• Increased readability: With the right contrast, dark mode can enhance text readability, providing a better user experience.

11. Monochrome effects

This year, monochrome effects are significantly impacting the design world. Monochrome designs offer clarity and simplicity, often creating more memorable visual experiences. 

Here are a few of the key advantages: 

• Versatility: Monochrome schemes are versatile because they can be applied to various design elements, including logos, websites, and print materials.

• Emphasizes content: Monochrome designs reduce distractions, allowing the content to stand out and enhancing readability and engagement.

• Cost-effective: Utilizing a single-color palette can reduce printing costs, which is especially beneficial for print on demand products.

• Elegant and timeless: Monochrome designs often have a classic, timeless appeal that resonates well with different audiences and trends.

12. Neumorphism

Neumorphism, a portmanteau of “new” and “skeuomorphism,” is captivating designers with its soft elements and minimalist aesthetics. This design trend combines subtle shadows and highlights to create a realistic, three-dimensional effect, guaranteeing: 

• Enhanced user experience: Neumorphism's tactile nature makes interfaces more intuitive and engaging, enhancing the overall user experience.

• Modern aesthetic: This trend lends a contemporary and sophisticated appearance to your designs, making them stand out in a crowded market.

• Versatile application: Neumorphism is highly adaptable and can be used in web design, mobile apps, and even branding materials.

• Subtle elegance: With its soft shadows and light highlights, Neumorphism adds a layer of subtle elegance to any design project.

13. Maximalism

Maximalism in graphic design is all about embracing extravagance and complexity. This trend stands in stark contrast to minimalism, favoring intricate compositions, bold fonts, and a vibrant mix of colors and patterns. 

It’s a celebration of abundance, perfect for those who want their designs to: 

• Grab attention: Maximalism captivates the viewer immediately with its vivid details and dynamic elements.

• Encourage self-expression: This style allows designers to showcase their creativity without restraint, making each piece unique and personal.

• Tell a story: Loaded compositions and narrative-rich designs provide depth and context, engaging audiences on multiple levels.

• Break the monotony: In a sea of minimalist designs, maximalism offers a fresh and daring alternative.

14. Collage and mixed media

Collages are no longer confined to just cut-and-paste imagery; they incorporate digital mosaics, handmade illustrations, and generative art, culminating in intricate compositions that: 

• Emphasize storytelling: Collage and mixed media allow for the creation of complex narratives, making designs more engaging and memorable.

• Display versatility: This trend allows artists to mix different materials, styles, and techniques, resulting in unique and personalized artwork.

• Enhance visual interest: Combining diverse elements adds depth and texture to your designs, making them more dynamic and eye-catching.

• Boost creativity: Experimenting with various media can spark fresh ideas and push the boundaries of your design capabilities.

15. Grain and noise texture

These elements add a layer of realism and depth, transforming flat visuals into something truly engaging and visually stunning. 

Here's why this trend is catching on: 

• Enhanced visual appeal: Grain and noise textures can break the monotony of flat colors, making designs appear more dynamic and interesting.

• Vintage vibe: These textures can evoke nostalgia, creating a retro aesthetic that appeals to various audiences.

• Masking imperfections: They are excellent for masking various imperfections or inconsistencies inherent in digital designs.

• Depth and dimension: Adding grain and noise can create a sense of depth and dimensionality, making the design more engaging.

16. Variable fonts

These fonts allow designers to customize weight, width, and other attributes, providing unparalleled flexibility. 

Here are some advantages of this design: 

• Enhanced flexibility: Adjusting font weight, width, and other attributes enables an easy fit for various design needs.

• Improved performance: They minimize the number of font files needed, resulting in faster loading times.

• Consistent aesthetic: Maintains uniformity across different platforms and devices, ensuring a professional look.

• Creative freedom: Opens up possibilities for animations and transitions, enhancing user experience.

17. Abstract and geometric shapes

Abstract elements and geometric shapes are aesthetically pleasing and versatile, making them suitable for various projects, from web design to branding. 

Have a look at some of the key advantages: 

• Enhanced visual appeal: Abstract and geometric shapes can instantly make your designs stand out, catching the viewer’s attention.

• Versatility and flexibility: Whether for a minimalist project or a more complex design, these shapes can adapt and enhance the overall composition.

• Modern and trendy feel: Incorporating these elements can give your designs a contemporary edge, keeping them relevant in a fast-evolving design landscape.

• Ease of repetition: These shapes can be easily repeated and arranged, allowing for consistent yet dynamic patterns.

18. Vivid surrealism

This trend blends hyper-realism and surrealism, creating artwork that feels both incredibly real and wonderfully impossible. 

Have a look at some of its key advantages: 

• Captivating visuals: Vivid surrealism's dream-like quality draws viewers in, making it ideal for marketing and social media graphics.

• Versatility: This trend works across various industries, from food and beverage brands to music and clothing.

• Emotional impact: Surreal elements can evoke strong emotions, helping create a deeper connection with your audience.

• High engagement: Its unique and intriguing nature encourages viewers to share and discuss, boosting your content's reach.

Armed with the latest insights into 2024's graphic design trends, it's time to seamlessly integrate these styles into your offerings with Gelato's print on demand solutions. Whether it's customizable t-shirts, mugs, wall art, phone cases, tote bags, or photo books, Gelato provides a vast array of products to bring your visions to life.

Gelato's Personalization Studio empowers creators to customize designs to align perfectly with their distinct style and business objectives, ensuring creations are innovative, competitive, and at the forefront of design.

Sign up for Gelato today and select a subscription plan that complements your aspirations. With Gelato in your corner, you can stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving realm of graphic design.