by In a creative industry where trends rise and fall at lightning speed, it’s often difficult to get an accurate picture of what clients are looking for right now. Yes, we are all surrounded by visual media, so you can probably spot at least some of the latest trends without trying. But given how diverse and isolated our culture is, and how much time we spend in our own echo chambers, it’s also easy to miss some of the biggest trends entirely, or at least underestimate their importance.
To help you out, we canvassed some leading voices in the creative community to get their take on the biggest illustrations of the moment. We also share some examples of these trends out in the wild, so you can see what they look like in practice.
We are not, of course, suggesting that you abandon your own distinctive presentation style, or blindly follow trends. But at the same time, it’s good to know what’s out there, and maybe you’ll find fresh inspiration, angles and ideas for your own projects with the latest production trends. Plus, at the very least, it’s good to know what trends other creatives are talking about, so you’re not left behind during meetings or conversations at events. Also on that note, check out our top graphic design trends piece.
01. Transfer to the hand drawn packaging
As project and marketing manager at Pentawards (opens in a new tab)the global packaging design platform, Jennifer Clements (opens in a new tab) which has a bird’s eye view of how changing trends are showing in the packaging industry. And recently, she says, “I’ve seen a definite increase in hand-drawn illustrations or notes, which show a sense of personalization and a direct human connection to the brand in question.”
Clements suggests that this reflects the rise of pastimes such as writing and drawing during the circle era, as well as the associated desire for a sense of community. She gives the example of Lovibond (shown above), a new beer by Snow Beer aimed at young adults. “Created by Shenzhen Lingyun Creative Packaging Design Co, this label design features eye-catching illustrations in luminous ink that depict two different scenes: a peaceful and quiet illustration for the day, and a more hip-hop vibe for the evening.”
And here’s another one. “The handwritten message on the Vouni Panayia Winery’s Untitled Limited Edition wine bottle (opens in a new tab)created by Lefki Savvidou and Marios Karystios, sends a fun and category-busting message that conveys a sense of togetherness,” says Jennifer. that they aren’t drunk enough to survive in the 21st century’.” For more information on the latest packaging design, see Pentawards’ latest Trend Report (opens in a new tab).
02. Styles like children
Locking down reminded many of us of the simple pleasures of childhood. And so it’s no surprise that there has been a recent trend of visible children’s ‘sketching’ line art across all forms of commercial expression.
“This approach seems to be very popular recently,” says freelance illustrator Harry Sussams (opens in a new tab). “It covers a wide range of styles, but the general look of rough/heavy line work results in fresh and energetic illustrations. And personally, I like to see that.”
This style can be seen in the work of Katie Cottle (opens in a new tab), Annix (opens in a new tab) and Harry Wyld (opens in a new tab)and commercial uses include Taxi Studio’s branding for Byron Burgers (shown above) and Everland’s work for food startup La Vie.
03. Stickers
Continuing the theme of youth, the use of sticker-style illustrations has proliferated across the internet in recent months. See the web pages of the Figma design tool (opens in a new tab) and LGBTQ+ community site Lex (opens in a new tab) (shown above) as examples.
“As more trap and Brutalist-inspired designs have taken hold, sticker-style illustrations have recently been introduced to add warmth to the design,” says Elliott Holman, design director at This Place. (opens in a new tab). “These graphics often use bold, black borders and flat colors to reflect the laid-back nature of the wider design, while also providing a sharper human touch.”
04. Pixel art
We at Creative Bloq have long been big fans of pixel art, but as with most illustration styles, it tends to go in and out of fashion. For now, though, it’s back on the march, in a way that fits neatly with the other trends we’ve mentioned so far. Especially since it is used in some of the most sought-after NFTs, such as Feetpix (shown above).
“As someone who also works this way sometimes, I’ve noticed that pixel art as an aesthetic has made a big comeback in the world of game design in recent years,” says Sussams. But that’s only half the equation.
“Artists are also producing amazing pixel art for themselves, separate from the world of video games,” he says. “And using limited resolution in a highly digital world can lead to some interesting simplifications of images and ideas”. For great examples of the trend, check out the work of Wanella (opens in a new tab) and Norma2D (opens in a new tab).
05. AI art
It’s a topic that would probably bleed into most illustrations. A very strange art was created as a result. And he still has a real problem with drawing hands. But there was no way we couldn’t include AI in a list of current performance trends.
Sussams speaks for many when he says: “The conversation around AI ‘art’ is disconcerting but it is certainly taking up a lot of the discourse at the moment. I hope that the wider industry, and the world, reject this AI trend in favor of supporting actual artists who create art with their own hands.”
Others, however, have a more positive take. For example at Adobe Max last October (opens in a new tab), Scott Belsky, executive vice president of Creative Cloud, said that instead of fearing AI as a potential replacement for creatives, we should see it as a useful tool; “your co-pilot in creative endeavors”, as he said.
Whichever side of the fence you sit on, the current AI rise seems unstoppable. “The recent proliferation of AI tools like Dall-e 2 and Mid Journey are producing some really incredible results,” says Billy Woods (opens in a new tab)creative director at GLOCK (opens in a new tab). “All you need is a creative mind, some carefully chosen phrases and the ability to work with the abstract.
“It will be interesting to see how widely this is adopted,” he continues, “as the technology develops and as people become more comfortable working with the platforms available. But whether whether you’re designing furniture and interiors, album covers and posters, or taking surrealist photography, it looks like AI will be a big part of the future.”
Matt Taylor, senior designer at Free The Birds (opens in a new tab), agrees. He points out that big brands are already experimenting with AI, and he expects this to continue in 2023.
“Star (opens in a new tab), for example, is celebrating the 30th birthday of its iconic Twingo by generating other concept videos around the world with AI, which show the small car as a camper van, a submarine and even a planetary explorer,” he notes. “Heinz has entered the matrix and asked DallE to draw ‘ketchup’ to great success, and played with many different styles. The iconic man-made bottle and label remained globally recognizable, so we’re not all out of a job just yet.”
Taylor also mentions Georgia Perry (opens in a new tab) and Luke Stephenson (opens in a new tab) as creatives doing interesting things with the trend.
06. Blend text and images
Our final trend could also be intertwined with our review of the latest graphic design trends, as it is essentially a mashup of the two disciplines.
As Elliott Holman says: “We’re seeing an increase in the inclusion of imagery in large-scale typography, which adds richness and texture to bold messages. Images can help illustrate a bold statement and add impact visual of it, not removed from the story. typography and message.” Examples of the trend can be seen in the work of Smith & Diction (opens in a new tab) and B-Corp (opens in a new tab)and event planner Pro Loco Di Castrovillari’s website (opens in a new tab).
And we’ll buck a related trend, noted David B. Cohen, creative director at brand consultancy BLVR (opens in a new tab). He describes it as “the genre-bending use of graffiti with traditional and elegant typefaces. Combined with Neo Hippie and Y2K influences, this brand of typography is truly representative of today’s street culture.” Check out Siyana Studios (opens in a new tab) and Offline Appearance (opens in a new tab) for some great examples of this trend in practice.
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