Design on The Designest

Best Drawing Programs & Apps in 2024 For Your Creativity

The Designest Staff — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:09:25 +0000

The Designest may receive compensation from companies, products, and services featured in this publication. For more details, please refer to our Affiliate Disclosure page.

Photoshop, Affinity, Procreate… is that all? While most people wouldn’t even think beyond these three options, the landscape of drawing software is there to be explored, and you only need to take one small step forward — “a giant leap for your design journey.”

Top 20 Best Drawing Software

Adobe Photoshop CC
Adobe Illustrator CC
Affinity Designer
Procreate
Fresco
Rebelle 5
Krita
Inkscape
Clip Studio Paint Pro
Corel Painter
Artweaver 7
MediBang Paint Pro
ArtRage
MyBrushes Paint for Mac
Paintstorm Studio
Sketch
Autodesk SketchBook
MyPaint
TwistedBrush Pro Studio
GIMP

Drawing Brushes & Add-Ons

Real Paint FX Photoshop Add-On Extension

Shader Brushes for Procreate

Fabric Kingdom Photoshop Edition

Pencilcraft Brushes for Adobe Illustrator

DevBrush Custom Brushes for Procreate 5

Magic Lands Brushes: Vintage Map Creator

elements.envato.com

Mastering diverse digital painting tools can unlock fresh approaches to illustration, introduce new techniques, and redefine your personal style. Don’t shy away from trying out free drawing software — you might be surprised by how much high-quality content is out there. If you have doubts about the paid versions, check out our “pros and cons”. We have compiled the top free and paid drawing apps on the market and only hope this selection helps you finally explore the new horizons of art software and pick the best option for your projects.

relevant:

Top 15 Best Computers for Graphic Design in 2024 November 22, 2023

14 Best Photoshop Alternatives August 15, 2022

7 Reasons Designers Should Learn to Code August 17, 2021

Adobe Photoshop CC

Platforms

Windows 1 1 versions 21H2, 22H2, Windows 10 version 22H2 (LTSB branches aren’t supported).
macOS 13 (Ventura), macOS 12 (Monterey), and macOS 11 (Big Sur).
iPadOS 14 or later.

Key Features

Adjust, crop, retouch photos and images.
Remove and move objects and backgrounds.
Combine images to create new scenes.
Automate tasks and actions.
Add artistics and creative filters like blurs.
Paint with smooth lines and curves.
Make 3D artwork for animation or print.
Adjust weight and width on variable fonts.

Pricing

7-day free trial.
Photography (the full version of Photoshop, plus Lightroom) — US$19.99/mo.
Photoshop — (the full version of Photoshop, plus Adobe Express Premium plan) — US$22.99/mo.
Creative Cloud All Apps (the full version of Photoshop plus Adobe Express Premium plan and more than 20 apps) — US$59.99/mo.

Reasons to Buy

Useful Plug-Ins, Filters, Textures, Overlays, and Actions
Graphics tablet support
Cloud Storage
Very versatile functionality amount other drawing programs

Reasons to Avoid

Expensive Creative Cloud subscription
Steep learning curve
Very space-consuming
Limited support for vector graphics

Adobe Photoshop stands out as the go-to for graphic design, setting the industry standard with its comprehensive features. Often referred to as the top drawing app, it provides excellent tools and smooth performance, allowing for limitless creativity. Essential for beginners and a staple for professionals, Photoshop is a versatile tool that meets diverse digital design needs. The Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem completes the picture, making it easy to manage and share your work safely across different devices.

The beauty of Photoshop is in the fact that there’s no universal way of using it. Some prefer to only scratch the surface of this extensive program, while others spend hours researching and trying out the tools. Over time, your preferred set of tools might evolve, and you will see yourself exploring — all within this one powerful software.

Adobe Photoshop has its downsides too. When it freezes, it freezes hard. It’s not totally the software to blame but the system workload, compatibility questions and similar issues. Ask any artist about their Photoshop struggles, and you’ll get an earful of stories that’ll make you go, “Oh, the pain is real!”

Adobe Illustrator СС

Platforms

Windows 11 v22H2 and v21H2, Windows 10 v22H2 and v21H2, Windows Server 2022, 2019. Not supported on Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004, 20H2, 21H1.
macOS 14 (Sonoma), v13 (Ventura), v12 (Monterey), v11 (Big Sur).
iPadOS 14 or later.

Key Features

Create, edit, and combine simple shapes.
Design logos and draw vector graphics.
Add effects to make your art pop.
Add impact with professional typography and text tools.
Design packaging with 3D Revolve.
Mock up a website design.
Trace and recolor imported photos.
Create up to a thousand artboards on your canvas.
Add images and artictic effects.

Pricing

7-day free trial.
Adobe Illustrator — US$20.99/mo.

Reasons to Buy

Versatile software for digital artists
Best file recovery
Wide variety of exporting options
Great image tracing tool

Reasons to Avoid

Takes up a lot of disk space
Hard to learn for beginners
Limited support for raster graphics
Expensive monthly subscription for a single program

Even though Adobe Illustrator sounds as if it was literally made for digital illustrations, Adobe Photoshop is often the one people talk about as the top choice for digital art. With Photoshop’s countless brushes, it’s not surprising; however, it instantly falls short when it comes to creating vector graphics. If vector art is your thing, then Illustrator is the software for you.

Just like Photoshop, Illustrator comes packed with tons of creative brushes, filters, typography tools, editing features, and more — even in the free version! But the real magic? You can scale anything without losing quality. If you’re moving from Photoshop, you’ll find the tools and interface familiar. A big plus with Illustrator is the ability to create detailed projects of all kinds: logos, charts, presentations, web designs, and even hand-drawn illustrations. However, it’s a double-edged sword. The powerful features can sometimes slow down your computer or cause the program to crash, which can be frustrating.

Affinity Designer

Platforms

Windows 11, Windows 10 May 2020 Update (2004, 20H1, build 19041) or later.
macOS Sonoma 14, Ventura 13, Monterey 12, Big Sur 11, Catalina 10.15.
iPadOS 15 or later.

Key Features

Live gradients, effects, and adjustments.
Real time blend mode previews.
All transforms and curve edits previewed live.
Optimized for documents of any complexity.
Vector and raster options.
Advanced grids and guides.
Unlimited artboards of any size.
Comprehensive OpenType support.

Pricing

30-day trial period.
Affinity Designer for Windows or macOS — US$69.99.
The entire suite on all platforms — US$164.99.
Affinity Designer for iPad — US$18.49.

Reasons to Buy

Combines vector & raster design tools
Handles 1000s of objects with no lag
Affordable price
Available through a one-time purchase

Reasons to Avoid

Graphics tablet support is still a work in progress
No .ai file export

Years ago, when we received the early access to Affinity Designer, everything felt unusual. It was like being expected to ride a bike — a familiar task, yet this was a new, upgraded version of the bike. But once you get accustomed to the abundance of unfamiliar tools, packed in a colorful interface, you can not only ride but ride swiftly!

The best thing about this software is the magic switch between pixel and vector formats — all with just a few clicks. It saves a lot of time you can later spend on preparing the project for the big release.

Another cool feature is the ability to open and edit AI files. It’s a bit of a cheat, but super handy when you urgently need to fix assets or dive into some heavy-duty vector graphics.

Procreate

Platforms

iPadOS 15.4.1 or later.
iOS 15.4.1 or later.

Key Features

Brush Studio offers a wide range of tools including pencils, inks, charcoals, and artistic strokes.
Advanced color control with Color Dynamics, Color Harmony, and Color History.
Multi-touch gestures for intuitive navigation and use.
Valkyrie graphics engine enables painting at 120fps for seamless creativity.
QuickShape corrects shapes instantly.
ColorDrop allows for easy filling with a simple pick, drag, and drop action.
Streamline feature smooths out strokes for cleaner curves and fewer imperfections.

Pricing

Procreate — US$12.99.
Procreate Pocket — US$5.99

Reasons to Buy

Affordable price
Perfectly simulates real-life painting
Lots of advanced drawing features
Available through a one-time purchase

Reasons to Avoid

Gets slower with a lot of paintings in progress
Available only for iPad and iPhone users

Procreate is a perfect blend of technology and creativity. Its latest 5.3 update introduces hover features for the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and allows for precision in brush control, offering previews before strokes are made and enabling easy adjustments to brush size and opacity with simple gestures. Freehand selections are more intuitive thanks to Apple Pencil previews, enhancing the overall drawing experience. Additionally, performance on the new iPad Pro with the M2 chip is boosted by 30%, and 3D painting becomes more intuitive and enjoyable. The Page Assist feature further turns your iPad into an ultimate sketchbook for capturing all your creative ideas.

While the program is highly user-friendly, some users might find certain functions less obvious, requiring exploration. However, Procreate provides a range of free tutorials to help users master new features and discover inspirational artists.

Another limitation is its accessibility: the joy of working in Procreate is available only to iPad and iPhone users. And here’s a little tip: the more powerful your iPad is, the better — the amount of RAM affects the number of layers you can work with.

Adobe Fresco

Platforms

Windows 11 version 22000 or later, 10 version 21H2 or later.
iPadOS 16 or later.
iOS 16 or later for iPhone.

Key Features

Work with watercolors and oils that blossom and blend at your touch.
Use vector and raster brushes on the same canvas.
Draw with thousands of brushes from Adobe Photoshop.
Discover essential and fast illustration tools for stylus and touch devices.
Easily isolate parts of a layer and turn selections into masks.
Start a project on your iPad/iPhone and finish it on your desktop — your work automatically syncs to the cloud.

Pricing

30-day free trial.
Fresco (1 year) — US$9.99/mo.

Reasons to Buy

Realistic brush, pen, and pencil physics
Raster and vector tools support
Intuitive UI

Reasons to Avoid

Lacks basic editing features

What we’re dealing with here is a doppelgänger of the well-known Procreate app. Adobe Fresco, while not yet on par with Procreate due to its relative “rawness,” should not be dismissed. The software offers a lot of invaluable tools and features — all in a user-friendly interface you can intuitively navigate even if you have never used the software before.

The real fun begins when you test the brushes, watercolors and oils in particular. Colors work with each other really well, imitating the real strokes. Even if you’re an amateur in digital painting, the chances are you’ll get a great deal of pleasure watching the brushes get mixed together and response to your movements. Setting the bar high, Adobe Fresco provides an extensive collection of raster and vector brushes that perform smoothly, with no leaks and all.

If you don’t have a Creative Cloud subscription that makes it easy to download Adobe Fresco, here’s the lowdown: buying this drawing program on its own can be a bit pricey. What’s more, the software lacks some editing options that Photoshop has, so sometimes artists finish their illustrations in Photoshop afterwards. So if you’re still willing to get Fresco, you should seriously consider subscribing to Creative Cloud.

Rebelle 5

Platforms

Windows 10 (64-bit).
macOS 11 and newer.

Key Features

Watercolor settings adjust the impact of paper texture on watercolor behavior.
Watercolor DropEngine for creating dripping effects.
Blow tool allows for manipulating paint flow by blowing drips in various directions.
Acrylic Impasto lets users adjust the texture of their paint.
Transparency Locking ensures edits affect only painted areas, not transparent ones.
Digital stencils for crafting custom templates and seamless patterns.
Ruler Tool combines precision with a freehand effect for accurate drawings.
Perspective Tool aids in adding depth using 1, 2, or 3 point perspectives.

Pricing

Standard version — US$89.99.
Pro version — US$149.99.
Standard version — US$89.99.
Free trial version available for both Mac & Windows.

Reasons to Buy

Affordable price, no subscription
Realistic drawing physics simulation
Easy to use program with shallow learning curve

Reasons to Avoid

High hardware requirements
Very specialized app

The official website for Rebelle 5 boasts a hyperrealistic watercolor process of creating an illustration, and well, it is not lying. This program works just like the real-life drawing materials and tools.

You should start the process by choosing the paper canvas (there are several paper types to pick from, like hot & cold press, rough paper, Japanese canvas, and more): this will affect the way your brushes will be applied to your digital art. When you tap the artboard with a watercolor brush, it gets absorbed a little. It can be blown in any direction, and the wet diffusion looks so realistic it’s shocking. Even considering the current technological progress, this can easily amaze any artist.

What gets your attention in this software is its ultimate realism in transferring the classic artworks with not only watercolor, but also canvas, pastels, ink pens, acrylic, pencils, markers, and other drawing tools. Rebelle 5 reproduces all possible combinations of materials and paper types you might use in real life: dry materials on dry paper, wet materials on dry paper, wet materials on other wet materials and so on.

Krita

Platforms

Windows 8.1 or higher.
macOS (10.12 and higher).
Linux.

Key Features

100+ pre-loaded professional brushes.
Brush stabilizers.
Built-in vector tools for comic panels.
9+ unique brush engines for customizable strokes.
Seamless textures and patterns with wrap-around mode.
Import brushes and texture packs.
Clean and flexible interface.
Ability to open complex PSD files that even Photoshop struggles with.

Pricing

free & open source program

Reasons to Buy

Free drawing software
Lots of free education resources
A lot of brushes

Reasons to Avoid

Narrow focus on digital art
Not all features are intuitive

Krita’s got a totally intuitive and customizable interface: you can move things around according to your needs and how often you use them. Its brush library has a wide variety of realistic textures to pick from: inkers, pencils, watercolors, and more! The blending options produce a very realistic effect and let you make adjustments to the already-painted canvas. There are other brushes to check out but no description will do them justice: you should simply try them yourself.

Painting tools also work smoothly in a tablet mode: the response to the angle of pen pressure and the speed of drawing and painting are great. After working in Procreate on iPad for several years, we can confirm that this is a good alternative for creating concept art and illustrations.

Layer management is not different from what we see in Photoshop: the content of the layer can be edited via masks and filters. If you don’t know what some icons mean (you don’t expect the painting program to fully reproduce Adobe products, right?), Krita offers tutorials and help guides in its manual to keep you on track.

Inkscape

Platforms

Windows 7 and later.
macOS 10.13 and later.
Linux.

Key Features

Object creation (pencil, pen, calligraphy, text, bitmaps and clones).
Object manipulation (transformations, Z-order operations, grouping objects, layers, alignment and distribution commands).
Fill and stroke (color selector and picker, gradient editor, pattern fills, path markers, copy/paste style).
Operations on paths (node editing, converting to path, boolean operations, path simplification/insetting/outsetting, bitmap tracing).
Text support (multi-line text, kerning, letterspacing, linespacing adjustments, text on path, text in shape, uses any installed outline fonts).
Rendering (fully anti-aliased display, alpha transparency support for display and PNG export).
File formats (SVG, PNG, OpenDocument Drawing, DXF, sk1, PDF, EPS and PostScript export formats and more).

Pricing

free software

Reasons to Buy

Free drawing software
Extensive selection of supporting formats
Large array of extensions

Reasons to Avoid

Steep learning curve
No CMYK color mode support
Vector graphics only

Inkscape is the major Adobe Illustrator’s free opponent. This vector graphics editing software includes all the same functionality as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. The Inkscape team constantly releases new extensions you might find pretty handy, so dropping by their official website once in a while would be a nice habit to have.

As far as the cons go, Inkscape has a standard set of issues. An abundance of bugs and system crashes, as well as low operating system speed when working with a multitude of paths. There’s one more thing to add to this list. Inkscape doesn’t support the CMYK colors, so if you’re aimed at creating print-ready projects, it would be a significant problem. Apart from that, this software is a fair replacement for the subscription-based Adobe Illustrator and despite all the cons, it is worth testing out.

Clip Studio Paint Pro

Platforms

Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit).
macOS 12, 13, and 14.
iPadOS 16 and 17.
iOS 16 and 17 for iPhone.
Android 9 or later (ARM32/ARM64).
ChromeOS compatible with Android 9 or later (ARM32 / x86 / x86_64).

Key Features

Advanced brush engine captures subtle pen pressure variations.
Monthly addition of 1,000 new materials to complement any style.
Customizable 3D figures for adjustable poses, proportions, and body types.
Artistic filter converts photos into paintings.
AI colorization and smart fill tools for quick coloring.
Image resolution enhancement and JPEG noise removal.
Clip Studio Paint Assets for rapid artwork and design creation.
Auto Actions simplify frequent tasks with a single click.

Pricing

Free trial for 3 months
Monthly/annual plans
One-time payment — US$49.99

Reasons to Buy

Advanced vector tools
AI technology
Wide selection of custom brushes

Reasons to Avoid

High price range
Numerous adjustments tucked into a complex UI
Limited options for font and text manipulation

First released as a digital art software for creating comics and manga (it used to be called Manga Studio), and later turned into the expanded library of tools for illustration and graphic design, Clip Studio Paint Pro is a somewhat similar paid version of Krita: it’s an app for drawing and painting with an easily adjustable and user-friendly interface. Moreover, is works with every system including macOS and Android.

The command hotkeys in Clip Studio Paint are similar to Photoshop CC, making the onboarding process as easy as it can be via the intuitive interface. The app supports vector graphics and raster tool choice, uniting the power of Adobe products under one roof. Nothing new and revolutionary about the vast collection of full-featured brushes: they are realistic, customizable (the stabilization tool works perfectly — hello, shaky hands!), and responsive. The only disadvantage of Clip Studio Paint is the lack of publishing tools, which was also the case for the original Manga Studio version.

Corel Painter

Platforms

Windows 10 or 11 with the latest updates.
macOS Big Sur 11.0, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura, or 14 Sonoma with the latest updates.

Key Features

Seamless navigation with pan, zoom, rotate, and effortless application of lighting and surface texture.
Utilization of tools like the Color Wheel, Mixer, Color Sets, and Harmonies for crafting the perfect color palette.
Access to a vast library of over 900 brushes for bringing your masterpiece to life.
Tailoring of brush size, shape, angle, and flow with comprehensive control panels.
Elevation of your artwork with Papers, Flow Maps, Patterns, Textures, and Gradients.
Application of AI for stylizing images, effortlessly transforming photos into paintings.
Construction of compositions with Divine Proportion, Layout Grid, Perspective Guides, and Mirror Painting.
The smoothest strokes with Fluid Paint.

Pricing

Full version — US$429
Free trial version for Mac and Windows

Reasons to Buy

Huge set of brushes
Various AI tools
Easy to use program with intuitive interface

Reasons to Avoid

No tablet or mobile apps
Performance issues on weak computers

Nothing hits as nostalgically as Corel Painter. More than one generation has been raised with this beautiful program, but since then Corel Painter has has undergone many changes.

The modern Corel Paint version is way less laggy than it used to be thanks to the Brush Accelerator. The interface keeps up with the other digital drawing software covered in this article, but if we compare it with the Painter’s previous versions, the latest layout is more responsive, adaptive, and just… convenient. The Layers tool has oh-so-familiar universal commands, wrapped in Corel Painter’s style.

In the latest Corel Painter 2023 update, they’ve unleashed a game-changer with the introduction of Fluid Paint technology. This innovative brush tech delivers the smoothest and most revealing brush marks ever, with bold paper grain visible throughout the stroke. Fluid Paint lets you control opacity, offering a natural painting and blending experience. The update also brings new Fluid Paint brushes for illustration and fine art, enhanced Fluid Papers for expressive textures, and a Color Selection option for precise color picking.

Artweaver 7

Platforms

Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (each with latest service pack).

Key Features

The powerful and highly configurable brush system to simulate any texture.
An intuitive, simple, and adjustable interface.
Ability to record the painting process as events, save, and replay them.
The app’s robust core utilizes existing hardware to the maximum.
Ability to collaborate with other artists on the same document over LAN or the Internet.

Pricing

Free version for Windows.
Artweaver Plus — €34.

Reasons to Buy

Plug-in support
Lots of raster painting tools
Affordable price for Plus edition

Reasons to Avoid

Available only for Windows users, no macOS version
No open type fonts support
Outdated interface

Another Photoshop-inspired interface, yet completely free. The toolbox of Artweaver 7 is significantly weaker than Photoshop’s and is similar to its versions from 5 years ago. You’ll figure out the command names and placement within the first seconds of using this software.

The 7th edition of this program has expanded library of effects and custom brushes. Still, here you’ll lack some features that are simply out of reach — the good maximum image size support, Photoshop filters, precise brush control, and more. And that’s when the thoughts of purchasing the Plus version will start to cross your mind. The paid version offers advanced brush tools, enhanced performance, comprehensive layer and effect options, real-time collaboration features, and other improvements you might find useful.

MediBang Paint Pro

Platforms

Windows 10 or later.
macOS 11 or later.
iPadOS 11 or later.
iOS 12 or later for iPhone.
Android 8.0 or later.

Key Features

50+ customizable brushes for personalized creations.
Lightweight, smooth performance.
Standard layer function.
Precision with Snap Lines for accurate lines, curves, and more.
Easy comic panel creation by slicing across page borders.
Convenient management of comic projects with one-file saving.
Seamless synchronization of settings across devices.
Access to 800 free pre-made tones and backgrounds.

Pricing

Free drawing software

Reasons to Buy

Free drawing software
Intuitive interface, even for beginners
Available on all platforms
Perfect for manga artists

Reasons to Avoid

Lacks advanced features
Might be difficult to create new brushes

MediBang Paint Pro is a free drawing software compatible with any device (PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android) allowing to experience the smoothest workflow. But you have to set the MediBang account first to access every drawing tool. Totally worths it — especially considering that all your creations and concept art get to be stored in the cloud service.

The working process in MediBang Paint app includes a thorough and transparent guide for digital artists on how things operate there, which is great for beginners. Those who have been in design for quite some time will find the interface very well-organized and intuitive even in the mobile version which usually struggles to be user-friendly and explanatory at the same time.

ArtRage

Platforms

Windows 10 or later (64 and 32-bit).
macOS 10.9 or later.
iOS 10 or later for iPad and iPhone.
Android 4.0 or later.

Key Features

Natural color gradient creation through smearing and blending thick oils.
Pencil sketching and precise shading with the edge of the tip.
Delicate watercolor strokes responsive to canvas texture.Delicate watercolor strokes responsive to canvas texture.
Reference usage with photos for enhanced precision.
Structured design with guides, grids, and perspective layout tools.
Standard features include layers, blend modes, and industry standards.

Pricing

Free demo-version for Windows/macOS with limited functionality.
ArtRage Vitae Desktop — US$80.
ArtRage Vitae Mobile — US$4.99.
ArtRage Lite — US$29.90.
ArtRage 6 — US$59.

Reasons to Buy

Realistic drawing process & real-world color blending
Affordable digital painting software
Intuitive interface

Reasons to Avoid

Lacks advanced editing features
Demand powerful computer to work efficiently at larger print sizes

ArtRage shares many similarities with Adobe (interface, accessible funtions, etc.), which means your transition into this software will be pain-free. It is often considered even easier to use, making it a perfect choice for beginners.

Minimalistic yet multi-functional interface panels unveil the creative possibilities in a clear and flexible manner. We especially like the circular panels in the corners of the screen, resembling an artist’s palette.

The feature that makes ArtRage one of the best drawing software is the realistic behavior and traditional feel of brush strokes, especially the oil and watercolor brushes. The natural-looking paper and canvas texture allow the stokes to produce true-to-life art pieces without the hint of a digitalization.

MyBrushes Paint for Mac

Platforms

macOS 10.10 or later (64-bit).
iOS 7.0 or later for iPad and iPhone.

Key Features

Creation, deletion, pasting, scaling, rotation, and re-ordering of unlimited layers.
Infinite canvas size for expansive creative possibilities.
Recording and playback function for the drawing process.
Mac paint tool support for various image formats.
Continuous auto-save feature to prevent data loss.
Adjustable pressure sensitivity for enhanced control.
Diverse set of 100 natural paintbrush shapes, including brush, pencil, pen, airbrush, watercolor brush, chalk, etc.
Access to 50 background templates in the template library.

Pricing

MyBrushes | Sketch, Paint, Design — US$29.99.
MyBrushes Pro | Sketch, Paint and Draw — US$4.99.

Reasons to Buy

Unlimited layers
Intuitive interface
Lower price range

Reasons to Avoid

Calls for an update
Not many advanced professional features

If you are at the very start of your designing or drawing career or have no professional intentions for the comprehensive art programs, MyBrushes Paint is the software for you. MyBrushes Paint is created with a straightforward and user-friendly approach.

The unlimited layers and the ability to create a canvas in any size are the top features that catch your eye when you start using the program. And yes, apart from that, the software offers color pallets and brush packs that support a good level of pressure sensitivity — this isn’t the case when you draw with your finger, however.

True, it’s not the best software but it can serve as a great basic tool for non-professional artists. Yet, considering the program’s functions and editing possibilities, MyBrushes Paint offers good value for money.

Paintstorm Studio

Platforms

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 versions.
macOS 10.7 or later.
iPadOS 13.1 or later.
Linux.

Key Features

Comprehensive control over all brush options.
Post-correction for strokes.
Parameters binding to the perspective for added precision.
Complete control over mask-brush functionality.
“Close gaps” function when filling or selecting.
Customizable individual hotkeys.
Robust Symmetry and Kaleidoscope tools.
Brush stroke stabilizer for creating straight lines.

Pricing

Free demo version for Windows, Mac, Linux.
Paintstorm for iPad — US$12.99.
Paintstorm Studio for 1 PC — US$19.00.
Paintstorm Studio for 2 PC — US$29.00.

Reasons to Buy

Provides the finest level of control
Wide personalization options
Fast GPU Engine

Reasons to Avoid

Steep learning curve
Crowded default interface

Once you open this program, there are just too many control panels popping up and (almost) invading your personal space. But all the professional artists’ fears and worries fade away once they discover that everything in Paintstorm Studio is customizable and manageable. Having packed your work station with dozens of useful tools, don’t forget to set the keyboard shortcuts; otherwise, you might get lost.

The mildly infuriating thing about Paintstorm Studio might be the fact that you suddenly find yourself playing around with settings for an hour or so, but the actual drawing process hasn’t begun. So try not to fall into this trap!

The brush features open up a wide range of creative possibilities — the best way here is to experiment with them for as long as you can. The tool that lets you avoid the manual resizing or changing transparency for the brush strokes is great: you’ll find this useful when drawing objects with an uneven structure, for example, water or hair. All you need is to define the required perspective once, and the future strokes will be managed according to your settings.

Sketch

Platforms

macOS Big Sur (11.0.0) or later.

Key Features

Intuitive and powerful vector editing tools.
Non-destructive, editable, and easily combinable Boolean operations.
Pixel-level precision for zooming in, aligning, and adjusting layers.
Extensive export options for exporting individual assets as desired.
Quick shortcuts to toggle grids and layout views, with a fully customizable set of options.
Resizing constraints for easier scaling up and down for different screen sizes.
nfinite control over typography with support for Variable fonts and OpenType features.
Smart Layout that gives Symbols automatic resizing and content fitting superpowers.

Pricing

Standard subscription — US$10.00/mo per editor, billed yearly.
Mac-only license — US$120.00/seat.
Business subscription — US$20.00/mo per editor, billed yearly.

Reasons to Buy

Very quick learning curve
Powerful tools for vector graphics
Perfect for UX/UI design

Reasons to Avoid

Only available for mac os
Not the first choice for professional digital artists

Sketch with its diamond icon has always been the favorite among the UI/UX designers, serving as a good solution for designing websites, apps, icons, and similar features. Just like other art programs, this one has its own layer structure and its tricks: you can switch between layers and have them set to totally different parameters, corresponding to what you’re working on in a particular layer.

Traditionally, first comes the interface: clean, flexible and eye-pleasing, making the onboarding process intuitive. Even a beginning designer can pick up a few things by simply reading the sections’ names and following the workflow.

Sketch substitutes many other drawing apps, uniting the required functions in a single place. You’ll be surprised by how quickly and smoothly your creative process goes thanks to various third-party plugins and other app integrations. The app allows you to work in both vector and raster: you can export various formats and work with different device resolutions. Definitely check out the “Data Fill” feature if you want to fill your design assets with the actual data, for example, from Google Sheets or Excel!

Once you discover the prototyping tool, your work will be nothing but monotonous: it allows to create UI flowcharts and make different designs without any additional software.

SketchBook

Platforms

Windows 10 and 11.
macOS 11 or later.
iOS 13.0 or later for iPad and iPhone.
Android OS 9 and later.

Key Features

Predictive stroke for smoothing line work and correcting basic shapes.
Application of a variety of coloring techniques using layers and color fill tools.
Full complement of brush types, including pencils, markers, airbrushes, paint, smear, and more.
Faithful representation of strokes with pressure and tilt in Sketchbook.
Easy distortion of illustrations to fix perspective and proportions.
Availability of numerous extras.
Fully adjustable rulers, ellipse guides, and French curves for precision drawing.

Pricing

SketchBook Pro — US$24.99.
SketchBook — free.

Reasons to Buy

Extremely responsive to a stylus or Apple Pencil
Advanced color editor and custom color palettes
Lots of professional painting tools

Reasons to Avoid

Some features take longer to load
After separation from Autodesk there are no Copic markers

SketchBook is a free app that has everything for convenient sketching: it’s packed with customizable brushes, stroke stabilization for straight lines, color library, gradient fills, blending modes, and advanced layers that can be arranged in folders within the single artwork. The interface is clear and intuitive: everything is well-arranged, so the artboard is all yours; you can put so much free space to good use!

Keeping up with the desktop version, the mobile app has everything you need, from brushes to coloring tools. And don’t worry if you don’t have stylus: your fingers work just fine in this software — Sketchbook gets A+ for the responsiveness!

SketchBook is a perfect alternative to an actual sketchbook, giving you the freedom to put down your ideas, concepts, drafts, and sketches whenever and wherever a bright idea comes to your mind.

MyPaint

Platforms

Windows.
macOS.
Linux.

Key Features

Nimble, distraction-free, and easy tool for digital painters.
Supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.
The brush engine is versatile and configurable.
The standard brushes emulate traditional media.
It’s easy to create new unconventional brushes.
Fullscreen mode declutters the interface.
MyPaint provides diverse digital art tools despite its simplicity.

Pricing

free & open-source program

Reasons to Buy

Superior media emulation
Nice symmetry tool
Free drawing software

Reasons to Avoid

Focuses only on digital art
Difficult to install
Latest releases may be unstable

With this open-source painting program, you won’t need to rest your eyes even for a moment. Its unique full-screen and distraction-free mode is the epiphany of minimalism — and here minimalism is most welcome.

Adjustable brushes configuration and easy stroke stabilization for a relatively big selection of drawing materials and pencils would be a great solution for many of your design objectives. MyPaint is compatible with tablets, but you can also draw with your mouse and even get a decent result.

This painting software is so nimble that it practically glides; the speed at which you can work and create illustrations is not too slow, not too high — just right. The app supports Open Raster as the default file format, but it can save images in JPEG or PNG if needed.

TwistedBrush Pro Studio

Platforms

Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Key Features

Over 9,000 brushes included, covering every area of digital art.
Powerful brush engine to mimic full natural media brushes, complex blending operations, etc.
A large array of color palettes.
Full support for transparency and layers with all the standard layer mixing modes.
A specialized sequencing system: over 400 brushes effects modify the core brush types.
Extensive mask support for protecting and selecting parts of your images.
Over 200 image processing filters give you the tools to manipulate your photos or other work.
Tracing paper: a drawing guide that allows you to see another image below your current image.

Pricing

Download free trial.
Version License — US$109.
Perpetual License — US$199.

Reasons to Buy

Tons of pre-made brushes
Extended exporting options
Low basic learning curve

Reasons to Avoid

A bit outdated UI
Lack of customization

TwistedBrush Pro Studio is a software with an extensive collection of more than 9000 brushes. If it’s still not enough for your art-craving soul, you can use the brush customization tools to create your own sets. The same goes for the included filters which provide tons of alternatives for your photo editing process. It has all features you expect to see in a design app: layers, brush settings, import and export options, etc. The best thing is, even though you have so many tools (and again, brushes!) available at your disposal, the menu doesn’t look cluttered.

This app definitely falls short compared to the majority of the programs mentioned above. TwistedBrush is an illustration and photo-editing tool best catering to those who see design as a hobby. It may not be the best choice for materializing complex ideas.

GIMP

Platforms

Windows 7 or later.
macOS 10.12 Sierra or later.
Linux.

Key Features

Customizable interface.
Photo enhancement.
Digital retouching.
Hardware support.
The vast file format support.

Pricing

free & open-source program

Reasons to Buy

Free open source software
Nice exporting options
Wide selection of tools

Reasons to Avoid

Questionable credibility of 3rd party plugins
UI needs improvement
No customer support

The GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP for short, is free & open-source. You can tweak and customize it a lot with third-party plugins, which gives you all sorts of extra tricks. Sure, some of those plugins might be a bit sketchy, but GIMP’s creative possibilities are so diverse, it can even go toe-to-toe with Photoshop. Plus, it gets updates regularly to fix bugs and make things run smoother.

As always, there’s a downside. The interface looks like a thing from the past, and it’s not just about aesthetics: the terminology and functions take time to grasp. You need to either watch tons of tutorials or learn by trial and error until you finally get used to it. You might think that this program mimics Photoshop but you’ll understand it’s not true as soon as you take a closer look. For instance, our favorite “drag & drop” feature doesn’t work smoothly; to add something to the layer, you need to edit its properties instead of just throwing the graphics in there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best software for drawing?

It depends on several factors: your devices, drawing style & preferences, and finally, your drawing skills. All iPad users would vote for Procreate and its many customizable features as the best drawing app out there. As for computer programs, the top three paid options would be Adobe Photoshop (also great for photo editing), Adobe Illustrator, and Affinity Designer.

What is the best free software for drawing?

Great subscription-free programs are Krita, Corel Painter, and Inkscape. Each drawing app has all the essential drawing tools you might need for watercolor art, sketches, acrylic work, comics, and many other illustration styles.

What is the best drawing software for beginners?

The best drawing software for beginners would probably be the one with a more or less intuitive interface that won’t confuse an inexperienced user. In terms of this, Krita and Artweaver might be the most suitable options.

Which software is used for drawing?

Among the most-used drawing software programs there are Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity, Procreate, Rebelle, Corel Painter, GIMP, Clip Studio Paint Pro, and other options mentioned in our selection. Most of them have free trials, so before you give them a try without any investments.

Which drawing app is best for PC?

The choice of good software for your PC is a matter of your personal preferences and the specific design tasks you’re tackling. Generally, artists prefer these five drawing apps for PC: Krita, Photoshop, Affinity, Illustrator, and Clip Studio Paint Pro. We recommend using the paid versions as they provide a smoother drawing experience.

What drawing apps do professional artists use?

Each artist must pick the graphic software based on their needs and preferences, so there’s no one-size-fits-all list. However, professionals often go for the paid versions of Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fresco), Procreate, and Clip Studio Paint Pro because they offer a wide range of realistic painting tools.

The post Best Drawing Programs & Apps in 2024 For Your Creativity appeared first on The Designest.

Top Graphic Design Projects That Can Enhance Your College Portfolio

The Designest Staff — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:05:25 +0000

The Designest may receive compensation from companies, products, and services featured in this publication. For more details, please refer to our Affiliate Disclosure page.

Graphic design is an ever-evolving field, blending creativity with technology to communicate ideas in an impactful way. For students aspiring to make a mark in this dynamic industry, a well-crafted college portfolio is crucial. It’s your golden ticket, showcasing your skills, style, and thinking process to potential educators or employers. But what projects should you include to ensure your portfolio stands out? Let’s dive in.

Understanding the Importance of a Diverse Portfolio

Why does diversity matter in a graphic design portfolio? Imagine walking into an art gallery. Would you be captivated by seeing the same style of painting on every wall? Probably not. Similarly, a portfolio that demonstrates a range of skills and styles is far more engaging. It shows you’re not a one-trick pony but a versatile and creative thinker capable of tackling various design challenges.

Enhancing Academic Success Through Expert Support

Seeking assistance from professional writers is a strategic move toward academic success. These experts don’t just help with the workload, they provide quality help that deepens understanding and enriches learning. In this digital era, such expertise is readily available online, making it easier for students to connect with knowledgeable professionals. In the journey of academic excellence, there often comes a time when a student pauses and thinks, “I really need an expert to do my homework now”. This isn’t about avoiding responsibility; rather, it’s about recognizing when external guidance is beneficial.

These platforms offer more than just homework help, they are gateways to comprehensive learning and understanding. By collaborating with experts, students can navigate through complex subjects more effectively, ensuring not only timely submission of their assignments but also a more enjoyable and stress-free educational experience.

1. Branding Projects: The Bread and Butter of Graphic Design

The Role of Branding

Branding projects are essential. They are the bread and butter of graphic design. Why? Because they encompass everything from logo design to creating a complete brand identity – color schemes, typography, and even the tone of voice used in communications. This is where you get to show off your ability to create a cohesive visual language that can be applied across various media.

Crafting a Mock Brand

Consider creating a mock brand for a company. This could be anything from a trendy coffee shop to a cutting-edge tech startup. The key is to demonstrate your process from research and conceptualization to the final design. Show how your design choices align with the brand’s values and target audience. This not only displays your design skills but also your strategic thinking.

2. Web and App Design: Showcasing Digital Prowess

In today’s digital age, showcasing your skills in web and app design is crucial. It’s not just about making things look good; it’s about enhancing user experience. How do you balance aesthetics with functionality?

Creating a User-Centric Design

Choose a project that solves a real-world problem. Maybe redesign an existing website or app, focusing on improving its usability and aesthetic appeal. Walk the viewer through your design process, from user research to wireframing and the final design. Highlight your understanding of UX/UI principles and how they inform your design decisions.

3. Interactive Media: The Future of Design

Interactive media projects, like AR/VR experiences or interactive infographics, are a great way to show that you’re on the cutting edge of design. They reflect your technical skills and your ability to create engaging, immersive experiences.

Exploring New Dimensions

Consider developing an interactive infographic that presents data in a visually engaging and interactive way. Or, delve into the realm of AR/VR and create a simple application or experience. Document your process, challenges, and how you overcame them. This not only showcases your technical ability but also your problem-solving skills.

4. Social Media Campaigns: The Art of Engagement

Why Social Media Design Matters

In our digitally connected world, social media is a powerhouse for communication and marketing. As a graphic designer, creating content that is not only visually appealing but also engaging and shareable is a valuable skill.

Designing for Engagement

Create a series of social media graphics for a cause or brand you’re passionate about. Explain your choice of platforms, the design elements used, and how they cater to the target audience. Show your understanding of different social media formats and how design can drive engagement and action.

5. Packaging Design: Combining Form and Function

Packaging design is a unique blend of art and science. It’s not just about making a product look attractive; it’s about functionality and the unboxing experience.

Innovating with Packaging

Design packaging for a hypothetical product. Focus on how your design reflects the brand’s identity and values, and how it stands out on the shelf. Discuss materials, sustainability aspects, and the user experience. This project can demonstrate your ability to think three-dimensionally and consider both aesthetics and practicality.

Conclusion: Crafting a Portfolio That Opens Doors

Your college portfolio is more than just a collection of your best work; it’s a narrative of your growth and potential as a graphic designer. By including diverse projects like branding, web/app design, interactive media, social media campaigns, and packaging design, you showcase not just your design skills but your strategic thinking, technical prowess, and creativity.

Remember, each project in your portfolio is a story. Make it engaging, make it unique, and most importantly, make it yours. Your portfolio is the first step in your journey as a graphic designer. Make it count!

The post Top Graphic Design Projects That Can Enhance Your College Portfolio appeared first on The Designest.

The Key Role of Digital Video Editing for Marketing

The Designest Staff — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 18:34:17 +0000

2024 is a new year where video editing gets increasingly important for marketing. Through the lens of TV or social media, video content is presumably the number 1 type of content consumed daily by millions of users.

It’s safe to assume that video editing plays a key role in marketing today, and if you hire a wizz or just are one, then you’re surely ahead of the competition. It’s good to remember that it’s not all about editing it’s about the content you offer as well.

Video Content Marketing Benefits

Apart from the fact that we rarely listen to the radio, except when cooking or driving, and not even talking about traditional media, video is available to us all the time. Learning something new usually takes us to YouTube. So, video is always there, and although there are marketing challenges, there are also great benefits:

Trust building: If you’re a customer and you see how the product is behaving before you buy it, it builds trust in that product and makes you tilt toward buying it even more, you just might make a decision based on a video.
Conversion boosts: As trust is built, conversion rates increase, and the sheer consumable nature of video content makes it more likely that it reaches customers first than any other type.
SEO improvements: It’s no secret that it helps in search engine optimization, especially if you add descriptions and captions to it.
Preferred by customers: Watching videos is the easiest thing to do. Think of a product you wanted to buy, e.g. a smartphone, the first few words that go into YouTube are ‘smartphone xyz review’.
Easily shareable: Video content engages people to share it. Think of how many times you sent some interesting video to a friend. It might’ve been a recipe or some funny thing that took only a few taps or clicks to share.
Interesting: This testifies to all the benefits. Think about it this way. Would you rather watch a walkthrough on how a product works or read through the instructions on how to use it?

Importance of Video Editing in Marketing

Imagine you captured a video and immediately posted it as an ad without thinking about the quality, the sound, the size of the video, etc. The reason we get so captivated by a video ad is editing.

Someone took their time to consider the perfect quality of video and sound, the perfect size of that video, and what kind of content it will show. That’s what results in a sentence that measures marketing success, “What a great ad!?”

Planning the Video Editing Process

Think about how you can enhance marketing through video editing. You’ve seen those great ads in your feed, and you’ve seen them on TV. But, have you thought about what makes them stand out:

Plan: It’s not just one video, it’s an entire video marketing plan. So, think about sequences and how the videos will follow each other to make it seamless for the potential customers.
Message: The message should be edited and conveyed in each video you use for marketing. When you see a new phone ad, the message is conveyed through effects, transitions, and other tiny beautiful details.
Software: For the right way to get the message to the customers, you need the right type of video editing software. It depends on the budget and the time you have, but you can always use some tools for starters.
Skill: Take a look at best practices, courses, and other learning materials or even software instructions to see how you can improve your video content for marketing. Even if you don’t end up using them, you’ll have learned something new.
Feedback: Once you’re done making a marketing video, take it to other people who do similar things. They don’t need to be experts to provide feedback for your end product. What it looks like to them will give you some insight into what you can improve on.
Hardware: Don’t forget about machines that will help you pull it off. There are great laptops for graphic design, photo and video editing, and programming. They should be specifically picked out because not every laptop will render a video as fast as you’d like.

Creating Great Marketing Videos: Best Practices

Editing a marketing video involves knowing who you’re making the content for, crafting a story for the video, not making it too long, optimizing it for all device types and search engines, targeting the right metrics and analyzing them, and having a call to action to help your customers.

1. Consumer Group

The consumer group, i.e. target audience is the one you’re trying to sell to. Who’s going to use your software solution, physical product, food, etc? These people are the ones you should pitch to, and the ones that will form your focus group.

2. Storytelling

This is the message part, the story is all that matters. Don’t just shoot something and edit it to look fancy. Create an entire story, an experience around the product so that your customers mean business.

3. No Movies

Don’t make your marketing video a movie, make it short and meaningful. For example, an ad about shampoo shows glowing hair, a beautiful smile, and the shampoo. Imagine it being about the entire walk home from work. It’s too long.

4. Optimization

Optimize for smartphones because it’s the number one used device for entertainment. Optimize for search engines as well. Optimize with captions and descriptions to reach the first results on the page.

5. Metrics Analysis

Take a look at the metrics of your other content, publish it, and then compare the metrics of your video and the other content. This will help you see how effective videos can be in marketing, and you can use it to improve the editing of the video.

6. Call to Action

This is something that goes without saying, including a call to action will guide your customers to perform other necessary steps to get what they want and get you what you need.

Video marketing is essentials nowadays. The key role of video editing in marketing is clear. It’s the thing that delivers great quality and effects to your product and makes customers want to try it, see it, and experience it. So, learn a little more about it and watch your business bloom.

The post The Key Role of Digital Video Editing for Marketing appeared first on The Designest.

Pantone Color Of The Year 2024: Peach Fuzz

Alina Yakovleva — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:14:44 +0000

Every year as Pantone comes up with the announcement of the new Color of the Year, the whole design world freezes in anticipation of the big news. This is so because this long-awaited announcement isn’t a random selection of a color from their library. It’s a deep analysis of the past year with its rises and hopes that brings us the courage to continue our creative journey and remember the importance of what we do.

It hurts us to summarize everything humanity has faced in 2023. Wars, terrorism, global social and food crisis — we hardly can name darker times in modern history. However, 2023 has also shown the greatest courage of people. Their willingness to support each other and be human. This is what gives us hope for a different future and big changes. It’s also what we’re waiting for from the Pantone color of 2024 — a promise of a protective shelter of our well-being and a better future that art never fails to give.

Pantone Color of the Year 2024 Contents:

Pantone Color of the Year 2024
Origins of the Color of the Year Tradition
Where & How Pantone Colors Are Used
Choices of the Past Decade

Pantone Color of the Year 2024: Introducing Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz

Welcome to the new era of kindness and stillness, that Peach Fuzz brings us. It embraces a comforting and inviting tone that symbolizes our yearning for connection with others and the tranquility of finding solace. The color introduces a refreshing take on a gentle and soothing shade, displaying an attractive peachy hue delicately positioned between shades of pink and orange. PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz evokes feelings of belonging, a chance for reevaluation, and an opportunity for nurturing. It evokes a sense of serenity, providing a sanctuary where we can simply exist, experience, mend, and thrive.

In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.

— Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute

Aesthetically captivating and welcoming, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz embodies a nurturing peach shade that naturally beckons us to reach out and make contact. This color communicates a sensation of touchability, evident in its velvety, quilted, and fuzzy textures, delivering a luxurious, calming, and gentle tactile experience. PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz envelops us in its peachy embrace, awakening our senses to the soothing sensation of touch and the warmth it provides.

Anyone else notice the neat correlation between the new @pantone Color of the Year & @CyberpunkGame
Can we expect a collab in the future ;)? #cyberpunk2077 #pantone2021
— Juliana DiChiara (@jichiara) December 10, 2020

Origins of the Pantone Color of the Year

Pantone, as it is known now, was established in 1962 after Lawrence Herbert, purchased the firm. At the time, it was a modest business that produced color cards for cosmetics businesses. In an instant, he altered its course, creating the first color matching system in 1963. The company’s CEO, Chairman, and President are still Herbert.

The Pantone Guides are one of the company’s main offerings. Each item is made up of a large number of tiny (about 62 inches or 15×5 cm) thin cardboard sheets that have been bonded together and have had a series of related color swatches printed on one side.

Pantone Color Matching System

The CMYK process and other current color reproduction technologies are enhanced by the Pantone Color Matching System. The CMYK process uses four inks — magenta, cyan, yellow, and black — and is a standardized way to print in color. This method is used to create the vast majority of printed materials in use. The Pantone method is built on a particular pigment mixture to produce new colors, known as Spot Colors. Numerous “unique” colors, such as metallics and fluorescents, may be made using it. The colors that can be simulated using the CMYK process are marked as such in the company’s guidelines, even though the majority of them are outside the printed CMYK gamut.

The Pantone Color Institute

Many creatives, such as designers, producers, and businesses have the opportunity to collaborate with the Pantone Color Institute in order to establish a strong and compelling color presence. Their understanding of color is unmatched since they are the top color matching system. They are the foremost authorities of color marketing who know how color influences both design and consumer behavior. Therefore, there is a team behind the choice of the Pantone Color of the Year, not a single person or department.

Color of the Year Tradition

The Pantone Color of the Year was developed by the Pantone Color Institute in 2000. It is seen as a trend-setting idea for marketing, branding and the creative community as a whole, as many designs for both individual and commercial projects tend to have this color in them. Every December, designers, artists and even global enterprises eagerly await its announcemen, now accompanied by relevant color palettes and inspirational ideas. Plus, everyone who comes just in time for the announcement, can get much useful information from Pantone’s team, including some insider knowledge.

Where & How Pantone Colors Are Used

The Сolor of the Year, chosen annually by the Pantone Color Institute, traditionally determines trends in the new season. These are both color palette solutions & combinations and the emotional component of the projects. Thus, the past year’s social mood and cultural phenomena directly affect the newest works of interior designers, musicians, artists, and, most importantly, everyday mood.

Countless blog posts, tweets, and Instagram publications follow the color announcement, making it one of the most anticipated events in the world. Soon after that, Pantone Color of The Year and its palette penetrates almost all aspects of human life, and we can see it in apparel design, fashion, interiors (those stylish kitchen cabinets and living rooms), interfaces, — everything made by the wide design community!

Pantone Color of The Year: Choices of the Past Decade

Pantone annually holds a press release where the Color of the Year is announced. They consider what happened that time and have somehow become a mirror of age. Looking back at Pantone’s picks of the last decade we can reminisce what the world has been through, both politically and creatively. It also may give a dose of nostalgia, as these colors were truly one of each year’s prime symbols.

2023: Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta

Viva Magenta is an animated full-bodied red that revels in pure joy of a primary color, encouraging creativity and self-expression without restraint. Pantone’s 2023 color Viva Magenta is an answer to the difficult times that conveys something even bigger the hope: power and resistance. Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life, vital energy, and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit, and inclusive of all.

2022: Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri

The hue has violet red undertones and is a part of the blue family. Nature has already incorporated the exquisite balanced blue tone into its vibrant feathers and delicate pastel lilac. This color scheme encourages courageous creativity with its sprightly presence and is ideal for designing upbeat, colorful environments with a dash of flair.

2021: Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating

Illuminating, a brilliant yellow tone promotes positive relationships and encourages self-expression, whereas enduring Ultimate Gray with more grounded neutral undertones spoke more to composition, solidity, and durability. According to Pantone, these reliable core tones infused with a contemporary edge were somewhat akin to hardy natural components, like beach stones that have weathered over the years. These contrasting colors were chosen so people could feel some fresh air and fortify themselves with vitality, clarity, and optimism.

2020: Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue

Everyone has been in awe when Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue was named the Pantone Color of the Year for 2020. Its calm blue hue made us think of the ocean, the deep blue sky, and perhaps even gushing rivers. It forced us to return to nature and made us appreciate simplicity.

2019: Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral

Pantone 16-1546 which is known as Living Coral, is a peachy orange with a vivifying golden undertone. The sea invertebrate gets its colorful tone from the small algae growing on its surface, and the hue implies vigor and buoyancy. The color serves as a stark reminder of the harm that global warming has caused to the Great Barrier Reef.

2018: Pantone 18-3838 Ultra Violet

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018 was Pantone 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a profoundly thought-provoking and dramatic purple shade that communicates uniqueness and creative thinking that looks to the future. The color is complex and meditative and alludes to the cosmos’ secrets, curiosity, and discoveries that lay beyond our current understanding.

2017: Pantone 15-0343 Greenery

In a turbulent social and political climate, Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year, Greenery, erupts to provide us the renewed comfort we want while meeting our rising need for renewal and revitalization. Symbolizing fresh starts, Greenery is a bright, zesty yellow-green tint that reflects fleeting elements like the early days of spring when nature replenish, repair, and revitalize us, feeding our desire for reaffirmation and rebirth.

2016: Pantone 13-1520 Rose Quartz + Pantone 15-3919 Serenity

Pantone 15-3919 Serenity is light and airy color, like a pure blue sky, whereas Pantone 13-1520 Rose Quartz is seductive and soft and portrays calm and compassion. In an effort to fight the strains of contemporary life, the natural blend of these two soothing shades work together to evoke a sense of relief and relaxation in both consumers and business people.

2015: Pantone 18-1438 Marsala

The color 18-1438 Marsala is a warm, welcoming one that is gently alluring and draws everyone in. This warm, attractive tone with a twist of unique spontaneity is generally attractive and adapts well to fashion, interiors, cosmetics, industrial design, graphic design projects, or home furnishings. Its elegant shade represents the richness of a delicious dinner, similar to the sweet wine that gave Marsala its name.

2014: Pantone 18-3224 Radiant Orchid

Radiant Orchid extends across the color wheel to catch the attention of viewers and pique their curiosity. Pantone 18-3224 promotes new sense of extended creativity and uniqueness, which are more appreciated in today’s culture. Radiant Orchid, a fascinating purple with seductive charm, is a harmonious blend of fuchsia, purple, and pink undertones.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pantone announce Color of the Year 2024?

For those Pantone color lovers who want to be the first ones to know the Color of the Year that is annually chosen by Pantone, the team launched the countdown you can find on the Pantone website. On Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 7:00 PM EST, join them in celebrating the 2024 Color of the Year at the live stream event.

What will be the Pantone Color of 2024?

The 2024 year’s Color of the Year announced by Pantone on the 7th of December became Peach Fuzz 13-1023. It is a natural color, with a soft, calming vibe. Peach Fuzz is a pinkish hue that has its roots in nature and is symbolic of kindness and stillness.

What is the trending color for 2024?

Annually, we learn about the trending color from Pantone. This choice determines the main design solutions for the upcoming year and it will be seen in social media, fashion, architecture and many other fields. Pantone has already announced the new Color of the Year 2024 and it became Peach Fuzz 13-1023, a pinkish color that yearning for connection with others.

What does Pantone Color of the Year mean?

The Pantone Color of the Year sets the color trends that will be used the most next year, mainly in branding designs. It will be incorporated in both consumer goods and the ones created for clients.

Who decides Pantone Color of the Year?

Pantone holds a private gathering of representatives of color marketing from several countries’ color standards headed by the Executive Director. They hold a meeting and press release twice a year in a major European city where these experts decide on a color for the upcoming year after two days of presentations and discussion.

The post Pantone Color Of The Year 2024: Peach Fuzz appeared first on The Designest.

Bad Graphic Design Examples: Good vs Bad Graphic Design

Evgenia Papicheva — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:13:51 +0000

Actually, we all know the only true definition of bad graphic design — it’s the one that has been made by someone else but you. In order to help you keep this statement correct, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to the design failures. After going through our selection of bad graphic design examples, you’ll be able to spot and avoid many common pitfalls in your creations. Look, laugh, learn.

Jokes aside, graphic design is the practice of projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. The goal is to convey a particular message or idea in a way that is both effective and aesthetically pleasing. I use the term ‘practice’ intentionally because the word ‘art’ often confuses novice graphic designers and makes them think that a designer’s job is about aesthetic and artistic expression only. This misunderstanding often becomes the root of epic design fails.

Graphic design usually has a specific objective, whether it’s to sell, inform, entertain, or evoke an emotion. It utilizes text and visuals to communicate a message and leverage the audience. What’s important — target audience. Graphic design often tailors its work to communicate effectively to a specific group of people. Thereby, good graphic design delivers the message the best way possible, while bad doesn’t.

This can manifest in numerous ways. At its core, poor graphic design fails to serve its intended audience or achieve its goal, but with just a little understanding graphic designers can cure this. We all agree that design is subjective, but there are certain universal indicators of inferior design. Let’s have a closer look at the common design mistakes and bad graphic design examples, so you don’t make them in your own projects.

Key Mistakes in Graphic Design

1. Lack of Clear Hierarchy

In the complex dance of design elements on a canvas, visual hierarchy plays the role of a choreographer, guiding the viewer’s eye with purpose and intent. At its core, hierarchy is about organizing information in a way that conveys importance, sequence, and interrelation ensuring a smooth user experience. A well-implemented visual hierarchy seamlessly takes a viewer through a journey — from the most dominant element, often the main message or focal point, to the more nuanced, subsidiary details. It’s a delicate balance of size, color, contrast, spacing, and placement that helps in distilling complex messages into digestible visuals. However, mistakes in establishing a clear visual hierarchy can confuse, disorient, or even repel viewers. Signs of poor hierarchy are glaring even for non-designers yet often overlooked:

Equal Visual Weight to All Elements

If everything on the canvas screams for attention, nothing stands out. When every element — from the main headline to the tiniest footnote — bears the same visual weight, the design becomes a cacophony of words and images where the main message is lost. Bombarding viewers with excessive information is counterproductive — no one will capture it. Just go on any news website to experience this. Have you ever tried to navigate through all the self-playing videos and sponsored articles to find what you’re here for?

Missing Focal Point

Every design should have a north star — a focal point that immediately draws the eye. Without this, the viewer’s gaze wanders aimlessly, making it harder to convey the primary message or evoke the desired emotion. One of the common mistakes is when everything appears equally weighted, leaving viewers unsure where to look first. It can be called a graphic design fail as long as it disrupts the flow, provides an unsatisfactory user experience, and eventually ends up with the viewer’s confusion rather than understanding. To remedy this it’s better to add more white space balancing content blocks.

Neglecting Clear Spacing and Grouping

Elements related to each other, when spaced too far apart or unevenly, can disrupt the flow and confuse viewers. Complex fancy layouts with multiple columns, boxes, and sections can disorient readers leaving them guessing and squinting what was it all about. Of course, by a professional designer, this faux pas may be used as a design tool but it takes a lot of trial and error (and sometimes even epic design fails) to balance readability and artistism, so exercise caution.

To sidestep these pitfalls, it takes just a little understanding and a lot of planning:

Define the primary message, secondary information, and any tertiary details.
Sketch or wireframe your design first, enabling you to visualize the hierarchy before diving into the finer details.
Use white space generously to give elements room to breathe.
Regularly step back and assess the design from a distance or ask for feedback to ensure the visual flow is logical and intuitive.
Remember, the goal of visual hierarchy is not just aesthetic; it’s to ensure that the design communicates effectively and provides a satisfying experience for the viewer.

2. Poor Color Choices

Colors are the symphony of visual design, creating mood, evoking emotions, and setting the tone for any piece. They communicate even before shapes, words, or images do, that’s how the human brain works. Studies show, that the moment you experience the color it affects you instantly without you even noticing. It’s a powerful tool, but just like a discordant note in a song, poor color scheme can quickly derail even the most well-intentioned designs. Therefore, to create a really impactful project choose used spectrum wisely.

Ignoring Color Psychology

Every color evokes an emotion or a reaction. Red can signify urgency or passion, while blue might convey trust and calm. In most situations, green is for ‘yes’ and red is for ‘no’. Using the wrong color for a message while following color trends can confuse the viewer or even convey the exact opposite of an intended emotion. This is a huge thing in logo design, where careful choice of the color scheme is an essential part.

Overcomplicating the Palette

Simplicity often trumps complexity. Using too many colors can overwhelm the viewer and dilute brand identity. It’s generally wise for graphic designers to stick to a primary palette of 2-3 main colors, supplemented by a few secondary or accent colors.

Ignoring Accessibility

It’s crucial to ensure that designs are accessible to everyone, including those with color blindness or visual impairments. Lack of contrast is the most often accessibility mistake. Light gray text on a white background might look sleek and modern, but if it’s too light, your message is lost.

Why did I miss the clashing colors? Because when used thoughtfully it can become a great design choice in some cases. There was a time when it was one of the color trends. It’s not ‘no-no’, it’s just ‘be sure why are you doing this’ and, as always — communication first.

To avoid these colorful pitfalls, here the good design tips:

Always start with a clear understanding of the project’s goals and the audience’s needs.
Ensure that the chosen colors align with the message or mood you intend to communicate.
Adhere to a limited primary color palette, preferably 2-3 colors.
Employ tools like color wheels, contrast checkers, and graphic design software that can suggest harmonious palettes.
Regularly seek feedback, and don’t hesitate to iterate and adjust.
Prioritize readability, remember, colors are not just decorative; they’re communicative.

3. Misuse of Fonts and Styles

Typography is the voice of design. It speaks volumes, not just in words, but in style, tone, and context. Fonts can be as evocative as images, but their misuse can spell disaster. Beyond aesthetics, poorly chosen fonts can alienate or confuse the audience, making content inaccessible or misrepresenting the intended tone. We designers must balance form and function, ensuring that our typeface choices enhance, rather than hinder, the overall communicative goal.

Overloading with Styles

In the vast sea of fonts available, it’s tempting to use multiple typefaces, thinking it adds flair. However, using too many can make a design seem disjointed and unprofessional. It can result in feeling inconsistent in design. Not many viewers (nor creators) can understand the artistic idea of why this exact page needs 8 different styles and what they represent. They’ll just say that it’s chaos.

Sacrificing Legibility

Decorative fonts have their place, but abusing or using them in the wrong context can compromise readability. It’s crucial to ensure that text remains clear and legible, especially in primary content areas. Also, good kerning (spacing between characters) and leading (spacing between lines) can greatly affect readability and aesthetics. Remember? Design is a communication.

Forgetting Context

A playful, whimsical typeface might appear inappropriate in a solemn context, just as a formal serif might feel out of place on a children’s event poster. Always consider the message and audience when choosing the right font. Also, note that some fonts look fantastic alone but jarring when paired. Research and tools dedicated to fonts pairing can guide you in choosing typefaces that enhance each other.

To navigate the intricacies of typography effectively, you need to begin with the end in mind: Who is your audience? What is your message? Tools like typography books, font pairing guides, typographical scale calculators, and graphic design software with built-in kerning and leading adjustments can be invaluable.

Not to fail with styles use the general rule of thumb: stick to 2-3 typefaces that complement each other— perhaps one for headings and another for body text. Keep it simple and elegant. And, as always, seek feedback and keep refining. Typography, when done right, can elevate a design from ordinary to extraordinary, so give it the attention and respect it deserves.

4. Lack of Alignment and Consistency

Alignment and consistency in graphic design are akin to the rhythmic beats that give cadence to a piece of music. They provide structure, create balance, and set the tone for a cohesive visual narrative. Ensuring alignment and maintaining consistency not only beautifies the design but also clarifies the message, making your work both pleasing and purposeful.

Random Placement of Elements

One of the most noticeable missteps is placing elements haphazardly. Without proper alignment, designs can look unorganized and disjointed, making it difficult for the viewer to navigate or absorb the content. Even mixing alignment types without a strong purpose is not welcome, try to stick to the most user-friendly left-side alignment. Another common mistake is inconsistent spacing around elements or the edges. To ensure a balanced and harmonious look it’s crucial to keep them uniform.

Lack of Repetition

Repeating certain design elements or styles can create a sense of unity and consistency. Using the same colors, fonts, or styles for similar elements or sections enhances user experience and elevates the whole project. While randomly introducing new styles or elements can make the design feel fragmented and untrustworthy. Consistency in styling not only distinguishes the works of a good designer but also reinforces recognition of the brand you’re working for. That’s why many companies have their own brandbook.

Here are some design tips on how to maintain alignment and consistency in your own projects:

Start with defining your limitations: Set style guidelines at the outset, determine fonts, colors, and other design elements you may and may not use.
Utilize grid systems available in most of the design software. By dictating the rhythm and flow of content, grids foster coherence, enhancing readability and the overall user experience.
Review your work periodically, checking alignments, margins, and styles. Zooming out and viewing the design as a thumbnail can also help spot misalignments or inconsistencies.
Always remember, that design is as much about the white space between elements as the elements themselves.

5. Ignoring Audience and Context

To call yourself a professional designer, creating visually stunning work is only half the battle. What is the other half? Ensuring that the design speaks effectively to its intended audience and fits its context like a glove. When designers neglect to consider who they’re speaking to and where their design will be seen, they risk creating work that, while beautiful, might be ineffective or even counterproductive. Don’t be one of those bad designers.

Ignoring Medium Specs

Every platform, whether print, web, or digital ad space, has its unique specifications and requirements. A design that looks stunning on a desktop screen might not translate well to mobile or billboard dimensions. In addition to the tech specs, different mediums have different audiences. So it’s essential to keep in mind where your work will be placed and who will see it.

Misaligned Messaging

One of the most evident signs of neglecting audience and context is when the design’s messaging feels out of place. Let’s take Comic Sans font as an example. This typeface is quite good for dyslexia, but emotional baggage and meme flare instantly turn everything related to this font into a joke. As well as designs intended for diverse audiences should always consider cultural sensitivities.

To circumvent these challenges, the solution starts long before the actual design phase: in research and planning that constitutes good design practice. Understand the target audience’s preferences, habits, and needs. Familiarize yourself with the platforms or mediums the design will appear on.

And always, always design with empathy – place yourself in the shoes of the end viewer and ask if the design feels relevant, resonant, and appropriate. By anchoring your design process in context and audience considerations, you not only make your work visually captivating but also contextually powerful and impactful.

6. Overdesign and Overcomplication

In our quest for originality and impact, we designers often tread the path between artistic expression and overwhelming excess. Overdesign, or the act of adding unnecessary elements and complexities to a piece, can overshadow the message, confuse the viewer, and detract from the core purpose of the design.

Unfortunately, there may be clients unfamiliar with minimalist design and basic design principles, thinking that more different elements result in more style, otherwise, they wasted money on a bad graphic designer. Well, in this case, it’s our duty to educate them and not let the following mistakes happen.

Muddled Message

By this point, I guess, you’ve deeply learned that, at its heart, design communicates. Therefore, it’s best to aim for clarity first. A well-composed design directs the viewer’s attention strategically. If viewers are lost in a great number of elements and struggle to discern the primary message, it’s a sign that the design might be overcomplicated. Or there may be another example for this case, when in pursuit of artistry designer completely ignores the “clarity – first” principle and eventually makes poor design choices that lead to design catastrophy.

Crouded Canvas

White space, or negative space, is a designer’s best friend. It offers breathing room, emphasizes what’s truly important and balancing content blocks. An over-designed piece often feels cramped, with every inch filled. Graphics and other design elements should serve a purpose — either aiding in communication or enhancing aesthetics. If removing an element doesn’t affect the design’s message or balance, it might be superfluous.

The key to sidestepping overdesign lies in embracing the principle of ‘less is more.’ Begin with a clear understanding of the design’s objective and core message. As you craft, regularly step back and assess — does each element enhance and serve the purpose? Be willing to edit ruthlessly, and always prioritize clarity and effective communication. Seeking feedback from peers or target audience members can also offer invaluable insights. Remember, true design mastery is not just about knowing what to add, but also recognizing what to leave out.

How to Avoid Design Mistakes

It’s worth noting that while certain aspects of design can be subjective, there are widely recognized standards and best practices in the field that help in distinguishing good design from bad. At the heart of every compelling design lie fundamental principles that ensure a clear, cohesive, and communicative outcome. So it’s always best to start with the basics like contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity, balance, hierarchy, and the strategic use of white space.

By embracing these principles, graphic designers not only enhance aesthetics but also ensure their designs communicate effectively and resonate with their intended audience. While ignoring these foundational principles is akin to constructing a building on shaky ground. No matter how beautiful individual elements might be, without these guiding rules, the overall structure is susceptible to chaos and confusion.

When Bad Design is Not So Bad

At the same time, it’s important to remember that there are graphic design styles that intentionally mimic what many might consider “bad design”, while not being examples of the last. These styles often aim to challenge conventional norms or tap into nostalgia. Here are the most notable styles:

Brutalism

Inspired by brutalist architecture, brutalist web and graphic design are characterized by a raw, unpolished look. Websites might have clashing colors, basic typefaces, and lack conventional hierarchy, mimicking early internet aesthetics.

Anti-Design or “Ugly” Design

This style challenges traditional aesthetics by intentionally using elements traditionally seen as “bad” design choices. Think too neon backgrounds, discordant patterns, and misaligned elements. Brands, especially in the fashion industry, have adopted this to stand out and appear avant-garde.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bad graphic design?

Bad graphic design goes beyond mere aesthetics; it’s a misfire in visual communication. Often stemming from a lack of understanding or respect for design fundamentals, such work can present as chaotic, disjointed, or simply ill-fitted for its intended purpose. Ignoring elements like target audience, cultural nuances, or platform specifications can render a design ineffective, regardless of the amount of effort poured into it. Beyond aesthetics, poor designs may also carry misleading or confusing messages, leading to potential miscommunication.

What is a good graphic design?

Good graphic design is a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality. It’s not just about creating something visually pleasing; it’s about ensuring that the visual medium enhances the message. Such designs are rooted in a profound understanding of the brand’s essence, the audience’s psyche, and the nuances of the medium. Good design speaks volumes without uttering a word. It creates connections, evokes emotions, and drives actions, all while presenting a coherent and appealing visual story.

How do you know if graphic design is bad?

While subjective taste plays a role, universally, designs that are hard to interpret, misaligned with their audience, or simply aesthetically jarring can be termed as bad designers choice. These designs often overlook crucial elements like color psychology, typography rules, or layout dynamics. But the most telling sign is the inability to communicate its core message effectively or to resonate with its target audience.

What makes a good graphic design?

The essence of fine-quality graphic design lies in its ability to seamlessly meld form and function. This involves a strategic application of design principles, ensuring that every visual element, from color to typography, serves a distinct purpose. It means designing with the end-user in mind, creating visuals that cater to their preferences, cultural backgrounds, and needs. It’s about striking a balance, ensuring the design is neither too sparse nor too cluttered, and every component enhances the overall message.

How do you make a bad design?

Many designers know that designing without a clear vision or purpose is a straight path to ineffective outcomes. Overloading visuals, being inconsistent in style, neglecting the basics of typography, and choosing unsuitable color combinations are classic pitfalls. However, the most significant contributor to bad design is the lack of empathy and understanding for the end-user. Ignoring audience feedback, neglecting user testing, or designing in a vacuum, isolated from real-world context, often yields questionable results.

What makes a good logo?

The hallmark of a good logo is its memorability and adaptability. It encapsulates a brand’s essence in a simple, easily recognizable form, remains effective across various mediums and sizes. It should resonate with the brand’s core audience, reflecting the brand’s values, ethos, and market position. A good logo stands the test of time, remaining relevant and effective even as trends evolve.

The post Bad Graphic Design Examples: Good vs Bad Graphic Design appeared first on The Designest.

Font Trends 2024: Creativity, Elegance & Usability

Daria Lemiakina — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 16:17:32 +0000

Hey there, design enthusiasts and font fanatics! Buckle up because we’re about to take a whirlwind tour of font trends that are shaping up to rock your design world this year. Forget the same old, same old — typography 2024 is diverse and dynamic!

From the crystal-clear legibility of accessible fonts to the sharp angles of geometric sans serifs, we’re seeing it all. Artistic typography isn’t just about looking pretty anymore; it’s about striking that perfect balance between art and function. And let’s not forget the nostalgia-packed journey with cartoon fonts, elegant serifs, and the irresistible charm of bubble fonts. And that’s not all! The year ahead is also about experimentation, bold pairings, and remembering something that seemed to be long gone.

So, whether you’re a seasoned designer or just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of type, this is your ultimate guide to the fonts that are set to make waves in 2024. Let’s unravel the current font trends together and discover how they can transform your next project from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’!

Ready? Turn the page and start this typographic adventure!

List of Font Trends 2024:

Accessibility is the key
Geometric Sans Serifs
Artistic Typography with Balance
Cartoon Letters
New Serifs: Thin-Thinner-the Thinnest
Typographic Combinations & Pairings
Bubble Fonts
Flowing Monoline Fonts

relevant:

Logo Design Trends 2024: Outburst of Typography & Symbolism November 16, 2023

12 Graphic Design Trends 2024: Futurism VS. Retro November 9, 2023

Accessibility is the Key

Embracing diversity in design isn’t just about celebrating our unique qualities; it’s also about constructing typography that’s comfortable and accessible for everyone. After all, the goal of any text is to communicate effectively with as wide an audience as possible. Accessibility plays a crucial role in achieving this goal — and opens our chart of top font trends for 2024. However, inclusivity in typography doesn’t mean sacrificing creativity or expression.

When it comes to creating accessible design, you should aim to strike a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and accessibility. This often means choosing more straightforward typefaces over bold, complex display fonts or intricate SVG characters. Sans serifs, for example, are particularly effective in this regard, offering the clarity and breathing space that make text easily readable for diverse audiences.

Neurodiversity in typography involves more than just adhering to proper kerning or choosing subdued color combinations. It’s about considering clear letter design, appropriate type sizes, non-intrusive textures from the start — and thanks to variable fonts it’s now easier than ever. But it’s not just about retrofitting existing designs to meet accessibility standards. As we move into the new year, the concept of inclusive typefaces and styles is becoming a foundational element of visual identity. More and more brands are committing to making their typography accessible and inclusive for all audiences — the new logos of Intel, Johnson & Johnson, and Infiniti are great examples of that.

Hand-picked cases:

Clayo — Modern Clean Sans Family

Bergins – Grotesque Sans Serif

Font Trends on Envato Elements

Geometric Sans Serifs

Highly Legible Fonts

Sci-Fi Typography

Elegant Vintage Fonts

Artistic Typography

Psychedelic & Cartoon Letters

elements.envato.com

Geometric Sans Serifs

It might seem that the sans serif font family has nothing else to offer. Clean lines, rounded letters, minimalist aesthetics — we’ve seen it all. But just because we’ve seen it, it doesn’t mean it can’t be a trend, or turn into something greater, for that matter.

Fuss-free sans serif typography has long held a loyal fan base. Initially favored by minimalism-lovers for its simplicity, it’s now becoming a playground for experimentation and creativity. Yes, sans serif fonts can be exciting!

We are seeing more and more examples of digital designs that hold themselves back, giving way to typefaces that seem simple only at first glance: it’s all about the details. In these sans serif fonts, we can observe — with great enjoyment, by the way — the emergence of new shapes, unconventional letters, and completely unexpected design solutions. Uneven character width? You got it! Letters slanted into different directions? You got it too! Sleek shapes that draw inspiration from Art Deco? No problem here either. With this sans serif font trend, there are no boundaries to what can happen.

Any sans serif font with unconventional elements will instantly spruce up your projects and make them more dynamic while also being an organic part of the composition. We’re talking logo design, brand identity, web headings, and even print media — all because, while ensuring engagement and joy, these experimental and fun sans serif fonts offer high readability, strike a perfect balance between classic and modern aesthetics, and easily combine with other graphic design features. So, set your serifs aside (for now!) and explore the dark side — or shall I say the sans serif side of the moon that sure bears trendy fonts.

Hand-picked cases:

Quigent

Kirom Modern Sans Serif Font

Artistic Typography with Balance

Experimental typography has been trending for a while and is, again, one of the trends for 2024. Back in 2019–2020, designers were trying to outdo each other in inventiveness, and one could simply get dizzy from the abundance of new fonts — oh those glorious days! This font trend continues to evolve — let’s see where it’s headed next.

The trend of balanced expressive typography is a logical extension of the previously mentioned typographic accessibility, which is the main typographic trend for 2024. If experimental styles inspired designers to refuse the human-centered philosophy in favor of self-expression, now we’re witnessing a reverse process. The user and their needs come first, followed by the brand’s personality and expressivity. And we also return to the essential question: “What’s the point of typography if it doesn’t serve people?”

And here’s the plot twist: brands are totally digging this new direction. Gone are the days when brand personality was pushed aside in the race to be the most out-there. We all have seen those logos and website designs where the graphics were drop-dead gorgeous but kinda missed the whole ‘this is who we are’ memo from the brand.

Good news, designers — we’re swinging back to a more harmonious design philosophy. A perfect blend of the brand’s style, audience needs, technical wizardry, organic font choice, and, yes, the designer’s flair, but all tuned to complement each other without any scene-stealing. It’s about writing a chorus, not a solo — and that’s music to our design ears!

Hand-picked cases:

Grace Elegant Sans Modern Serif

Korean — Futurstic Helvetica fonts

Cartoon Letters

Exploring font trends 2024, let’s sprinkle a bit of joy and whimsy onto our texts — a much-needed respite from the tough realities around us. And what’s a prime example of this playful escape? Fonts dripping with cartoon aesthetics!

Being (almost) the most trending fonts this year, these are more than mere lines and strokes; they’re bursting with character, ready to jump off the page or screen. Cartoon letters do not just shape words; they embody stories and emotions, adding a lively dimension to any written message.

These fonts also straddle the line between retro and modern. Some hark back to the days of classic comic books, instilling a sense of nostalgia. Others represent modern twists on the cartoon theme, pushing the boundaries of traditional typography. This duality makes cartoon letters incredibly versatile — equally at home amongst movie poster fonts as they are in a cutting-edge app interface. This also means cartoon typography guarantees a diverse audience for your projects!

In essence, cartoon letters in 2024 are a celebration of creativity and fun. They remind us that fonts can be both a nod to the past and a leap into the future. So, whether you’re aiming for a touch of nostalgia or a burst of modern flair, these playful typefaces are ready to transform your projects into something truly memorable.

Hand-picked cases:

Emynam Crew Typeface

Vatroge Display

New Serifs: Thin-Thinner-the Thinnest

Sophistication has never been more in demand, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the latest serif font trend. Serifs are in their golden age, and this year, it’s all about pushing the boundaries of delicacy with strokes that are so fine, that they’re almost ethereal.

Where’s this trend coming from? Well, in a world that’s constantly buzzing with bold graphics and loud messages, there’s a growing appreciation for the subtle, the understated, and the quietly confident. Enter the new era of serifs, with their whisper-thin letter lines and elegant curves. They’re like the soft-spoken poets of the typography world, bringing a touch of grace and refinement to every design.

But don’t let their slender appearance fool you — these fonts pack a punch when it comes to versatility. From high-end branding to sophisticated editorial design, these sleek serifs can elevate any project. Imagine a luxury brand’s logo rendered in a font so fine it speaks volumes without shouting, or a magazine spread that captivates with its understated elegance.

Moreover, these ultra-thin serif fonts are perfect for digital spaces where clarity and readability are paramount. They can give website designs and app interfaces a modern, upscale feel while ensuring that the text remains approachable and easy on the eyes.

So, if you’re looking to add a touch of finesse to your work, the new wave of serifs has got you covered. In 2024, embrace the thinnest solutions — because sometimes, the quietest voice in the room is the one that commands the most attention.

Hand-picked cases:

Galgey – Font Family + Variable

Weaser Modern Serif

Typographic Combinations & Pairings

Get ready to play the matchmaker in the world of fonts because 2024 is all about typographic combinations and pairings. It’s like creating a perfect cocktail but with fonts — a bit of bold here, a dash of delicate there, and voilà!

Picture this: you’ve got a heavyweight champion of a font, bold and brash, paired up with its elegant, slender counterpart. It’s the design equivalent of a power couple walking down the runway — everyone can’t help but stare. We’re talking about mixing weights, styles, and even completely different fonts. The possibilities? Endless!

This year’s type scene is all about novelty and experiments, tailoring font pairings for a graphic design that feels fresh but doesn’t necessarily use anything new. By blending the unexpected — like modern geometric typefaces with calligraphy fonts or italic styles with bold weights — we create designs that resonate with a diverse audience. It’s experimental typography at its finest, redefining the very definition of what a typeface can do. Each pairing is more than just a stylistic choice; it’s a statement, a nod to an ever-evolving culture that always craves something different. Plus, by combining different types, you can enhance reliability and shift focus towards what’s more important.

Things to consider here are balance and contrast. It’s like mixing stripes with polka dots — done right, and it’s a fashion statement; done wrong, and well, you get the picture.

Whether you’re working on branding, logos, web design, or just jazzing up a presentation, remember: typographic combinations are your playground. Mix, match, and create something that makes people say, “Now, that’s a look!”

Hand-picked cases:

Bubble Fonts

Living in a bubble works perfectly fine in the world of typography trends 2024. Bubble fonts are popping up everywhere, from playful cartoons and 3D wonders to graffiti-style projects and even more formal iterations. The latter is especially intriguing — it’s all about how designers are adapting this emotive aesthetic for projects that need a touch of class.

Think big, bold, and bouncy letters that feel like they could leap off the page or screen. They’re the kind of fonts that make you want to reach out and touch them. This way, your audience will definitely engage!

But the versatility of bubble fonts is what truly stands out. Beyond their obvious playful and streetwise allure, they’re finding their way into more polished and sophisticated designs. Their boldness can be restrained by various means: a neutral color palette, minimalistic backgrounds, and so on. Bubble fonts don’t have to “invade” your designs, but rather complement them.

So where would these fonts be useful? Since they catch our eyes so easily, they work especially well in logos, brand identities, print design, social media posts, and so much more. So go ahead and embrace the bubble — it might just be the pop your project needs!

Hand-picked cases:

Cocana – Bubble Font

Graphy — Modern Font

Flowing Monoline Fonts

Alright, let’s talk about the font trend that’s like the smooth jazz of typography. Sure, cursive fonts aren’t typically the life of the design party, but who says we can’t shake things up a bit for 2024?

Imagine a font that’s like your favorite coffee shop’s signature on a chalkboard — effortless, smooth, and with just a hint of that handcrafted vibe. That’s monoline typefaces for you. They’ve got this easy-going, one-weight line that just flows like a gentle stream. No ups and downs in thickness here — just one smooth ride from A to Z.

Why are they catching on, you ask? Well, in a world full of bold statements and digital sharpness, sometimes you just want something that feels like a warm hug for your eyes. These fonts are like that cozy sweater of design: comforting, soft, and oh-so-welcoming. They bring in a touch of humanity, a dash of personal flair, and a whole lot of chill vibes.

And let’s talk versatility! Need something that looks fab on a logo? Check. Want a font that doesn’t scream but still delivers a message on your website? Double-check. How about making your packaging design a bit more approachable? Triple check! Flowing monoline fonts are like your design BFFs — they just get you.

Maybe it’s time for your monoline era? From elegant curves to sleek ligatures, embrace the beauty of these nearly-script typefaces in the year ahead. You’ll see: going with the flow can look amazing.

Hand-picked cases:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typography trends in 2024?

Font trends 2024 offer designers who want to feel artistic freedom and keep up with the times a wide choice of font solutions:

Accessible fonts;
Geometric sans serifs;
Artistic typography with balance;
Cartoon letters;
Thin serif fonts;
Pairings of different fonts;
Bubble fonts;
Flowing monoline fonts.

This year’s recommendations although mention specific font types, don’t necessarily focus on them. It’s more about how you reinvent the well-known font styles or take a new creative look at how your design. Don’t be scared of bold combinations, energetic types, and something you have never tried before.

What is the font of the year 2024?

With the diverse font trends of the year 2024, there is no way we could name just one that will be at the top of the design world. This year, every designer will find a suitable option for themselves, no matter what style they work in. The final goal of your designs is what matters.

If you’re looking for an elegant addition to your brand identity, consider thin serifs. If your logo design needs a spruce-up and wants to attract a more diverse audience, try out cartoon and bubble font trends. If you aim to give your project a fresh feeling, check out different font combinations or go after modern serif font solutions that aren’t afraid of unconventional shapes and patterns. Remember that this year a user is what designers should focus on: accessibility should go hand in hand with all your creative decisions and influence the choice of trending typography.

What fonts are trending right now?

Currently, the font trends are a diverse mix, offering something for every design need. Here’s a list of the most popular font solutions:

Accessible fonts;
Geometric sans serifs;
Artistic typography with balance;
Cartoon letters;
Thin serif fonts;
Pairings of different fonts;
Bubble fonts;
Flowing monoline fonts.

Each of these trending fonts is a versatile typeface that’ll help your projects succeed no matter what field you work in. From logo to editorial designs, remember to try out different fonts in different scenarios even if the choice seems wrong at first.

What is the most popular font 2024?

In 2024, there isn’t a single ‘most popular’ font, as trends are focusing on a rich variety of styles. However, accessible fonts are gaining significant traction for their universal readability and inclusivity. Among other trends are geometric sans serifs, thin serifs, monoline scripts, and cartoon fonts — the choice depends on your specific design needs and the audience you’re catering to.

Moreover, such typography could be used in many projects, from packaging design to various illustration projects. The great news is that easily legible fonts are still in trend this year, so don’t be quick to delete all these types from your library! You can use them in your next project and not be afraid of looking out of fashion.

The post Font Trends 2024: Creativity, Elegance & Usability appeared first on The Designest.

Design Trends in Digital Signage

The Designest Staff — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 11:40:49 +0000

Hey there! Let’s chat about something cool and techie—digital signage design trends. You know, those screens you see in malls, restaurants, and even on streets, showing ads, information, and sometimes really neat graphics. It’s like art, but it sells stuff or tells you where to go. We remember when these screens were just basic, but man, have they evolved!

By the way, if you’re into this stuff, check out Kitcast Apple TV signage. They’re doing some nifty things with digital signs.

1. Minimalism

First up, minimalism. It’s not just for your home décor! In digital signage, it’s all the rage. Think clean lines, simple messages, and uncluttered visuals. It’s like that feeling you get when you clean your room and everything just feels… right. Less mess, more appeal.

2. Interactive Experiences

Remember those sci-fi movies where people touch screens to get info? That’s now, not the future! Interactive digital signs are popping up everywhere. From choosing your meal at a kiosk to getting tourist info with a tap of the screen. It’s like the signs are talking to you, but with their fingertips.

Engaging the Audience

And it’s not just about touching screens. Some signs change as you move around them or show different content based on the time of day. It’s like they know you’re there and want to keep you interested. Creepy? Maybe. Cool? Definitely.

3. Bold Colors and Dynamic Content

Now, let’s talk colors. Bold, vibrant, can’t-miss-it colors are everywhere in digital signage. It’s like they’re screaming for your attention – and it works. Pair that with content that moves or changes, and you’ve got a recipe for signage that’s hard to ignore. It’s a visual party, and everyone’s invited.

Making a Statement

These signs aren’t just about showing off cool graphics. They make a statement. Whether it’s a brand showing its edgy side or an ad that changes based on the weather, dynamic content keeps things fresh and keeps you looking.

4. Sustainability

Here’s something we love: sustainability in digital signage. We’re seeing more energy-efficient screens and content that promotes eco-friendly messages. It’s like the digital world giving Mother Nature a high five.

5. Personalization

Ever seen a sign and felt like it was speaking just to you? That’s personalization in action. Digital signs now use data (don’t worry, not the creepy kind) to show content that’s relevant to you. It’s like walking into a room and the DJ plays your favorite song.

6. The Future

So, what’s next in the world of digital signage? Think bigger, smarter, and even more integrated with our daily lives. It’s like we’re heading into a world where digital signs are a part of everything we do.

Upcoming Trends to Watch

Augmented Reality (AR): Imagine pointing your phone at a sign and getting a whole new layer of info. That’s AR, and it’s starting to creep into digital signage.
AI-Driven Content: Signs that learn and adapt? Yep, AI is making that happen. It’s like having a smart assistant, but for signs.
Outdoor Screens: Tough, weather-resistant, and bright enough to see even in sunlight. Outdoor digital signage is growing, making the world our digital playground.

Wrapping It Up

Alright, so that’s the scoop on digital signage design trends. From minimalism to AR, it’s clear that these signs are more than just flashy screens. They’re becoming a part of our lives, changing how we interact with the world around us. Next time you see a digital sign, take a moment to appreciate the tech and creativity behind it. It’s pretty awesome when you think about it!

And hey, if you’re thinking of jumping into the digital signage game, remember to check out Kitcast digital signage. They’ve got some cool stuff going on that’s right in line with these trends.

Catch you later, and keep your eyes peeled for those cool signs!

The post Design Trends in Digital Signage appeared first on The Designest.

Top 15 Best Computers for Graphic Design in 2024

The Designest Staff — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 11:37:00 +0000

The Designest may receive compensation from companies, products, and services featured in this publication. For more details, please refer to our Affiliate Disclosure page.

Graphic design is a rapidly developing digital space that requires having a desktop computer for the job to be done successfully. Graphic designers won’t be able to completely replace this tool with a laptop since the PC performance is 30-40% higher and the GPUs are usually of better quality.

relevant:

Best Drawing Programs & Apps in 2024 For Your Creativity February 7, 2024

The New iMac Announces The Transition from Formality to Juicy Colors April 21, 2021

So, what is the best computer for graphic design in 2021? The main load on a graphic design computer is created when working with vector and raster images of large formats and processing photographs. If the processor is not powerful enough, it can be difficult to manipulate layers and apply filters. That is why you need to clearly understand the scope and nature of your work tasks and study the technical parameters of the devices carefully to spot the best computer for graphic design.

A graphic designer uses specialized programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Autodesk SketchBook Pro, Corel Painter, and CorelDRAW. The system requirements of the latest software versions serve as the minimum PC parameters required for efficient operation. Today, it is a processor featuring 64-bit computing, a clock speed of at least 2 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, 4 GB of free hard disk space, and a 2 GB video card.

To make it easier for you to choose the best computer for graphic design, we’ve compiled our own ranking. Our team analyzed dozens of new models and wrote the recommendations based on hands-on experience. The final list includes 15 graphic design computers.

Top 15 Best Computers for Graphic Design

iMac (27-inch, 2020)
iMac (24-inch, 2021)
Microsoft Surface Studio 2
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
Dell XPS 8490 Desktop
Mac Pro (2019)
MSI Trident AS
Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
Apple iMac Pro
Lenovo Legion Tower 5
Dell Inspiron 27 7000
Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
Acer Aspire C27
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
HP Z2 Mini G5

iMac (27-inch, 2020)

This iMac from Apple is currently the best desktop computer for graphic design. The device combines extremely high performance with a minimalist design.

Specifications

CPU: 3.1 GHz 6-core Intel Core i5; 3.3 GHz 6-core Intel Core i5; 3.8 GHz 8-core Intel Core i7; also configurable with a 3.6 GHz 10-core Intel Core i9.
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB GDDR6 memory; Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB GDDR6 memory; Radeon Pro 5700 with 8GB of GDDR6 memory; the most powerful Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16GB of GDDR6 memory.
RAM: DDR4 2666 MHz from 8 GB to 128 GB depending on the configuration.
Display: 27-inch Retina 5K, 5120 × 2880 pixels.
Ports and connectors: 2 × Thunderbolt 3, 4 × USB-A, SDXC card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone jack.

Reasons to Buy

iMac captivates with its versatility — there are no unsolvable challenges in the field of design for it. Thanks to the variety of configurations, both aspiring and professional graphic designers will be able to choose a PC for their needs.

Reasons to Avoid

The lack of a backlight in the keyboard and the awkward location of the mouse charging port (on the bottom side) may not appeal to perfectionist users. And, predictably, the cost of the best computer for graphic design is much higher than that of competitors.

All 2020 iMac 27-inch models are equipped with 10th generation Intel Core processors. Thanks to this, the device works quickly even when several “heavy” processes are started simultaneously, which is a capability highly appreciated by graphic designers. The new Radeon Pro 5000 graphics card expands the performance and enables a designer to tackle truly audacious projects.

The Retina 5K display impresses with its vibrant colors. The True Tone function adjusts the monitor color temperature to match the environment. The FaceTime HD 1080p webcam delivers stunning visuals, and the microphone ensures a sound of almost studio quality. The impressive set of connectors makes it much easier for graphic designers to work with removable media.

The computer design remained unchanged for about ten years until 2021. But that doesn’t mean the 27-inch iMac looks old-fashioned. On the contrary, the PC stands out against a host of desktop computers, and it fits seamlessly into any workspace.

iMac (24-inch, 2021)

This iMac is equipped with the Apple M1 chip, which includes GPUs, RAM, and 16-core Neural Engine all in one and makes it one of the best computers for graphic design. The user can choose from 7 colors of the PC case.

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1, 8 cores, 3.2 GHz.
Graphics: M1 7 cores; M1 8 cores.
RAM: 8 GB (expandable up to 16 GB).
Display: 24-inch 4.5K Retina 4480 × 2520 pixels.
Ports and connectors: 2x USB 4 Type-C, 1x Audio Port in the basic configuration; 2x USB 4 Type-C, 2x USB 3 Type-C, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x Audio Port in the extended configuration.

Reasons to Buy

The computer is suitable for all types of graphics. Touch ID is integrated into the keyboard that comes with the kit, which increases the PC protection. The performance of the multi-core CPU is 3% higher than that of MacBook Pro and Mac mini with the same Apple M1 chip.

Reasons to Avoid

Magic Mouse does not work while charging. The set of ports is limited, and there is no discrete graphics card available. The 4.5K size and resolution are inferior to the original parameters of the Retina 5K display.

The iMac 24-inch 2021 is a high-end desktop computer that handles all the basic tasks of a graphic designer. The Apple M1 chip is powerful and reliable. The 4.5K Retina display with a maximum brightness of 530 nits doesn’t make a single pixel visible, even if looking at the display from a distance of several centimeters. The monitor covers 100% of sRGB and 90% of AdobeRGB spaces.

Apple M1 improves webcam performance (1080p resolution) in low-light conditions. A system of three directional microphones perfectly catches even whispers. Six speakers allow creating a stereo effect with bass delivered. With dimensions of 54.7 x 46.1 x 14.7 cm and a weight of 4.5 kg, the iMac 24-inch 2021 is only 11.5 mm thin, so you can place this computer on any desk.

Apple’s redesigned PC looks spectacular but not extravagant. The color shades of the case are soft and pleasant to the eye. The design of the physical elements chimes with the interface of the operating system. The color palette of Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse matches the colors of the selected iMac version.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

An innovative tool for a graphic designer, this desktop computer can be turned into a digital easel with just a few clicks.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-7820HQ 7th generation, 4 cores.
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB GDDR5; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5.
RAM: 16 GB; 32 GB.
Display: PixelSense 28-inch with a 4500 x 3000 resolution and 10-point touch control.
Ports and connectors: 4x USB 3.0 (one High Power port), full-size SD card reader (SDXC), 1x USB Type-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack.

Reasons to Buy

This is, probably, the best computer configuration for graphic design. Thanks to the possibility of selecting a graphics card, it is easier to get a device suitable for specific tasks. The entry-level kit comes with a convenient and functional stylus and 1TB or 2TB SSD storage. Both 16 and 32 GB of RAM are sufficient for editing 1080p-4K projects while also running additional apps in the background. The 3:2 aspect ratio gives the designer a greater workspace compared with a usual widescreen display.

Reasons to Avoid

It is impossible to further improve the technical parameters.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is an ideal PC for graphic design, including performing complex creative tasks. It is intended not only for graphic designers but also professional artists, architects, and engineers. The special hinged design allows the screen to be adjusted at different angles, up to a horizontal position.

The display recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches and supports the Surface Pen with 4096-degree pressure sensitivity and the Surface Dial controller. You won’t spot individual pixels on the screen, and numerous tests show that the image quality delivered by Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is one of the best among all-in-one PCs.

The display shows 167% of the sRGB color space. The user can adjust sRGB, DCI-P3, and Vivid color profiles. It is also permissible to connect one or two external monitors with a resolution of up to 4K.

The operating system handles high loads well. The front 5MP 1080p HD webcam with Windows Hallo ensures a clear video. The Stereo 2.1 sound system with Dolby Audio Premium allows listening to music or watching a movie with maximum comfort. In addition to the stylus, Microsoft Surface Studio 2 comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

This Mini PC (SFF) with an SSD drive and proprietary Apple M1 chip can be connected to a TV or any available monitor.

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1, 8 cores, 3.2 GHz.
Graphics: M1, 8 cores.
RAM: 8 GB (expandable up to 16 GB).
Ports and connectors: Ethernet, 2x USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3, HDMI out, 2x USB Type-A, and 3.5 mm headphone/microphone jack.
Drive: SSD 256 GB; 512 GB (expandable up to 2 TB).

Reasons to Buy

A compact and minimalistic PC for graphic design, the Mac mini hits the target when it comes to basic image and video editing tasks. The HDMI port supports monitors with native resolutions of up to 4K and 60Hz refresh rates. Thunderbolt connectors allow connecting monitors with up to 6K resolution.

Reasons to Avoid

The device disappoints with a limited number of ports and the impossibility to further improve its technical characteristics. The need to purchase a monitor, keyboard and mouse is also a disadvantage.

Mac mini M1 2020 attracts graphic designers with its mobility and high performance. It is the perfect choice for those who want to use macOS with their own monitors. The M1 chip is made up of 16 billion transistors so that signal processing and working with graphics are combined into a single SoC.

The processor has 8 cores: 4 are responsible for the performance, while others handle moderately demanding tasks without significant power consumption. Mac mini 2020 offers better video editing and rendering performance than its previous Intel-based version.

The configuration with 16 GB of RAM is optimal for working with all types of content (photo, video, or raster and vector graphics). A low-end 256 GB SSD storage will accommodate most of Adobe Creative Suite, but for extra storage, 1 TB SSD space is a safe pick. For wireless communication, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 are provided. The user can select preinstalled software for a fee.

A fan is installed on the back of the case. However, even during intensive use, Mac mini M1 2020 remains virtually silent. The device has an active cooling system similar to MacBook Pro, so the computer case barely gets warm even under high loads.

Dell XPS 8490 Desktop

This graphic design desktop stands out for its powerful components. High-performance, and reliable, it is a great solution for professional designers.

Specifications

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700K, 2.9 Hz.
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660ti.
RAM: 16 GB.
Storage: 1TB HDD + 512 GB SSD.
Ports and connectors on the front panel: full-size SD card reader, a headset jack, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (3x Type-A and 1x Type-C).

Reasons to Buy

Quickly rendering video files, the computer is suitable for professional work with large projects in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and CorelDRAW.

Reasons to Avoid

The capacity of built-in file storage may turn out to be not sufficient for professional designers.

Modern 8-core Intel processors excel at video editing and rendering. Their high performance provides the speed and power expected of one of the best computers for graphic design. The excellent combination of components allows solving even the most complex problems successfully.

The SSD storage is fast and extremely reliable. The additional HDD is ideal for backing up and storing original files.

Dell XPS 8490 Desktop has an optical drive that can write Blu-ray files, while this option is on the wane in modern desktop computers. The rear panel has a number of connectors for multiple peripherals.

The cooling system, including a rear cooler, is virtually silent. The left side panel can be easily removed, providing access to all technical units of the computer.

Mac Pro (2019)

This PC for graphic design combines high performance and cutting-edge design. It has many configurations, with the final technical parameters and price depending on them heavily.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Xeon W-3223, 8 cores, 16 threads, 3.5 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 4.0 GHz.
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB GDDR5 memory.
RAM: 32 GB.
Storage: 256 GB SSD.
Ports and connectors: 2 × USB 3 (USB-A connector), 12 × Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C connector), 1x Audio Port.

Reasons to Buy

The configurable and expandable Mac Pro has been listed in the TOP of the best computers for graphic design for the 3rd year in a row. The unique design of the system unit is easily recognizable. A variety of configurations allows choosing a suitable option for any work task and budget.

Reasons to Avoid

The advantages are the high cost of top configurations, lack of Wi-Fi 6 support, and the need to purchase a monitor (preferably, Pro Display XDR).

Mac Pro 2019 is a personal computer with a vibrant visual and technical personality. The PC is available in two form factors — vertical and horizontal. It will seamlessly blend into any interior and make its focal point.

The user selects technical parameters based on their needs, but even the basic configuration is sufficient for working fruitfully in graphic design. There are no unsolvable problems for the computer with the top-of-the-range package: rendering large video files in high resolution and 3D modeling is easy with 32 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD storage.

The Mac Pro 2019 runs almost silently even under heavy load and produces almost no external heat. Three fans are located at the back of the case. The device comes with Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2, a network cable, and a Lightning to USB-C for charging peripherals. The technical configuration of your computer can be improved to meet various graphic design challenges thanks to PCI Express expansion slots.

MSI Trident AS

It is a gaming computer with all its technical specifications suitable for a professional graphic designer.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700F, 8 cores.
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super.
RAM: 16 GB.
Storage: 1 TB SSD.

Reasons to Buy

The incredibly powerful computer in a compact case can be used as a portable workstation for a graphic designer. Mystic Light RGB LED backlight allows changing the look of the PC depending on the mood of the user or the interior design.

Reasons to Avoid

The gaming exterior may feel weird for those who are picking out a classic PC for graphic design.

MSI Trident AS is the most space-saving gaming desktop. It encourages mobility because the small size allows taking the PC with you for any journey. All you need to be productive anywhere you go is a monitor.

The Intel Core i7 processor delivers maximum processing power. Its performance has increased by 40% compared with the i7-9700. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super graphics card performs real-time ray tracing to create objects with physically accurate shadows, reflections, refractions, and lighting.

A solid-state drive (SSD) remains cool while working and keeps your files secure. The computer supports high-bandwidth low-latency 2.5 Gbps Ethernet LAN connection and data transmission. MSI’s exclusive LAN Manager automatically prioritizes processes for Internet access.

The side panels of MSI Trident AS are easily removable so that the user can install additional equipment if necessary.

Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10

It is another powerful gaming PC having a futuristic design and equipped with an AMD processor and graphics card.

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.7 GHz.
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB GDDR6).
RAM: 32 GB DDR4-3400.
Storage: 1 TB NVMe M.2 SSD.

Reasons to Buy

The processor with high computing power allows solving complex problems in graphic design and more. The stylish exterior will appeal to fans of science fiction.

Reasons to Avoid

The cooling system is noisy, and the plastic case does not correspond to the premium class of the device.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processors are based on Zen 3 microarchitecture and have a 32 MB cache. Its capacity is sufficient for resource-intensive applications above and beyond. Today, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X outperforms Intel processors, boasting greater L2 and L3 cache capacity and lower latency.

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics card competes favorably with the best Nvidia options. It delivers stunning performance at high graphics settings and in 4K resolution. Having 16 GB of local storage is a step into the future. With such parameters, the AMD Radeon RX video card will remain on the TOP list for a long time.

The Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 has many ports and connectors for connecting external media and peripherals. There are 10 USB-A ports on the motherboard alone. The optional Killer wireless adapter features Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6. The computer comes with 32 GB DDR4 storage and Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro installed.

Apple iMac Pro

The first computer in a new line of Apple products is aimed at professionals and allows solving a wide range of tasks.

Specifications (basic configuration)

CPU: Intel Xeon W 3.2 GHz, 8 cores.
Graphics: Radeon Pro Vega 56, 8 GB HBM2.
RAM: 32 GB 2666 MHz ECC.
Storage: 1 TB SSD.
Display: 27-inch Retina 5K, 5120×2880 pixels.

Reasons to Buy

The slim and sleek all-in-one PC with strong performance works fine for professional graphic designers. The device can handle high workloads without lagging or crashing. It does not heat up or make noise during operation. The Retina 5K display allows launching full-resolution previews of 4K videos in Final Cut Pro while still having plenty of room for controls around the screen.

Reasons to Avoid

The high cost of the PC and inability to independently update its package may upset the user. The Magic Mouse 2 charging port is located at the bottom of the device, which is not very convenient.

At the time of its presentation, the iMac Pro was the most powerful Mac ever created by Apple. Its processor and video card deliver brilliant performance. The device allows reducing time spent on resource-intensive projects by several times.

The iMac Pro is ideal for files conversion, adding effects, and adjusting colors in high-definition videos. All changes made can be viewed in real-time. The Twinmotion software for architects handles 3D object manipulation without delay. For basic video editing and project storage, 1 TB SSD is enough and some to spare, although you may need external drives for 4K-8K videos.

The Retina 5K display has a brightness of 500 nits. The display supports 100% wideband RGB color space. The 1080p FaceTime webcam delivers a crisp and vivid video even in low-light conditions.

The following connectors are provided for linking peripheral devices: a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SDXC card slot, 4 USB 3.0 ports, 4 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a 10 Gb Ethernet port. The keyboard is full-size (with a numeric keypad). The back of the monoblock features a radiator for air from the cooling fans to exit and long slots at the bottom.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5

It is the ultimate PC for graphic design, provided that you also love to play computer games.

Specifications (one of the available configurations)

CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i5-10400F, 6 cores, 2.90 GHz.
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super.
RAM: 32 GB.
Storage: 1 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD.

Reasons to Buy

This affordable computer will meet the needs of beginners and graphic design professionals. The device handles basic work tasks and allows enjoying modern games.

Reasons to Avoid

The computer cannot boast maximum power and performance indicators, and it is not suitable for working with an 8K video.

The Legion Tower 5 in the configuration described above is a relatively inexpensive personal computer. The Intel Core i5 processor shows decent performance. The highest possible clock speed reaches 4.3 GHz thanks to Turbo 2.0 technology.

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super graphics card has 4GB of GDDR6 SDRAM. It supports HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a connections and provides smooth graphics in most modern games in Full HD, but on lower settings.

The computer comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and Lenovo Vantage. The case of the device opens easily, which allows upgrading hardware in a hassle-free way. The stylish lighting doesn’t look intrusive, so Legion Tower 5 is equally suitable for both home and office use.

Dell Inspiron 27 7000

The all-in-one PC with a large touchscreen display is well suited for complex creative tasks.

Specifications

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U.
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics.
RAM: 8 GB.
Display: 27-inch 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen with anti-glare coating.
Storage: 256 GB SSD.

Reasons to Buy

The multifunctional personal computer stands out for high performance and power. There are configurations with an AMD processor and graphics card available. Creative design makes the device memorable.

Reasons to Avoid

There is no Thunderbolt 3 port, and the touchscreen sensitivity is not as high as in Microsoft Surface Studio 2. The 256 GB SSD provides scarce backup opportunities.

The Inspiron 27 7000 is a good choice for graphic artists, illustrators, or cartoonists. The large and bright touchscreen display allows diving into details and working through every element of a project. Thanks to the variety of available configurations, the user can select a proper device for specific creative tasks.

The processor has enough power to run demanding programs without delays. Configurations with AMD processors are in no way inferior to the iMac from Apple in terms of technical characteristics, but they are substantially cheaper.

The webcam has a resolution of 1280×720 (HD) and a diagonal angle of view amounting to 74.6 degrees. The device is provided with a 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet controller built into the system board and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 wireless connections.

Dell G5 Gaming Desktop

This powerful multipurpose PC can greatly simplify the work of a graphic designer.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i3-9100 — 9th generation i9 9900K.
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 — RTX 2070.
RAM: 8–64 GB.
Storage: 1 TB SSD — 1 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD.

Reasons to Buy

The productive and reliable personal computer comes in an originally designed case. It is possible to upgrade the device and install additional hard drives.

Reasons to Avoid

The desktop heats up during peak loads.

Powerful Intel processors deliver outstanding performance and responsiveness. A combo of Killer Gigabit Ethernet and Intel Wireless is responsible for the smooth transmission of network traffic. Graphics adapters support VR in some configurations.

Acer Aspire C27

This AIO computer for graphic design with a wide range of functions and high performance can multitask for a long time without freezing and braking.

Specifications (top configuration)

CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i5 1035G1, 4 cores.
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX130.
RAM: 12 GB.
Display: 27-inch 1920×1080 FHD LED IPS.
Storage: SSD 512 GB.

Reasons to Buy

The PC copes with all basic tasks of a graphic designer and allows the successful implementation of complex projects. The display has excellent color accuracy.

Reasons to Avoid

The PC may not be powerful enough to handle and render large high-resolution video files.

The PC for graphic design allows working in several resource-intensive applications simultaneously. For each configuration, a processor and graphics card are selected to provide the best possible performance. The Acer Aspire C27 is ideal for work and study, and it is convenient for everyday at-home use.

The 27-inch screen has very thin bezels (3.7 mm). The display delivers extremely realistic colors and very crisp images, with color shades preserved even at 178° angles. The tilt angle of the monitor can be adjusted from -5° to 25°. Its stability is ensured by a metal V-shaped stand.

The device supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connections. An additional monitor can be attached via the HDMI connector. The Windows 10 operating system is preinstalled while the computer comes with a mouse and keyboard.

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop

This personal computer for graphic design has all the necessary technical parameters to work in resource-intensive graphics editors.

Specifications

CPU: 10th Gen Intel CoreTM i5-10400F, 6 Cores, 2.9GHz, up to 4.3GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology.
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPERTM, 6GB GDDR6 dedicated memory.
RAM: 16 GB.
Storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMeTM M.2 solid-state storage.
Ports and connectors on the front panel: 1x SuperSpeed USB Type-C with a data transfer rate of 5 Gb/s; 4x SuperSpeed USB Type-A with a data transfer rate of 5 Gb/s; 1 headphone/microphone combo jack.

Reasons to Buy

The computer offers decent technical characteristics at a relatively low cost. It suits graphic designers and gamers alike.

Reasons to Avoid

Due to the solid design, the computer case looks heavy.

One of the most powerful computers for graphic design features processor and video card parameters that allow working comfortably in the most demanding graphics editors. Apps launch in seconds and run smoothly, even with large projects.

HP Z2 Mini G5

The miniature desktop computer for graphic design is almost as good as a full-size PC in terms of performance and functionality. Users can enjoy many configurations of this model.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K, 3.8 GHz, 8 cores.
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro T2000.
RAM: 32 GB.
Storage: 512 GB SSD +1 TV HDD.
Front panel ports and connectors: 1 x USB Type-C, 2xUSB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 headphone/microphone combo.

Reasons to Buy

The PC for graphic design combines an average power and a very compact size. The station can be quickly connected to any monitor to get started.

Reasons to Avoid

The need to select and purchase peripheral equipment can be a challenge.

The HP Z2 Mini G5 is an advanced mini PC with 32 GB of RAM that tackles a wide variety of tasks faced by newbie designers and, thus, it can be considered the best computer for graphic design a student would love. Thanks to its compact size, the workstation can be placed in any place you find convenient. Surely, you can take the device with you on a trip.

The functionality of this graphic design computer is ensured through a number of USB ports and other connectors. From the backside, it has 3x DisplayPort 1.4 (available for those equipping the Mini with a discrete graphics card), 1x USB Type-C 10Gb/s, an additional serial port, 2x USB 10Gb/s Type-A, and an RJ-45 network port.

Wireless connection is provided with the help of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth adapters. The workstation comes preinstalled with the Windows 10 operating system.

The post Top 15 Best Computers for Graphic Design in 2024 appeared first on The Designest.

Logo Design Trends 2024: Outburst of Typography & Symbolism

Ksenia Pedchenko — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:55:59 +0000

Logo design trends are something mythical: almost everyone speaks and writes about them. But have you ever seen them in action? While so many creators are building up their tips on how you should better approach logo design to grab attention, we’ve decided to check up what real businesses do and sum it up as ten major logo trends that will probably work in 2024.

So what’s going on in the industry and what current trends are? As with general design trends, every year, we seek significant logo design trends, trying to help designers and entrepreneurs onboard fresh and distinctive brand’s identity. More or fewer colors, flat style or 3D, dynamic minimalism or maximalism — over and over again, it’s the same choice for everyone. The funniest thing is that even when the choice is made, nobody has a keen understanding of what an engaging modern logo should be like and keeps doing things their way.

relevant:

130 Eye-Catching Color Combinations For Design Enthusiasts April 27, 2022

In fact, every time there comes a powerful trend — as it happened a few years ago with reserved flower-based logos in Scandinavian style — there are always thousands of studios that overlook it. The same happens in other creative fields (or even outside the design industry), but logo design makes it particularly evident that any trend carries thousands of exceptions.

That’s why I recommend you to focus on something other than popular trends everyone’s about and see for yourself what’s what. To help you with that, we’ve explored hundreds of loud rebrandings of 2022 to make up an honest list of logo trends that most designers stick to. That must be of great help if you don’t know what to start with!

Design trends and logo trends in particular, don't change drastically from one year to another. Can you imagine how fluid and unstable the whole industry would be if they did? That's why the gold formula of sharp branding is the most winning solutions of the past year combined with more recent tendencies — where the crucial role belongs to the first component, of course.

— Greg Lapin Graphic Designer at The Designest, Co-founder of Pixelbuddha

Logo Design Trends 2024: Overview

Over the past years, logo designers have explored the edges of dynamic minimalism. And we’ve already seen so much of it: from indie projects on Behance to grand rebrandings of Citroën, Google, or Sprite. Similar to general graphic design trends, branding intensively adopted reserved typography and matched it with vibrant color schemes.

In 2024, new logo design trends will likely continue the general tendency, and we hope to see the aesthetics mentioned above globally reinvented. It also will be the time of flourishing typographic aesthetics in all possible forms. You’ll be amused to see that logo designers couldn’t withstand harsh minimalism and symbolism — instead, fancy fonts keep flooding the industry. Of course, we have seen lots of such concepts before, but this time, inventive typography is finally featured in real rebrandings of the real brands.

Along with that, you’ll meet some of the well-loved top logo design trends of the past two years: sketches, vintage branding, and some shifts in the preferred color solutions.

List of Logo Design Trends 2024:

Simplified Geometry & Basic Shapes
Bright Colors & Gradients
Wordmark Logos With Vintage Vibe
Symbolism & Minimalism Instead of Realism
Typography With a Twist
Sans Serif Logos
Lettermark Logos & Emblems
Scribbles & Freeform Elements

Simplified Geometry & Basic Shapes

In 2024, you will hardly surprise anyone if you create logos based on a complex logomark. Such logos are usually hard to remember, and the target audience may find it challenging to build a bond between the company name and its graphic representation. This can be a huge problem for big businesses seeking to reinforce their presence and increase brand awareness. Therefore, there is a tendency for companies to opt for something fundamental and we clearly see it in corporate logo design trends.

Basic geometric shapes are various triangles, circles, squares, dots, and clean lines, which bring logo designs to a simplistic image. In compensation, designers suggest using a vibrant, high-contrast color scheme (sometimes associated with a brand story even better than the logo). Or, on the contrary, switch to black & white and bring this minimalist effect of simple round and square logos to a maximum. Finally, negative space is another great way to adopt simple geometry and sustain visual interest.

The principle “Less is more” isn’t new in graphic design, nor is this a stand-alone logo design trend. For example, in 2021, KIA or Google redesigned their logos (which initially were quite simple and reserved) using simple shapes. In 2022, Citroën introduced a similar redesign. In 2024 followed even more companies, including Fanta (they refused the iconic orange in favor of the white-blue color combination) and Webflow (WF Visual Sans + a simple geometric logo mark).

It’s vital to note that the logo trends of basic geometric shapes doesn’t strictly refer to logo marks. It is about fonts, too — but this happens less frequently and is more associated with the global typography trends and the overall popularity of minimalist types.

Hand-picked cases:

Bright Colors & Gradients

Experience shows that the work with color and the choice of the color palette for a logo is a very personal story. And it’s usually hard to track the global tendency or any logo trends associated with particular colors. Some prefer black-and-white logos. Some choose monochrome, nude, or earthy colors. However, if we look at big brands, we’ll be able to define a shift from muted to saturated colors used for a strong visual presence.

True story: bright colors are erratic and hard to work with. They attract much attention, make a bold statement but there is much trouble in implementing them into the brand’s design system. Companies must show ultimate color proficiency so the saturated tones look natural on their websites, digital platforms, social media, or printed materials. Abbyy or Creative Cloud is an example. And although their success looks like a survivorship bias, logo designers choose to follow them. Instead of opting for deep, muted color palettes from 2023, they are more likely to maximize saturation and play with neon palettes, creating visually striking logos at first glance. Will this diligence pay off? I am skeptical about it, as vivid color trends failed so many times in graphic design that the opposite feels like a mirage.

Another aspect of this trend is gradient logo design, which started gaining momentum recently. It seemed that designers would never get back to them. But since 2020, followed a whole series of redesign projects centered around gradient logos, from two-color gradients of Avon to a complete gradient rainbow of Discovery channel and Adobe’s main logo. So, in 2024, I am looking forward to seeing new logo design trends where designers experiment with more gradients, whether muted or popping, in terms of color solution.

Hand-picked cases:

Wordmark Logos With Vintage Vibe

As a graphic design trend, vintage aesthetics comes and goes, but since 2023 we have it as a full-fledged trend in logo design. Yes, it’s still all the rage.

A couple of years ago retro in branding was more of an experimental or artistic solution. Today designers strive for balance between building strong brand awareness that aligns with core values and implementing elegant vintage aesthiects to catch audience’s attention. And that’s it! All those elegant old-school fonts and countless projects with traditional designs on Behance featuring vintage-style typography have finally found their clients in various niches, from resturants to healthcare. Despite the fact that sans serifs remain the main choice for logos, such a spread of retro aesthetics is amazing and gives hope for fresh eclectic solutions. Even now there goes one successful redesign after another, and they all feature typefaces that originated from the 1960s-1980s. And they look jaw-dropping. And get all eyes on them.

It’s an excellent sign for a logo trend to go beyond indie studios, small businesses, boutiques, salons, and individual creators and meet the broad community with its own vision of good design. For them, a good, attractive logo design should be understandable and memorable — these aren’t the features of a fancy designer’s stuff. That’s why even the fact itself that there is increased interest in retro design from real people means the world for this logo trend in 2024.

Searching for inspiration, it makes sense to check Behance projects. There are lots and lots of studios actively playing with experimental vintage typography and trying it for branding purposes — so you’ll probably come across someone who will share your personal feeling of perfection. On the other hand, as the world is increasingly interested in graphic design tendencies and logo design trends imposed by the industry’s leaders, we can count on some big companies to teleport their wordmark logos to the previous decades.

Hand-picked cases:

Symbolism & Minimalism Instead of Realism

There are multiple logo design trends related to simplifying logos and minimalism — probably this one is the most illustrative of all. Every one of us has in mind the brand logos created as a genuine piece of art. Animals, florals, mythical objects, creatures, coats of arms — inside the logo, they demonstrate mastership and fascinating attention to detail. True, such logos look striking (as long as the image is high-quality, of course), but they lose other types of logos from the point of responsive design.

Responsive logos are one of the most significant “inventions” in branding, allowing companies to seamlessly transfer their logos from website headers to smartphone screens and badges. Around six years ago, it was a revolution, but today, hardly anyone considers responsive logos an independent phenomenon or trend. Instead, responsiveness has become a natural feature of a logo, and the movement of symbolism and minimalism proves it.

Realistic logomarks are cumbersome and inconvenient, especially when placed on smaller screens or compact business cards. And here come the simplified versions or brand new minimalist logos, which save lots of designers’ time and effort. They make it possible to create a single logo design that will look well everywhere — or it will be less tricky to divide it into separate elements. Mainly, this logo trend isn’t about visual beauty and style but convenience. A symbol-based logo is far more flexible, and its delicate appearance is a bonus, not an end in itself.

Hand-picked cases:

Typography With a Twist

If you think that vintage outburst is the most aesthetic logo trend in 2023, let me prove you wrong. Modern typography will have plenty of room to show all its aspects in logotypes, and we’ll finally see those fancy fonts in action! 2023 was announced as the year of experimental typography — precisely when we saw all those glitchy, wavy, and chrome types. Since then, they remain all the rage, and large type foundries on Creative Market and My Fonts release one best-seller after another.

It took two years for logo designers to look at fancily drawn letters and see how they could use them in projects. In fact, it was the same as with vintage logos. It all began with concepts, where creative minds played with the most outrageous types, color combinations, patterns, and graphics. Then followed the entrepreneurs who are always the first to try something new: hipster cosmetics brands, breweries, and street food. Then something impossible happened: last year, Nucao, a German chocolate brand, switched from an understandable and highly legible sans serif logo to one featuring an experiments type. I knew it was a milestone.

Nucao isn’t the only company that gave a go to experimental typography and profited from it. There are others: deliveries, food producers, convenience stores, and other companies targeting broad audiences. More and more each month, and even more rebrandings are yet to come! Something massive’s happening and proving that fewer people fear fancy branding, and well, fewer branding designers and businesses fear logo trends.

Artistic typography will become an escape for the lovers of serif fonts. Although they now go as a timeless classics, not a trend, you can always try some artistic variations. Yes, all those elegant serif fonts from 2022-2023 still shine bright like diamonds in branding and packaging. Yet, if you want your logo not just fancy but hip, pay attention to more twisted serifs.

Hand-picked cases:

Sans Serif Logos

While bold experimental typography isn’t a trend for everyone, sans serif fonts are the story everyone knows and understands. It’s been quite a while since designers refused fancy scripts and serifs in favor of sans serifs. This process has already slowed down a little. But as there is a general tendency, we can state that it’s still a logo design trend for 2024 — which, by the way, is supported by the popularity of simple logos and primary geometric forms we wrote about above.

The motivation to refuse fancy fonts is simple — it’s much easier to work with sans serif fonts. Adapting them to different screens and canvas sizes for various social media platforms and mobile apps is less complicated, so they fit responsive logos more. What’s funny is that a couple of years ago, we observed an opposite process: many companies switched from sans serifs to serifs, as the retro design was hugely popular. Today, despite retromania getting back on stage, the healthy pragmatism is still there, and we can be sure to see lots of reserved sans serif text-based logos.

If you think that a sans serif logo is boring, you likely haven’t sensed the incredible variety of fonts with tons of geometry features, weights, and color solutions — as well as outline styles and lowercase-letters-only logo designs. We’ve even seen some sans serif to sans serif rebranding, which looks jaw-dropping and attracts attention better than the most exquisite script type. It is a great way to create impactful logos with personal touch, build emotional connection with target audience and leave lasting impression.

Hand-picked cases:

Lettermark Logos & Emblems

Experiments with minimalism could not bypass the lettermark logos. Either because designers have not paid attention to them for a long time or because they’re minimalist, even ascetic form, does not fit the general trend of creative search. However, the works of the end of 2023 and the latest logo design trends show that aesthetics and functionality can be combined in one letter or emblem.

Lettermark logos and emblems seem outweighed by more visually appealing vintage logos or experimental typography. However, when it comes to practicality, there are basically no equals to them. They demand little space, perfectly match with other elements, and adapting them to small screen sizes or business cards is elementary. Overall, this logo design trend reflects the understanding of responsivity by the modern design community.

If you want to go bigger, brighter, more expressive, this trend is hardly for you. But it is important to remember that a beautiful picture is not the essence of design. And logo trends are made to improve graphic design work, not to sabotage it. So from this point, working with lettermarks takes on a new meaning: to express in a single element the entire philosophy of the brand, its tone of voice. And at the same time, to create something ultimately appealing and meeting the aesthetic needs of the target audience. Sounds more like a challenge, doesn’t it?

Hand-picked cases:

Scribbles & Freeform Elements

Scribbles, sketches, natural patterns, and doodling are some of the most distinct logo design trends in 2024. Although it seems that freeform drawing has already exhausted itself, the increasing popularity of recent projects demonstrate right the opposite. The key to its revival is the steady interest in a designer’s personal approach to the brand. And apparently, there’s hardly anything better for that than fast sketches, hand-scribbled typefaces, and shapes drawn in a unique style.

Be prepared for more freeform shapes in logo design, as well as amusing logos and fast-drawn cartoon characters in corporate branding. Hand-drawn elements in logos, produced in a fast and unpretentious manner, are welcome, too, and we’ve already seen projects and teams that have their brand name written this way.

All of the mentioned logo designs will be celebrating the raw, unfinished look. And even if you are a passionate lover of clean minimalism and traditional logo aesthetics, for some brands, such a throwback from the mid-2010s will be the best way to deliver their aesthetics. You can even play around with pixel art style logos, as it is also the digital art that brings you back in time and gives much freedom.

Hand-picked cases:

Best New Logo Designs

The year 2023 can boast a few distinct redesigns that partially determined the fate of logo design trends in 2024. That’s how I actually work: I check the creative experience of the leading companies to see what visuals they’re up to and then define a general tendency. Of course, Behance and Dribbble do provide many more fresh, outstanding, and totally jaw-dropping designs that capture attention right away. However, only some of them reach the board audience and have such a strong impact on the entire industry. Yet, there are exceptions, too! For example, all aesthetic solutions, like vintage logos or twisted typography, that are modern logo design trends as well, are an accomplishment of indie studios and creators.

But let’s get back to the most significant logo designs of the past year!

In September, Dribbble introduced their brand new logo, created with an eye on the 50s typography. This redesign has greatly fuelled everyone’s interest (and anticipation) of vintage vibes in branding. And here they go as one of the major logo trends for 2024.

There’ve been many more logo redesigns associated with typography. Creative typography, to be more exact. My favorite logos are the ones for Toggle, and Meridian. Each celebrates the anticipation of sans serif font as the most prominent element of the new logos. Find sans serifs boring? All these companies prove that you can go creative no matter what, and sans serif logos stand out.

I absolutely loved the new logo of the Oregon Zoo. To me, there is no more convincing confirmation that symbolism will be everywhere. Done with realistic logomarks and unnecessary elements, seriously. And even though they opted for quite a traditional typeface, it doesn’t kill the brilliant realization of logomark.

Logo Trends to Leave in 2023

Obviously, no clear boundary would separate the logo design trends of 2023 and 2024. Most of the trends at their peak have been with us for quite a while, so you shouldn’t expect any global changes.

However, we can safely say that, for example, negative space or 3D, which were extremely popular before, are unlikely to become the main character of the logo design this season. There have been quite a lot of them in the past few years, so the community has tired of it. The same happened to animated logos, one of the most promising logo trends back in 2021. By itself, animation is a popular trend that continues to capture attention of the audience, and this is a winning technique for branding presentation — but unfortunately, it didn’t prove viable. Since animated logos are applicable only in digital design, the inability to go out to the masses played a cruel joke on them, and the main feature — animation — became a disadvantage.

Finally, the fate of any trend is determined by many factors: from the social environment to separate tendencies of the digital world. Art Deco, Scandinavian design, or Boho failed to make a fresh appearance in 2023, as many businesses and creators were craving pragmatism from one side and a new artistic vision on the other. Consequently, the same can happen to any of the trends on the list, and up to customers to decide what a successful logo will be like in 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the logo trends of 2024?

The upcoming logo design trends of 2024 are the bright colors and gradients, which will substitute the modern aesthetic of muted pallets of 2023. Minimalist logo designs are still on the wave, so you can feel confident creating reserved branding with clean lines, sans serif fonts and simplified graphic elements. New logo trends will give you much inspiration to break free from traditional norms.

What types of logos are trending?

You can source inspiration from two major logo trends: vintage wordmark logos that spark elegance and creativity (simplistic style of Coca-Cola aesthetics, for example, is as relevant as ever before) and minimalist logos with not many graphic elements picked by many brands already. Choose your best option depending on your concept, your business’s needs, and whether the logo will be displayed on small screens of mobile devices.

What is popular in logo design?

2024 logo design trends will celebrate symbolism and typographic creativity. On one hand, you are free to play with simple forms to convey complex ideas and create logos thatreflect your brand’s identity . On the other, you can use the most exceptional typefaces and shapes. Or merge both concepts to get impactful and memorable logos that maintain visual impact.

The post Logo Design Trends 2024: Outburst of Typography & Symbolism appeared first on The Designest.

12 Graphic Design Trends 2024: Futurism VS. Retro

The Designest Staff — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:36:31 +0000

Every year has been throwing challenges at our faces, both personal and global ones, but the heroic reserves of patience, support of the close ones kept the creative engines running! It doesn’t matter what other troubles are lurking around the corner, as there will always be wondrous and gratifying possibilities for self-expression. What do the top graphic design trends hold for us?

With 2024 approaching swiftly, it’s high time to start thinking about what will be trending. The fickle motion of tendencies in graphic design hinges on the social agenda, summarizing it into accessible, self-explanatory visual forms.

As we witnessed the revival of the 90s aesthetics and Y2K, anti-design, and extensive use of serif typography, 2024 is assigned to be a year of other vintage manifestations and bold creativity. We’ll see a crossover of traditional techniques, modern tendencies, and cultural phenomena employed to craft noticeable designs that are sure to impress. It doesn’t matter what trend will prevail because one thing is obvious: 2024 will surely be an exciting year for graphic designers everywhere.

List of Graphic Design Trends 2024:

AI Graphics
Barbie’s Pink
Pixel Mania
Glass Blur & Distortion
Serif Aesthetics
Gritty Art with Retro Vibes
Popping Colors
Industrial Grunge
Gradient Abstractions
Typographic Artistism
Conceptual Branding
Cartoon Characters

relevant:

Font Trends 2024: Creativity, Elegance & Usability November 27, 2023

Logo Design Trends 2024: Outburst of Typography & Symbolism November 16, 2023

AI Graphics

Since 2022, we have witnessed the rise of machine learning in graphic design, and in 2024, it’s time for AI to transform into a full-fledged graphic design trend. Indeed, text-to-image AI art generators have gone from hi-tech fun for creative minds to an essential tool in mundane creative work.

At first, AI-generated art was clumsy and demanded lots of trial and error, followed by hours of tweaking. But new technologies are constantly evolving, so you can explore new styles and create quite good-looking graphics in a minute. Moreover, you can easily find a tool specially honed for the needed job, such as Looka for logo creation or Beautiful.AI for presentation and data visualization design.

Talking about apps and services. There are so many AI-powered tools that have popped up recently that it may become confusing to know where to start. But in the first place, we advise you to go for the classics: DALL-E- 2, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. All of them are both versatile and intuitive enough to test the power of AI art and choose the best option for your workflow.

Graphic design is one of the fields most transformed by artificial intelligence, and this trend will continue in the future. Of course, despite the remarkable progress, AI still needs human supervision when it comes to faces and hands. Achieving the desired level of realism requires skill. But with the right prompting, fine-tuned settings, and a couple of iterations, you can get stunning, high-quality visuals. It’s one of the biggest graphic design trends in the upcoming year, so don’t miss your opportunity to catch the wave.

Hand-picked cases:

The Unlimited Creative Subscription

Unlimited downloads of 11+ million creative assets. From just $16.50/month.

Barbie’s Pink

It would be a crime to miss Barbiecore: revived by the sensational movie graphic design trend is back to our lives. Right after Barbie’s release, all shades of pink quickly displaced the muted color palettes, and for some time, the world became one big doll house! Ride the wave and add those pinks to your designs, as they are, just like Barbie itself, immortal.

The last peak of this trend was in the 2000s — the all-pink outfits of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears on the red carpet screamed Barbiecore. But its popularity after the movie’s release broke all the records! The fashion professors attribute this effect to psychological reasons: the post-COVID world needs some bright, vivid colors, and what can be better than hot pink? When all the news is scary and dark, some playfulness in designs surrounding you on a daily basis can become escapism, even if the relief lasts for a couple of minutes.

Many brands, including Forever 21 and GAP, even launched new clothing lines: all pink, colorful, and fancy. The social media is also still teeming with pink-themed posts, so when, if not now, use this amazing color?

This graphic design trend flashes quickly, but it may disappear just as soon, hence it’s better to plunge into the Barbie world while we can without looking old-fashioned. Unfortunately, its popularity is unlikely to make it the Pantone color of the year to extend our excitement around its vibrancy, but hope springs eternal!

Hand-picked cases:

Pixel Mania

We’re sure you know that feeling when you’re desperately trying to load an image, and it simply doesn’t work. Those pixels! Can they be any more annoying? Well, actually, no. The irony is that they can actually be quite trendy.

With the popularisation of the metaverse, virtual and augmented reality, 8-bit graphics have made a confident return into our lives — from pixelated camouflages by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton’s Menswear SS24 show to newly-made games with NES and SEGA vibes. The nostalgia-evoking part plays a big role in why we love this aesthetic so much. So, no need to smooth out (punintended) what was once deemed low quality due to technological limitations — embrace the unique charm it brings instead.

Modern 8-bit graphics aren’t truly 8-bit. They provide high-resolution results for your projects, injecting them with a touch of nostalgia and heart-winning retro-style vibes. The artificially exaggerated pixels look stunning, are indefinitely zoomable, and add an element of fun — especially amidst clean and minimalistic visuals that flooded the industry and largely lost their appeal.

So, what’s the practical side of this design trend — what can you do with the 8-bit aesthetic? A myriad of things, really. A funky title for your landing page using pixelated typography, alluring illustrations for posters and album covers, eye-catching signage, simple yet memorable packaging design, and so much more! Use vivid colors to enhance the pixelated graphics even further or offset them with negative space and organic shapes.

Hand-picked cases:

Glass Blur & Distortion

What do we do when deep inside, we’re rebels and crave glitch and distortion, while the project demands something more subtle and exquisite? We go for the most delicate deformation provided by textured glass. It opens up vast possibilities for image alteration: blur, skew, refraction, distortion, not to mention that the glass may be colored. You can even add scratches and imperfections for an extra edgy look. Sounds like this graphic design trend was a godsend for those who want versatility without being plain.

With the help of glass effects and textures, you can create unique layering that adds depth and dimension to your digital design work. To enhance the effect, it can be made into mesmerizing animation portraying intricate dance of artificial light into the realm of virtual reality.

This design trend is so eye-catching because of our inherent interest in the physical laws and phenomena translated into digital space. And, we must say, this interest is growing over time. Recently, glass refraction became one of the most alluring themes for graphic designers, so we certainly see it as one of the graphic design trends for 2024.

Hand-picked cases:

Serif Aesthetics

Last year, we had sans serif typefaces as a trend in the graphic design world, and now we’re switching to classic serif fonts! Their vintage aesthetics have already penetrated different spheres of visual space, and seeing it as a reigning typography tendency in the near future isn’t a big surprise for designers who keep up with hot topics. Amazing news for creative minds inspired by 80s and 90s designs!

The reason behind the serif fonts revival is quite simple — fashion is cyclical. What adds even more to their recent popularity is the influence of minimalism on the graphic design industry in general. Though bold colors and intricate images are trendy, too, once the audience gets tired of flashy visuals, they turn to simple, calm designs. And that’s the moment of glory for serif fonts! They are perfect to add that sweet retro effect such artworks need.

Speaking of the serif fonts’ usage, we can give you just one easy tip — don’t limit yourself. They will look great with muted color palettes if you’re crafting more light-hearted projects like vintage magazine ads, or, on the contrary, with some vivid shades for bold, eye-catching designs to showcase creativity.

As these typefaces are gaining popularity, we advise designers to be brave and experiment in their own unique style without worrying about being outdated — serif fonts will add an aesthetic appeal and make any artwork look trendy! Luckily, finding new serifs is a piece of cake: the markets are already crawling with them.

Hand-picked cases:

Gritty Art with Retro Vibes

It seems we’ve been pursuing sweet vintage dreams for quite some time now, but they simply don’t let us go. Mid-century furniture, retro illustrations on the walls, and funky prints on T-shirts — we just can’t get enough, can we?

As we embrace the grit and grain of the old-day art, this shift isn’t just a mere longing for the days gone by; it’s a bold reinterpretation of retro aesthetics, channeling a sense of authenticity that’s often missing in our digital age.

In the new world of gritty art, clean lines, and polished finishes give way to textures that tell a story. We’re seeing a resurgence of grained illustrations that add depth and character to the flat design. These aren’t the pristine, vectorized graphics we’ve grown accustomed to, but rather designs that embrace the imperfections of hand-drawn art.

Another aspect this design trend celebrates is the use of soft halftones — not just as a throwback to old printing methods, but as a stylistic choice that brings emotions to the table. These halftones give designers a new-old toolkit for shading and dimensionality, marrying the analog and the digital in harmonious compositions.

In practice, these soft-toned two-dimensional visuals will easily fit into anything from posters to branding projects. As opposed to 3D shapes, flat outlines will give way to intriguing textures, while the vintage touch will do its job emotions-wise. So, let’s carry forward the legacy of retro vibes into a future where every grain tells a story and every design is unapologetically authentic!

Hand-picked cases:

Popping Colors

Pantone color of 2023 marked the start of massive usage of deep, rich colors, setting the current graphic design trends. But in the near future, we anticipate them to be changed with vivid, dynamic, acid shades. Here, we can also see a glimpse of Barbie’s popularity, as it’s not only about all hues of pink — it’s a whole world of different bright colors. So, if you find yourself getting bored with minimalistic, muted tones of Scandinavian designs, it’s your time to shine in the direct sense.

Bright colors have been around for a long time, so it’s not something totally new. But they haven’t been as hot as they are these days! Vibrant colors make your brand recognizable, social media posts more eye-catching and add more visual interest. These reasons could be enough to become the solid foundation for the growing popularity, but there’s even more: there are many ways to play around and stay trendy. It is another advantage for graphic designers who don’t like feeling locked up within strict limits.

Experimenting with vivid colors is a whole creative journey: holographic designs, neon graphics, acid gradients, and much more! These energetic shades allow graphic designers to make a bold statement in their unique style and add visual interest. Mix rainbow colors, create gradients within shades of one color, and don’t be afraid to stand out with the bright vibrancy of your artwork — that’s the way to the top of the graphic design world in 2024!

Hand-picked cases:

Industrial Grunge

As a society, we live in cycles, and so do the trends — graphic design trends included. The grunge aesthetic peaked in popularity in the ’90s: back then, it was driven by the rise of grunge music, society’s desire to juxtapose the flashy ’80s, and the adoption of thrift-store chic as a response to economic downturns and uncontrolled consumerism. Do any of these sound familiar? Sure, we’re not as crazy about Kurt Cobain anymore (though, no questions asked if you are), but we’re also giving the side-eye to fast fashion and feeling the itch to break free from the minimalist era that’s overstayed its welcome.

Design-wise, industrial theme offers ample room for experimentation and creative endeavors. Here comes a surplus of distressed textures — from broken glass and foil to plastic wrap and torn paper, dark color palette, collage-style illustrations, and unconventional typography. For some, this may stir nostalgia; for others, it’s a refreshing divergence from overly polished visuals.

Plus, the grunge aesthetic is more versatile than you think. Metallic textures look good on just about anything, collages add that personal touch so often missing in our digital world, while distorted and liquid fonts resonate with the increasingly popular virtual reality. It’s official: grunge is back, and it’s in full (rusty and squeaky) swing. So, designers, bring your unbridled creativity to the table — come as you are!

Hand-picked cases:

Gradient Abstractions

Gradients have been among the biggest graphic design trends for quite a time. In the early 2000s, they were used mainly as a way to add a retro flare to the design, then slowly started to fade as the flat design took off. The massive gradient renaissance began in 2016 when Instagram finally said goodbye to skeuomorphism and introduced a new logo. By this means, they breathe new life both into gradients and flat design, which had already started to become boring by that time.

Gradients also have been a controversial graphic design trend, it almost haunts digital artists for all these years. They are adored, they are called outdated, and they are constantly reinvented and reimagined. And most of these at the same time. Through the years, we saw simple similar shades, gradual blending, vivid contrasting-colors transitions, elaborate mesh gradients, and many more. The gradient trend is extremely versatile.

Nowadays, we spot gradient abstractions playing with organic shapes are gaining traction. Designers experiment with these in their illustrations, web design, and visual communications. These new gradients use brighter colors and a mix of flowing and geometric shapes that make them feel fresh and sophisticated. There has been so much agitation among graphic designers and digital artists about new gradient abstraction recently, that it’s simply impossible not to call it a trend.

Hand-picked cases:

Typographic Artistism

Typographic artistism is one of few top graphic design trends that follow us from year to year. Both functional and beautiful, it is growing and taking over new spheres of the design world. These aesthetic fonts inspired by vintage typography can be found everywhere, from packaging design and marketing campaigns to food delivery. They are a great example of versatility and charm being the key to a long-term life and not becoming boring and feeling overused.

The other side of using the graphic design trend that has been on top for several years in a row and becoming quite niche is, of course, worrying about being repetitive. However, this problem is actually non-existent — just keep up with the graphic design trends of 2024 and don’t doubt the power of experimenting. Mix it with bold colors, abstract or organic shapes, diverse typography, and other design elements. There are no strict guidelines you need to follow. This trend can be adapted to any needs and still look fresh and stylish.

Despite the rapid technological changes we witness, having something so stable is a reassuring feeling. There are many creative ways to integrate artistic fonts in your design and make it look modern, so don’t give up on this trend just because you see it every year. Try it out in print goods or digital mediums, see how perfectly bold fonts complement your art, and throw all the worries away. After all, there is surely a reason for typographic artistism to be one of the 2024 graphic design trends.

Hand-picked cases:

Conceptual Branding

Design is not only about aesthetically pleasing visuals, it also must convey the message, especially when it comes to branding and identity. You may say that any branding communicates the core values by default. But let’s face the truth; how many “clean” minimalistic mediocrity and barely-there branding have you seen for the past few years? I guess a lot. Hopefully, conceptual branding is gaining popularity. There are more and more graphic designers who let their creativity off the leash and go the extra mile to create something really meaningful.

Conceptual branding shows the ideas that a product or service stands for and helps it speak for the potential customers. It utilizes visual storytelling to bring more context and resonate deeply on an emotional level. Many brands rethink their visual communication in order to add more personality and unique quirk. Therefore if you want to keep up with the best, it’s time to put some extra effort in brand conceptualisation so it pays off greatly.

It’s a mastery of a designer to communicate a cohesive narrative through the color palette, chosen shapes, typography, and other design elements that support and enhance each other when combined. With this task, you cannot hide behind omnipresent minimalism, trending font pairs, or metaphors from the first shelf. It’s a scrutinous work, but when done, it feels like magic.

Hand-picked cases:

Cartoon Characters

Trapped in the harsh realities of the modern world, we always long for an escape. In the case of graphic design, cartoonish-style illustrations can easily become that no-fail safe space we seek.

The great thing about cartoons is that there are so many visuals and techniques to choose from: classic American animation, comics, caricatures, claymation, retro cartoons, and so much more!

Plus, none of these has to be used solely in its original way: design features from different cartoon styles can be easily combined in a single design to achieve a new intriguing interpretation of the topic that will definitely catch your audience’s eyes. As far as dimensions go, both 2D and 3D seem to be in favor of this year’s graphic design trends, so you can choose whatever you like more!

Anything can be turned into a cartoon, but the most obvious application of this design trend is through brand identity projects, specifically by creating cartoon characters out of the product being advertised. In addition to brand storytelling, educational content is also adopting these styles for better engagement.

What’s more, cartoon characters serve as perfect vessels for immersive experiences in AR and VR, offering a friendly guide in unfamiliar digital landscapes. There are tons of other examples, but one thing is clear: cartoon characters are fun, useful, and engaging.

Hand-picked cases:

Graphic Design Trends to Avoid

While some visuals can make our designs feel fresh and appealing, others can easily bring them down. So, what are the anti-design trends of 2024? They may be loved by many, but everything is good in moderation: line art, Y2K, and minimalism have to go.

Think of line and flat art as that catchy tune we hummed to all summer long. It’s comfortable, familiar, perfect for web design, and it has served us well. But as the seasons change, so do our playlists. Line art will always have a special place in our design hearts, but we’re putting this style on pause for now.

Moving on to Y2K design style, you can’t help but admire its boldness to stand out — just like in fashion, it’s a trend that everyone has tried at least once, for better or worse. We’ve enjoyed the revival, the funk, and the kitsch of it all, but perhaps it’s time for Y2K to take a little breather while we explore the ”more calm” retro aesthetics.

Minimalism, oh minimalism — you’ve been the sleek, smart dress code for the longest time, bringing an aura of sophistication to any project. But while clean and simple has its perks, hiding behind the bare minimum has started to feel a bit… well, bare. So as we nod appreciatively to minimalism’s timeless appeal, we look for designs with a dash more color and complexity.

So, what’s the takeaway? We love a bit of nostalgia and simplicity, but when it comes to setting the pace for future trends, let’s strive for something with a bit more zest. It’s about getting that edge, warmth, and a vibe that says “fresh” over” flashback.” Let’s craft designs ready for tomorrow’s gallery walls, not just today’s Instagram scrolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the current trends in graphic design?

The passing year was booming for graphic design trends. It enabled more brands to find their own niche and gave much artistic freedom to creatives. The biggest graphic design trends 2023 are:

Clay 3D characters
Sans serif fonts
Rich colors
Minimalist vintage
Advanced microinteractions
Creative typography
Retro cartoon style

The current design trends are pretty versatile, and we’re sure you saw them many times over the past year. Some tech giants were inspired by futuristic design elements and AI, while others emphasized typography with bold outlines, retro styles, and even throwback bubble fonts.

What are the design trends for 2024?

The newest graphic design trends include:

AI Graphics
Barbie’s Pink
Pixel Mania
Glass Blur & Distortion
Serif Aesthetics
Gritty Art with Retro Vibes
Popping Colors
Industrial Grunge
Gradient Abstractions
Conceptual Branding

So many social and cultural events influence graphic design trends, so you will indeed find something resonating with you. Whether you love gradients and abstract shapes, bold fonts, or neutral embossed logos with vintage flair, there’s a design trend for you. Pay special attention to colorful expression, as 2024 is the time to handle ultra-bright colors and introduce them to character design, web pages, illustrations, typography, and other elements.

The post 12 Graphic Design Trends 2024: Futurism VS. Retro appeared first on The Designest.