Graphic design trends 2022: Kinetic typography, anti-design and risograph-like backgrounds

2022 is in full swing, and it’s time to catch up on the latest trends in graphic design

All in all, people continue to reevaluate their needs and desires based on events from the past few years. Meanwhile, brands are looking for new ways to engage with their old customers and attract new ones. This is where graphic design comes in as one of the most powerful tools for standing out among competitors, conveying key messages and creating emotional connections.

Graphic Design Trends is an annual research project by Depositphotos, an international content platform, and it’s also an extension of the Creative Trends Guide. It’s a convenient way for you to keep an eye on the latest changes, as well as find new ideas and solutions for your brand or design practice.

This year, on top of the seven trends, we’re sharing their key elements along with examples from our visual archive. We’re also presenting data points from our search queries analysis on Depositphotos.

Vintage vibes meet futurism

This trend is an overarching theme of the entire trends forecast. Everything old is new and desirable in 2022. On the one hand, people crave the comfort of the familiar;on the other, they want dramatic changes that only seem possible a long time from now. And it turns out that nostalgia for the familiar past and obsession with the innovative future work surprisingly well visually.

Based on our research, search volume for “70s retro” has increased by 63% within the past year, and space-related visuals have been dominating the content we see on social media. Designers will continue experimenting by combining vintage elements from the 70s with futuristic ones.

Key elements: vintage frames, neon colors.

Color overload

“Doom and gloom” is how many people would describe the state our world is in right now. This is why more and more brands have been implementing lots of colors. It’s an efficient way to cheer everyone up, while also achieving creative and business goals.

It’s a common rule to use three main colors maximum in visuals, but designers are ready to break free and incorporate up to five of them. Bold color combinations and gradients are everywhere: on posters, magazine and album covers, branding, packaging, and social media visuals. Search volume for background gradients has increased by 50%. So, consider making your visual identity brighter and more colorful.

Key elements: unexpected color combos, gradient.

Vibrant fonts

Reaching out to a global audience is an exciting and complicated challenge. And the question everyone’s trying to answer is, “How do we grab attention when everyone’s so busy and overwhelmed?”

Your message matters, but so does the medium and form that it takes. This is how fonts appeared at the forefront of design in 2022. Typography has never been as experimental and playful as it is right now. Designers will undoubtedly keep on exploring new opportunities.

Key elements: big lettering, atypical fonts.

Y2K aesthetics

This trend is another direct consequence of everything we’ve been going through. Cultivating hope towards the future has been incredibly challenging, so many people have turned to the early aesthetics of the 2000s for solace, fun, and positivity.

Search volume for “pastel pink” has increased by 205%. There’s no need to rebuild your whole brand identity, but there are ways to include features of the early millennium to leverage nostalgia and cheer up your audience.

Key elements: bubblegum pink, checkerboard patterns, metallics.

Anti-design movement

The tech industry, along with our need for a simplified user experience, has made design functional within the past decade. However, everything’s changing. There’s a craving for unconventional choices and self-expression among graphic designers. Search volume for asymmetrical design has increased by 325%. And it seems like both consumers and businesses are ready for it. Consumers feel much more comfortable using their devices, while the latter see the need to stand out among the growing number of competitors with similar identities.

It’s time to break the rules and push the boundaries in how you approach design, whether it’s for a new website, brand identity, or a social media makeover.

Key elements: chaotic layout, handwriting, asymmetry.

Kinetic typography

If you’re surprised to see fonts on the list again, don’t be. We’ve already mentioned that typography has played a more significant role in graphic design lately.

Fonts keep getting more significant and diverse. Kinetic typography initially came from motion design, but is now common in graphic design as well. It enables you to capture the attention of your audience by making visuals more dynamic and eye-catching. If you’re looking for a way to refresh your brand identity or stand out on the social media landscape, consider implementing kinetic typography in your designs.

Key elements: motion effect, fluid text.

Risograph-inspired backgrounds

Risograph is a brand of photocopying and printing devices that are notorious for their grainy look. Its aesthetic impact has also reached the digital world, and it’s adding a warm human touch to shiny interfaces. Backgrounds will continue getting a risograph-inspired makeover in 2022. Prepare to see them everywhere, from social media content to product packaging. Consider getting on this train before it’s too late.

Key elements: paper textures, grainy look.

Summary

The main graphic design trends for 2022 include the combination of vintage vibes and futurism, lots of color, and Y2K aesthetics. On top of that, some designers will break rules and embrace the anti-design movement, while others will continue their experimentation with bold fonts and kinetic typography. All in all, 2022 is definitely going to be a bold and bright year. Check out the infographic about graphic design trends 2022 on the Depositphotos blog.