One of the design trends I’ve been noticing and sometimes cringing at is texture to words. This texture is out there and extreme. For instance, fuzzy-looking letters and food-like letters. I was scrolling on Instagram and saw letters that looked like pretzels. I’m not sure if someone who loves pretzels would’ve been all over this design either. When designing, it’s important to try to create a timeless design that won’t easily go out of style. Making letters look like specific things almost “dumbs it down” in a sense. It tends to make a design look childish. Another example of this was a bunch of different Lego to create a letter. This one wasn’t so bad. I thought it fit the design and the target audience. Lastly, I saw ropes forming a word.
Overall, hard core texture is a current design trend that I’ve been noticing lately. If used correctly, it enhances the customer’s wish to feel, touch, or taste the design they’re seeing. But, if it’s used or designed poorly, it makes the design/company come off as childish.
As I’ve been taking pictures and learning a lot within Photoshop, I’ve noticed a growing interest in the sky and the sunset colors. There are cloud brushes within Photoshop that allow you to insert clouds that have been made into a brush. Using these features and seeing the gorgeous South Dakota sunsets lately has led me to want to create my own cloud brushes. The stunning cloud shapes and colors of the sky make me want to create something of my own. There are also features called sky drops. These take the beautiful colors from the sky and make it so someone else is able to drop it into their picture. Learning how to create my own is certainly on my list of things to do. Someday, maybe I’ll have a big enough collection to sell my own set!
Graphic design can date all the way back to cave paintings. In Design Development class, we learned a design rule that says, “Ignore fashion, seriously.” Throughout history, there have always been “popular” design trends. Being within the design field, it’s difficult not to go along with those trends. If you look back into history, you can find the design trends that are now completely out of style, but also some that still hold their value. The trends fluctuate, and things come in and out of style within years. Take scrunchies, for example, or even bell bottom jeans; both were in style long ago and came back in style again.
I’m going to take you on a journey through the design field in the 1900’s.
In the early 50’s and beginning of the 60’s, the trend was pop art. Here’s an example of the pop art from then.
Towards the end of the 60’s, the groovy psychedelic trends started. Hippies were on the rise during this time, and designs showed that!
This is a save the bees T-shirt design by Eliza Osmo that represents this time in history.
The 1970s were filled with thick lines and bright colors. Also in the 70’s, free-form typography took a rise. The decade was paired with this, the laid-back attitude indicated by the groovy curves, thick line weights, and lack of organization. Freeform typeface has a laid-back, welcoming feel to it, and it goes well with cozy color schemes and peaceful hippie ideas.
During the 80’s, MTV was on the rise. Lots of designs holding this logo were created. However, the MTV logo is still put into designs today! The history of this logo dates back many decades, but it’s still prevalent today. Also during the 80’s, Memphis-style design was common. This style consisted of bright colors with shapes and lines scattered. Pee-wee Herman’s show proudly represents the Memphis style.
The 90’s is when Adobe Photoshop was released. So, designs got easier to make common, and typefaces began to rise. Typography was easier to create. This is when the Jurassic Park logo and Friends logo were created. Also during the 90’s, the grunge rock band theme was on the rise. Crazy and unorganized-looking packages were everywhere.
Throughout the 1900’s, there were many design trends that went on. Some of them have gone completely out of style, but some have popped up again in trends. It’s important to look through history and see the changes that the design world has endured. I enjoyed learning and researching these trends in history. While designing, these trends throughout history will be in mind.
