What Did Graphic Design Look Like in 2016?

Last year brought some graphic design trends that were truly the picture of progress. To draw some inspiration for graphic design in 2017, iamwire.com looked back at these works and wonders of graphic genius. We’ve taken a cue from their selections, and added our own insights.

Revival Style
Everything old is new again. Graphic design inspired by a certain time period is popular, ranging from the Belle Epoque and Art Deco of the early 20th century to the bright colors and fun geometric designs of the ’80s and ’90s. After all, classic styles never stop inspiring designers.

Typography
This year, typography went big and bold to become a graphic element all its own. As a result, it soon became the focus of attention. Designers played with the size, arrangement, color, and texture of typography to make a statement louder than words.

Flat 2.0
This graphic style draws inspiration from the trends of minimalism, Bauhaus, and Swiss-style flat design. It has a simple and clean look with large, colorful typography emphasized by plenty of white space. Due to its simple nature, it loads much faster than other styles. This form of graphic design has become so popular that it’s now being seen in surface pattern design and illustrations.

Illustrations
Viewed as an affordable and effective form of visual communication, illustrations surged in popularity in 2016. Designers used them as an excellent alternative to expensive photo shoots and inadequate stock photography options. Illustrations can communicate anything and still feel authentic. They were also used to showcase and extend the visual elements of an identity to create a more robust brand ecosystem.

Geometric Shapes
In 2016, geometric shapes turned a corner and became both visually effective and extremely functional. Once only used to frame featured elements, geometric shapes are now being used to breathe life into design.

Material Design
Google had a huge impact on material design this year when it drew up guidelines regarding its own material design language. Based on these guidelines, material design is now growing in popularity for mobile devices, websites, blogs, and digital portfolios.

Motion
Motion has been influential on graphic design for several years now, and this trend continued in 2016. By making images appear to move through cinemagraph and 2D animation, a graphic element can now capture the attention of viewers without distracting from the nature of the content.

Branded Environments
Designers put together bold and impactful environments in 2016. Incorporating print, interactive displays, motion graphics, kinetic sculptures, art installations, and branded content, it’s all about the experience.

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