MIKROTRENDS 2024 - THREE WAYS TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION IN YOUR NEXT DESIGN PROJECT

04/27/2024

World Graphic Design Day is a great opportunity to talk about current trends and developments in web design. But are there still such things as trends? Or has everything changed now?

Trends used to be a huge topic in all areas, whether it was fashion, music, art, or even web design. First every few years, then annually, and eventually—as in the case of fast fashion—at ever shorter intervals, a clear trend would develop and become established in the often-described mainstream. Skirts had their moment, as did shoulder pads. The same used to be true for web design, which is why design trends played such an important role in this field.

Well, in short: the era of big style trends is over! In silpluralism, styles themselves are increasingly taking a back seat, and the spotlight is increasingly on questions of target groups, brand values, and the individual characteristics of brands, people, and fashion. Whether it's an 80s yuppie outfit, a skater look, or an otaku anime style – all of these exist side by side. And that's a good thing, because it forces everyone to think more about themselves, their own values, their own brand, and their own style, instead of just doing what's “in” at the moment.

In web design, too, there has been no real mega trend since the minimalism and flat design that were popular in the 2010s. But far away from the style trends of the past, they still exist. These are microtrends that, when used subtly or deliberately, can make a big difference and that graphic designers and web designers in particular should keep an eye on:

ULTRA-VIBRANCY: THE POWERFUL RETURN OF COLOR

The first of these microtrends represents a departure from the pastel colors we have seen so often. Ultra-vibrancy focuses on bright colors and really stands out. There are two interpretations of this style: used selectively to create a deliberate disruption in the design, or used over a large area to increase visual impact. Thanks to technological advances such as OLED technology, which has become affordable, this trend is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the digital sector. Anyone who visits the website of our client CED-Kultur on their smartphone will quickly see what we mean by bold, intense colors.

Ultra vibrancy has a wide range of applications: from reinterpretations of Swiss typography to niche areas such as design brutalism. But the style is also used in commercial trends such as modern retro, as seen at Burger King, for example. Ultra vibrancy creates a new aesthetic that aims to attract attention and unleash visual energy.

BENTO LAYOUTS: THE AESTHETIC ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION

The next microtrend is strongly inspired by Japanese product design and can best be described as the visual implementation of the idea of information order. Similar to the arrangement of food in a bentō box, bento layouts offer a clear structure for presenting complex issues in clear subdivisions. Information order and communication in its purest form and clarity in an often confusing world.

Adopted by Apple in its graphic design at the end of 2023 to communicate the features of its products online, it is expected to become one of the defining design trends in 2024, joining the long list of Japanese trends, philosophies, and cultural elements that have been very well received.

SERIFS AND THEIR VARIATIONS: THE RENAISSANCE OF TYPOGRAPHY

Some people will now be crying out inwardly: serifs are back and represent a clear counter-microtrend to pure minimalism. In recent years, the trend in typefaces has been toward simplicity and clarity. It is therefore not surprising that this has led to oversaturation in branding and graphic design and that people are now turning back to “flourishes.”

Major brands such as Medium and Burger King are increasingly turning to serif fonts to give their minimalist approach more character and recognition. The implementation ranges from the integration of classic serifs into the corporate design repertoire to the use of retro typographic trends from the 1970s, with soft serifs or individually overstyled house fonts. This trend has only become possible in recent years, as high-resolution screens with a pixel density of over 200 dpi are now ubiquitous.

However, caution is advised here: those who want or need to consider issues such as accessibility will only be able to use serifs to a limited extent. Although increased use makes typography more striking, it also impairs the readability of texts, especially for people with visual impairments.

Looking for new design inspiration? You'll find it at DRIVE!

It will be exciting to see how these three microtrends – ultra-vibrancy, bento layouts, and the renaissance of serifs – develop in the near future. We will take a closer look at these trends here on the blog in the near future. Thanks to our experienced design team, DRIVE has a keen awareness of current trends and has repeatedly created award-winning designs and styles for websites in recent years. If you are looking for new design inspiration or need advice, simply write to us at pole-position[at]drive.eu. Let's bring your next design project to life together and make your brand stand out from the crowd!