Digital Design Trends: 2022 Edition
Although Digital Design and Graphic Design overlap in many ways, they do have clear-cut differences.
Digital designers create images and elements that will end up on a screen, whether that's a computer screen, a phone screen, a dashboard, or any other digital format. Think web design, app design, motion graphics - anything interactive that cannot be printed.
Graphic designers on the other hand focus mostly on static design - their works are inclusive of things like logos, magazines and business cards. The main differentiating factor between Graphic Design and Digital Design is that digital design is interactive. For graphic designers, it can be more difficult to track the performance of print materials, while in the digital world you have a lot of data that tracks performance through views, clicks, likes and shares. Now that you know the difference, lets take a look at the Digital Design Trends of 2022:
2D/3D mashup
The best of both worlds.
The 3D design trend is ever-evolving and has continued to establish itself in recent years. Offering limitless possibilities to designers, it gives way for the imagination to run wild. From hyper-realistic 3D visuals that blur the line between digital and physical to highly creative mashups with 2D and paper cutout elements.
There is no doubt that 2022 will show a great partnership between 2D & 3D that is sure to display the best of each of these two worlds.
Fonts with a twist
Make it stand out.
This trend consists of typography that breaks all traditional standards. It follows a similar philosophy to Riso print in that it offers something that is off and imperfect, yet simultaneously aesthetically pleasing.
What exactly is that twist? Anything that breaks order: a single letter might be upside down, bigger or smaller, in a different font, or completely missing. It’s the perfect way to bring attention to something specific.
Glass & crystals
Bringing design to the next level
Last year, gold design was a huge trend mimicking realistic physical gold and giving everyday items that extra special feel.
The trend has now shifted to glass and crystal with incredible realism in 3D bringing design to the next level.
Candy colours
Make a bold statement
As we’re constantly bombarded with digital content from all directions, it becomes challenging for designers to create artwork, websites and apps that will stand out amidst the clutter. This is why visual appeal that grabs the viewers attention while scrolling is as important as the quality of the content.
Pastel colours will always be a crowd favourite but if you really want to make a bold statement candy colour schemes are a great choice.
Riso
Make it stand out with vivid colours
As trends always seem to stem from decades back in time, it’s no surprise that the risograph aesthetic had made a comeback both physically and digitally. What’s cool about riso is that you end up with unique vivid colours that your everyday printer won’t be able to produce.
There is also almost always a “I guess it’s supposed to look like that” moment when it comes to printouts as the prints often come out with slight imperfections such as ink bleed, inconsistent colours, unpredictable alignment issues or rough textures.
This unpredictability makes riso art challenging and adventurous as even if you plan your layers to perfection you will still end up with something unique and unexpected.
Personally this sounds like a nightmare to me and I’d probably stick to digital, because it’s so much easier to just download “free riso effect” instead.
Art Deco
Clean strong lines
Unlike the trends we’ve discussed previously this one differentiates itself with clean, strong lines.
So what exactly is Art Deco? The easiest way to recognise the comeback of this style is to find symmetry, geometry and simple yet aesthetically pleasing works. Or just think of The Great Gatsby.
Paper Cutout
Keep it traditional
Paper cutout is another traditional art that found its way into the digital world. Paper cutouts are most popular for branding purposes, more specifically for business cards, pamphlets and packaging design. We also see them in cards and books and more recently (and most importantly) in animation and web design.
3D characters
An adaptable one
3D characters have invaded the digital design space in apps, websites and animation. These characters also adapt to all the trends we’ve seen so far.
Holographic design
A diffraction of light
This diffraction of light has climbed to rival the top trends in digital design.
It used to be most prominent in stationary and fashion accessories. However in recent years it has reached web and animation design and is gaining popularity in app and logo design.
Psychedelic design
A 60s aesthetic
And lastly, the twisting, melting and distorted aesthetics of the psychedelic 60s changed design forever. As an immortal trend, these visuals always seem to make a comeback with the rise of each new counterculture.
Mimicking acid trips with mind-bending colours; the psychedelic trend is back to reflect on the chaos of confounding times.
