Stay on top of the latest design trends, see what’s popular, and learn how to create design work that feels modern, current, and up-to-date.
At the beginning of each year, Design Shack does a roundup of trends that will likely influence the design landscape for the coming year.
Now that we are halfway through 2021 (can you believe it?) it’s time to look at which of those trends are thriving and which ones you can pass by.
Here, we’ll look at some fresh examples of the trends that are still hot for inspiration in your projects.
While there is nothing new about minimalism as a design trend, the application and techniques are ever-evolving.
Some of the most notable changes with modern minimal designs are the use of space, color, and typography treatments. These design elements can make the overall aesthetic seem new and fresh or show a more dated style.
Here, we’ve put together a guide on how to do minimal design right with some best practices, examples, and tips for creating a modern feel.
Let’s dive in!
From hard-core ‘grammers to those that post the occasional pic, Instagram is the social media platform that’s practically made for designers because it is so visual.
So, you’ll probably want to be on-trend when it comes to posting. Here are eight ways to create images that are perfect for 2021 with a few examples and Instagram templates to help you get started.
From #nofilter, to framing, overlay elements, carousels, and more, we’re exploring all the trends you need to know.
If you are looking for a design trend that can hold up over time, consider using a gradient. Every time I seem to think this trend might be over, designers come up with new and even better ways to use color variations for immense impact.
I’m not sure this trend will ever get old because there are so many ways to use it.
Here, we’re going to look at 10 different ways to make the most of gradients with projects that do it exceptionally well. All completely varied, and all completely unique!
Let’s start with a definition. Readability is a measure of how easy a piece of text is to read. The level of complexity of the text, its familiarity, legibility, and typography all feed into how readable your text is. Readability is a key factor in user experience.
Why would we ever showcase a design trend that features text that’s not readable? Simply, because it is popular. Does it mean that it’s a good idea? It… depends!
You can read on, look at the examples, and decide if it is right for your projects.
Art elements rooted in math and algorithms might seem like a futuristic idea, but it’s a growing and popular concept.
Fractal art has been around since the 1980s but it seems to be having a moment with more designers looking to this style for backgrounds and main art elements. Another reason for the growth in popularity? Use of this style as an interior design element for wall hangings and more.
This can be a fun design element to think about and incorporate into projects. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with fractal art.
Want to give your design a quick facelift? Using new and interesting typography trends might be the answer. Designers are opting for less elaborate typefaces and pairing them with bold color, cutouts, gradients, and even customizations to create lettering that stands out.
Changing typefaces or recreating an image or header in a trending style can give a design a fresh look without a full-scale overhaul. Not sure where to start? This list features typography trends with examples to use as inspiration for how to use them.
Here’s a look at the top typography trends for 2021.
Need a new logo? Whether you’re starting from scratch or just planning a tweak to a current mark, understanding shifts in logo design trends can help you create a design with a modern touch.
The theme in logo design is to create something simple and distinctive. With so many new websites and brands and companies coming online almost every day, it’s no wonder that logos are trending toward designs that stand out.
Here’s a look at a few logo design trends for 2021, and how you can make them work for you (and while you’re at it, be sure to look through our full guide on how to design a logo!)
When was the last time you updated your design portfolio? (If you’re like me, it’s probably been a while.) Maintaining a fresh portfolio is a good way to show off your skills to potential clients and can be helpful when looking back on work for annual contest entries.
If you’ve fallen behind with your portfolio design, or just need a new portfolio in general, this is a great opportunity to create something using trendy techniques and visuals.
A modern portfolio using design trends can make a great impression. A portfolio is also a representation of your skills — so design wisely! Here’s a look at some of our favorite portfolio design trends for 2021.
Trends in typography seem to evolve more quickly than many other design trends. For a long time, website designers stuck to font palettes packed with sans serif typefaces. But that feels like ancient history now!
Today’s range and variety of web fonts make for much more interesting design possibilities, font pairings, and visual themes.
We’re taking a look at eight trends for pairing fonts with a beautiful example of each, covering a wide range of font families and aesthetics.
Icons might be one of the most important – and underrated – examples of design in your portfolio. Here’s a look at icon design with some inspiring examples.
Icon elements are shown almost everywhere, but sometimes get produced as an afterthought. That shouldn’t be the case. Great icon design can be distinctive and add finesse and flair to a project.
Let’s take a look at what’s new, and what’s hot in icon design in 2021!
Where did all the people go? In the same way streets are a little less crowded, so are design projects. It’s a design trend that’s rooted in practicality – what kind of imagery is appropriate in the world we live in now?
With so many rules and changing norms, the easy answer can be to eliminate images that focus on people and faces altogether. And while it is a little different than what we might be used to, it’s not a bad solution to a current design problem. It’s also something you can probably deploy with existing image assets if you need to retool a current design.
Projects that feature imagery without people can have other practical applications as well that aren’t pandemic-related. Let’s take a look.