Few things are as important to a business as branding; a unique identity helps any organization stand out from the crowd. Two keys to success in establishing an effective brand are design and printing.
Like any other industry, design and printing are constantly evolving. Staying on top of the latest trends is essential for businesses looking to grab people’s attention. Valparaiso’s own AMA Design & Print is an invaluable partner in providing trend-setting designs and print materials for anyone looking to make an impression in 2018.
Several common themes have either made a splash or continued riding the waves of 2017. Here are some of the most eye-catching trends in design, color, and print so far this year.
Gradients
Image via: nycpride.org
Gradient coloring is not exactly a new trend. A few years back the theme of gradually shifting from lighter to darker shades across an image was common. This trend eventually faded away as tech leaders started to favor flat colors and minimalist designs. Gradients started making a comeback last year, particularly after Spotify and Instagram started to employ the theme in their apps. Now colors are exploding in print across ads, flyers, and all manners of marketing.
Doubles/Duos
Image via: https://www.behance.net/gallery/25243891/FST Kryzysztof Iwanski
There’s a lot to unpack here with this category. First is the double exposure trend, which melds two images together, usually placing one within another. This is often mixed with the fading “duotone” trend in which two images (that are usually very similar or even identical) overlap each other with each image being a different tone (usually done as a gradient as well).
Cropped and Chaotic Typography
Images via: https://maxboam.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/zoom/, http://floydgrey12.tumblr.com/post/102936169287, https://society6.com/product/its-a-jungle-sometimes_print?curator=paolotonon
Both typography trends emerged in 2017 and have continued to grow in popularity this year. They’re rather simple and very easy to apply to any kind of printing. With cropped typography, you simply erase the parts of letters that can be removed without harming readability. Chaotic typography, is when you order and align words unconventionally, scattering them across an image. Both methods require viewers to pay more attention to your prints, without harming the ability to get information from them.
Unconventional Colors
Image via: https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2018-tools-for-designers
This year is pretty exciting when it comes to colors. Bright, vivid, or simply rarely seen colors are getting play across the board. Pinks, ultraviolet, metallics, yellows, and more can all provide pop to a design, either as a solid or gradient. Ultraviolet seems to be a particularly exciting choice, named 2018 Color of the Year by the Pantone Color Institute.
Texture
Image via: https://www.behance.net/gallery/54861301/Maldini-Studios, Jens Nilsson
A lot of these trends can be applied both online and in print, but this last one is exclusive to classic paper printing. Texture is something that cannot be captured through the glass screen of a smartphone, so adding embossment or using recycled paper, gloss, or varnish can all add a distinct impression to things like business cards.
Everyone has a vision for their project, whether it be marketing their business or wedding announcement. AMA Design & Print’s quality services allow Northwest Indiana’s creative minds to bring their ideas to life. Learn more at www.amadatagraphic.com.
