Inspiration to creativity

IT is an exciting time to unleash your creativity, because the latest design trends of this year are all about celebrating originality and individuality.

There is growing indifference to flat designs as we embrace more classic ones by giving them modern, updated looks.

Simplification and minimalism are here to stay

The swift growth of smart and hand-held devices have brought with it usability challenges of traditional websites. Responsive design was created as a solution to this problem, acting as a one-design-fits-all approach.

However, as part of responsive design, brands needed to update their logos for a more minimalist look. Hence, the previously unthinkable – simplifying the look of brand logos – is one of the latest design trends this year.

Shadows to give dimension to designs

The rise of semi-flat designs derived from the flat design movement brings with it more use of shadows as a tool to help users determine input fields, calls to action and visual hierarchy. The modern shadows are soft, gradated and sometimes coloured, and add a subtle depth to designs unlike their harsher predecessors.

Duotones to complement semi-flat designs

Traditionally, duotones were created with halftone printing techniques where one colour is printed on a contrasting one to produce the effect.

This method got a whiff of fresh air with digital design methods that made creation of tinted images much easier. With beautiful imagery possible even with limited colour palettes, duotones are one of the hottest design trends of 2018.

Ombre effect or the traditional colour gradient technique

Colour transitions were the hotcakes before flat design took over in 2007. Now, the ombre effect is regaining popularity in the shift from flat to semi-flat design.

Thus far, we have seen a rise in the use of gradients – or colour transitions, as they are interchangeably called – in backgrounds, user interfaces and overlays. Expect to see a lot more vivid and bright colours as well as interesting textures with this trend.

Typography with digital art

When it comes to designing typography, the mindset behind the latest trends for this year seems to be “the bolder, the better.”

Artistic effects created with digital paint brushes and extra-large fonts combined with modern, aesthetically pleasing patterns is a trend that many designers are churning out this year.

With prominent brands such as Nike and Adobe putting it to good use in their branding, this is one trend that is here to stay.

The “other” reality

With augmented reality (AR) becoming a norm thanks to innovations in technology, it is to be expected that the latest design trends would feel the impact of AR in the form of 3D animations incorporated into semi-flat designs and GIFs.

Also known as microinteractions, the addition of animations and GIFs into design elements can let users feel more engaged with how interfaces seem to respond to their manipulations. Intriguing designs can be created for logos, newsletters and icons with this trend.

The comeback of geometric patterns and retro colour palettes

Moving into mainstream design from the sidelines are the colour palettes and patterns of the 1980s and 1990s. Snatching the limelight away from flat designs, the abstract, eccentric geometric patterns in pretty pastels are expected to provide visual excitements to users and design fans this year.

With the visual arts being revitalised by digital media, the field of design is getting more interesting as time goes by. The modern is merging with the past, indicating that 2018 is a year of breaking moulds to herald a new dawn of design that shatters boundaries.