10 Design Trends to Look Out for in 2021

Psychedelics: Not Just for Music Festivals Anymore

When you picture the 60s and 70s, what comes to mind? It might be the midcentury modern décor that’s making a massive comeback in the home design world. Fashionistas may picture bell bottoms, fringe, tie-dye, and crochet accents. It’s the psychedelic graphics commonly associated with concert posters, Jimi Hendrix, and the music scene for designers.

Activism via Design

2020 was a divisive year of upheaval punctuated by social movements. Last year, from pandemics to politics, we saw a rise in socially conscious design and art that we predict will only grow through 2021.

Symbolism is Everything

Graphic designers know that when it comes to art, the little things matter.

Symbols like flags, sigils, and signs made from simple shapes have universal appeal. What makes symbols so powerful is their ability to transcend language. Symbols are a tongue that anyone can understand, which makes them particularly powerful for brand design.

Back to the Future

Retrofuturism is our future, only imagined by our past. If you’re familiar with Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland, you know what we’re talking about. It’s old-timey and futuristic all at once, featuring pieces of our modern everyday lives like social media, phones, and technology, and presents it through a vintage lens.

Shaping Up to Be a Good Year

Where loose, organic shapes defined design in 2019 and 2020, 2021 will be all about rigid and geometric shapes. Geometric shapes help make designs feel familiar and approachable. We’ve seen and drawn these shapes since early childhood, so naturally, we as consumers feel drawn to them.