8 Graphic Design Trends for 2017

If someone picked up your corporate brochure, scrolled through your website and looked at one of your ads, would they be able to readily identify your brand? If you’re not quite sure, then it’s time to rethink your brand’s graphic profile.

Visual imagery is the window to your brand. Strong visual content tells your story and helps create memorable brand connections. It’s also good for your bottom line: According to Adobe, design-driven companies have out-performed the S&P index by 219% over the last 10 years.

With new technology platforms and channels emerging, the role of graphic design is becoming increasingly important in protecting and promoting brand identity. Remember that consistency still counts: It’s important to stay true to your brand’s graphic standards, incorporating the latest creative design trends in a way that refreshes and enhances your visual imagery.

Following is a summary of the top eight graphic design trends identified by Digital Marketing Philippines that are changing the way we view brands:

1. Braver, louder colors. Moving away from neutrals like white, black and gray, more brands are using bold, loud colors to make a statement. This use of color can be used in conjunction with graphics, photo images and even with logos.
2. Bolder typography. More consumers today are accessing content on mobile devices, so mobile-first design drives this trend of bolder, larger type font. Always, it’s important to be sure the font is readable across all digital platforms.
3. Curated and original photos. Many brands use stock photos in their content—but once a photo has been used in more than one campaign, it begins to lose its luster. Creating original, authentic images that represent your brand will feel fresh and help make stronger connections with your audience.
4. Pattern and print design is enjoying a comeback, from florals and paisleys to modern abstracts.
5. Minimalist design—quite opposite of the pattern trend—is also becoming more popular. It has a clean, crisp sophisticated vibe and it pairs well with simple fonts and layouts with subtle graphic elements.
6. Cinemagraphs – Compared to regular GIFs, cinemagraphs are still images with one or more moving elements. These are being used by big brands like IKEA to tell stories and drive engagement—and have been credited with driving more organic traffic to websites.
7. Hand-drawn graphics and icons are also gaining popularity, complementing the rise in the use of authentic images—a move that appeals to consumers by making the brand feel more approachable.
8. Vintage Fonts and Layouts continue to play on the retro and vintage trend—what’s old is cool again.

To check out the full article and infographic, click on the link below: www.business2community.org/web-design

Have you employed any of these graphic design trends in your visual content? If so, what were the results?  I’m interested in your feedback. emoriarty@shamrockcompanies.net

Ellen Moriarty

Design Hacks: Two DIY Tools For Everyday Marketing

Given the relentless pace of today’s business world, many of us look to ingenious hacks or shortcuts to complete everyday tasks with greater efficiency. This post answers that charge: When you don’t have time to collaborate with your marketing team and need to quickly create a presentation or post a new product promotion on social media, these two apps will help you complete your projects with professional results.

#1. Online-Convert (O-C). This program allows users to take one file format (audio, image, ebook, video, document, or archive) and convert it into a different format (presumably one that is easier to use). 

For example, I often receive graphic files in .eps format. Since I don’t use a professional design program, I can’t view the image natively. However, I can upload the file into Online-Convert and within seconds, convert the image into a pdf, png, jpg, or gif file. 

Since many images are sent back and forth in email as pdf’s, I can easy convert these files into a .png or .jpg format and then upload and use as needed. Online-Convert is free to use.

www.online-convert.com

#2. Clipping Magic. This app allows users to remove the background around an image, or in design speak, create a “transparent” background. 

Wondering when/why you might need to create an image like this? Here is an example: You want to feature a product image in a presentation. The problem is the only version of the image you have is against a white background and your brand standards require you to use a dark background. Instead of featuring a page with white box backdrops, you can clip the image so the white background is removed.  

Normally, it takes the skill of a trained designer and a professional program like InDesign or Photoshop to do the same thing. Now, I can clip the image and then layer it on top of my presentation or other images to create a professional design. 

Clipping Magic charges a small fee per month based on the number of images you clip. For less than $8 a month, you can clip more than 100 images and save yourself countless hours and dollars in the process. 

https://clippingmagic.com

What do you think: Have you tried either of these tools? What do you use on a regular basis and find especially useful? Please share your feedback in the comments below or reach out to me directly at mtheis@shamrockcompanies.net.