Design Trends for 2009 - Follow or Not FollowListThumbs
Design Trends for 2009 - Follow or Not Follow
Every new year we get to see articles reviewing the year that has gone and predictions for the one that has just started. As designers, we wonder what will change and what will be the new trends in graphic design, web design, or simply in design in general.
As designers we must be aware of what is happening in our industry, in this case, the trends that will be followed... not simply to be another adopter of them in our designs but also, to allow us to try different things. Not that I think it’s wrong to follow tendencies, it’s the opposite, I believe they are great tools for us to create something good and modern.
Adhemas Batista design for Digital Arts Magazine, January 2009
However, most of the trends tend to get overused and saturated, and that can be hazardous to our work. There is a nice article on David Airey’s blog called “Do you follow logo design trends” where he says:
"It’s easy to say, “I don’t follow trends”, but with so many internal and external influences surrounding us, how can we honestly say we’re not affected by what others are doing"
Another great article is from Smashing Magazine called “Don’t follow trends, set them!” where they show us the importance of creating something unique and fresh and not simply following the next hot trends.
In my opinion, as designers, we have to use all tools available to deliver the best product to the target audience. That means, if our audience expects something trendy we must do that. The point is that we don’t have to create something following styles just for the sake of the trends. Besides, I think there are “trends” that seem to last forever, like simplicity for example, at least Apple has shown us in their product design for over a decade already.
Apple new Macbook Pro 17, January 2009
Also, I'd like to hear your opinion on this. I think the best way to evolve is sharing our experiences, and that's why I've questioned on twitter about what would be the new design trends. The comments were great and very useful as you can see below. And of course, leave us a comment telling us what do you think will be the new trends and whether it's important to follow them or not.
Hot Trends for 2009
Web Design Trends for 2009
1960's Style and Blue as the New Green - http://www.thestate.com/living/story/634577.html
Logo Design from Logoorange - http://www.logoorange.com/logo-design-09.php
Psychedelic Pop Backgrounds
Origami
Tactile Logos
Arabesque
Classic Modernism
Pictograms
80's Geometry Lesson
Typographic Logos
Street Art
Top 2009 Marketing Trends - http://tinyurl.com/6t4vaw
Twice as many marketers (as compared to last year’s survey) are sick of buzzwords “Web 2.0”, “blogs”, “social networking”. But while that is, they admit still knowing little, or not enough, about them. This was evident in the results of a MENG social media study released on November 6, 2008, showing 67% of executive marketers consider themselves beginners when it comes to using social media for marketing purposes.
Comments via Twitter (http://twitter.com/abduzeedo)
I would like to see more era-specific retro designs...40's, 50's, 60's...Minimal design schemes will be more prevalent in 2009!
I guess more 80's retro actually http://www.deletelondon.com/, http://www.substancja.pl/in...,
I think You're correct. I think navigation will be larger to accompdate more mobile devices too.
not sure, guess its per-website-basis. funny tho they are saying "year of netbook" so...I prefer desktops personally about 18 hours ago from Netvibes in reply to abduzeedo
Shitty economy will lead to minimal, clean, simple color combos that make definite statements. Lots of greens, beiges
This is what I think - Magazine layouts will be another big trend http://is.gd/eGvJ
I think tightly tracked text settings will pop up more in the states/western europe ... borrow a trend from our friends south :)
as far as the web, I'd continue to think Motion and Video will prevail
clean and aesthetic style on brand, this Asian eye candy illustrations that all look the same and overshadows brands will passoff
Edges will make a comeback, I think rounded corners will be on their way out
Simplicity, white and video oriented interfaces
About the author
My name is Fabio Sasso, I'm a graphic/web designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil and I'm the founder of Abduzeedo. I hope we can share lots of information, tips, and ideas through Abduzeedo. Also you can follow me on Twitter or my personal site at http://fabiosasso.com.
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I believe that typographic logos will be a trend this year and this leading to more minimalistic design favoring simplicity.
i hope the "rainbow colors" style will stop being used, because this is definitely not a trend anymore...
I always think it's interesting that the discussion of trends never mentions the clients role. While trends are certainly impossible to ignore, fun to look at/identify, and occasionally emulate–it's crucial that as designers we don't forget that the number 1 priority is to communicate a clients message in the most effective way possible. Sometimes trends fit within that role sometimes they do not.
I think the websites will be more interactive than before..
I kinda sense that the trend 'minimalism' will keep sticking this year, also the 'almost drawing-like websites' will intent to grow in numbers.
-Wider webpages because of the larger screens people buy these days (that doesn't mean more content though!).
Excellent post. I like the pictograms and typographic logos. Another trend I have seen to go with the blue green is light blue and brown.
14 Comments
Woow!!! this is a great post. Very useful!!
Thanks Fabio.
Black in fashion is going to be huuuge.
My Graphic Life
I was wondering why our video suddenly started getting so many hits!! Thank you for featuring our prediction Fabio, greatly appreciate it!
David Perel