2013 Design Trends in Print

I have a serious problem--I am terrible about is keeping up with design trends--or at least consciously keeping up with them. Tracy's food packaging lecture was very inspiring, so I searched for some top design trends in print. I found a great blog that showcased 5 top design trends in print. And I bet there are many more.

Your Blog Assignment:
Find 1 design trend in either print design or typography to share and at one or two images that illustrate the trend.

Below is the blog article that I found posted by Aaron Kitney on Creative BLOQ  (Kitney is a freelance graphic designer and art director based in London and Vancouver).

Now I know what you are going to say--I didn't work hard enough for this blog (I hear you, Valerie), so I will do my best to post pictures of items I encounter in my day-to-day world that exemplify these trends. Which leads us to your....

Extra Credit Blog Assignment
If you are so moved, post images that you take (be it with your android, smart phone, old fashioned camera, or photogenic eye) that exemplify one (or more) of the design trends that someone posts.

What's in it for you, you ask?
Well, you can feel justified in your excellent market research, your superior knowledge of the field, or your fantastic photography skills. Not enough, you say? Fine--I promise to bring you treats if you fulfill the extra credit blog assignment.

Deadline
And lastly, for the love of all that is holy and right in this crazy world we live in, can you guys post by Tuesday so there will be time to read/respond to each other's posts?

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Top trends in print design for 2013

 

01. Flat design

The flat design trend is crossing over from interface design to print design

Flat design is a simplistic design form in which 3D effects such as drop shadows, bevel and textures are purposely excluded, therefore making it stylistically 2D. Flat design is growing in influence across the web and app design, and right now we're seeing it break into the medium of print.
This series of flat illustrations called Re-Vision (above) was created by Barcelona studio Forma & Co and printed as promotional postcards and posters. An exercise in style and synthesis of different cultural icons, Re-Vision is typical of the new trend for flat design in print.

02. Typographic contrast

Typographic contrast is difficult to pull off, but when done well the results can be spectacular

It takes great confidence and understanding of design to pair contrasting typefaces - the elements can be as different as chalk and cheese. But when done well it can look incredible, as seen in the above illustration by Joao Santos, a Portuguese designer specialising in poster, editorial and illustration, called My Dry Wet Mess. A large scale brush typeface is complemented by a tiny sans serif, while the contrast in typefaces balances the design and creates appealing hierarchy.

03. Experimental distortion

Experimental approaches show just how much impact print design can have

Even though online graphics have dominated the industry over the past few years, experimental work as shown above by Helmo go to show how much impact printed work can still have. Helmo, the independent graphic design duo of Thomas Couderc and Clement Vauchez, work mostly with cultural institutions and festivals in France; their process consists of distorting pre-existing artwork to create large scale posters.

04. Unusual paper stock

Using unusual types of paper stock is a great way to boost your print designs

Interesting paper stock will entice your target audience to interact with the outcome. Companies such as GF Smith offer a huge range of paper stocks, so there's plenty to play with. A great example of the trend is these fantastic golden tickets for 'A Design Film Festival' which launched in Singapore and has traveled to Portland, Berlin, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Bangkok. They were created by Anonymous, an multidisciplinary studio based in Singapore.

05. Being playful

A playful approach doesn't just work for child-oriented print design

The playful approach can be incorporated into more than just child-related briefs, as this eye-catching printed work for the charity Benevolent Society shows. Created by New Zealand based graphic studio Designworks, the strategic idea behind the work was overlapping a broad spectrum of colours that represent core internal pillars of love, hope, strength, wisdom and belonging creating a positive brand expression for both internal and external audiences.

Post by Aaron Kitney