(Feature image – Unsplash)
Optimism, Playfulness, Connection
“After nearly two years living under the shadow of a global pandemic, many elements of our lives have changed. And as we begin a new year, so much remains uncertain.” So begins the 2022 Creative Trends forecast from Adobe Stock.
Given the pandemic and in light of spending ever more time online, the two major themes that emerge can be seen as a backlash: (1) a hunger for optimism, fun and playfulness and (2) a search for authentic and meaningful connection. The conclusions are based on research requests, customer data, and Adobe’s own research.
These two overriding themes translate into several more specific visual communications trends:
Visual Trends:
The Power of Playfulness, reflecting comfort, energy and joy, commercial projects have engaged and inspired consumers to stay positive, find the small joys in life, and keep keeping on despite the state of flux that has remained through the pandemic; and The Centered Self, as the pandemic causes more people than ever before to struggle with increased stress, depression and burn out, bringing attention to the importance of mental health.
3D Justincase – Adobe Stock
Design Trends:
Soft Pop, defined by fun, pliable forms, examining our relationship to objects and tactility in digital spaces, and is largely characterized by 3D cartooning, character narrative and squishy appearances; and a New Naturalism, aesthetics defined by their clean modernism and almost-clinical elevation of the organic. These visuals are inspired by process art, post-minimalism and clean living.
aytek – Adobe Stock
Motion Trends:
Metaverse Mix, referring to a digital world existing beyond the analog one in which we live; and Get Moving, in which physical and emotional connections between people, brands and advertising resort to using rhythm, dancing and movement to demonstrate connection between people.
