Shutterstock, Inc., a leading provider of licensed photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos and music, has released its eighth annual 2019 Creative Trends Report. The data gathered and analyzed includes billions of searches and downloads within Shutterstock’s collections by customers around the world. This year’s eleven design styles, many of which echo the past in a playful and decadent way, predict the top influences for design and visual production in 2019. The top three major trends for 2019, based on year-over-year search increases, “are each influenced by an era of design with an emphasis on our brightest and boldest memories. This is the past broadcast in stunning technicolor.” They include:
Zine Culture – This trend lives on in the digital age through social media, where independent makers can share and niche groups can discover. Built on principles of collage and largely influenced by the invention of the photocopier, it is paper cutouts, noise and grain textures, and rough-edged layers that define this trend.
80’s Opulence – Clashing is the key word for this trend. Think leopard print and snakeskin, peacock feathers and gold chain belts, soft fur and hard metal textures.
Yesterday’s Tomorrow – This trend is an optimistic redux of early-tech. It’s all about the looks and sounds that defined futurism at the dawn of the digital age like bold purple, and pink duotone gradients, basic vector graphics, and dreamy synth music.
In addition to the top trends, the report outlines eight rising stars; some are joyful and made for escapism such as “Tempting Typography” and unique “Kawaii” illustration, while other put reality into sharp focus including the urgent issue of “Beyond Plastic.” Global Trends outlines the fastest growing trends in 20 countries around the world with “Colorful Cartoon Art” dominating in the U.S.
Explore the full 2019 Creative Trends Report here.
