Design Trends 2020

Sustainability

People, particularly young people, are more aware than ever of the need for things they buy and companies they buy from to be conscious of the environment. In all kinds of areas, people are looking to reduce waste and carbon emission and anything which could contribute to climate change, so brands have responded accordingly. Reused materials are huge and growing in fashion and interiors and many companies are incorporating environmental issues into their branding. Vogue magazine reports that fashion designers are putting on carbon neutral fashion shows and up-cycling is the latest thing in interiors. This filters into the graphic design world not just in the way brands want to be portrayed as environmentally conscious but also in the way they are look for more sustainable ways to market themselves which produce less waste etc.

Individual Flair

Individualism in fashion sounds like an oxymoron but the urge to stand out as something different is set to be a big thing this year. Ideal Home magazine reports that eclectic looks mixing styles and eras are going to be big in the world of interiors and Vogue predicts that trench coats and waistcoats are going to be big in women’s fashion and these are items traditionally associated with a quirky, even Doctor Who-like, look. In graphic design, we see brands opting for conflicting styles combining minimalism with very busy imagery in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. Striking bold colours are also a feature which keep coming up in fashion, interiors and graphic design as a big thing this year.

Authenticity

The trend towards an authentic feel seems to incorporate both the above ideas of ecological responsibility and individualism as the urge seems to be for something real and meaningful. In graphic design, interiors and fashion, we are seeing a trend towards simplicity and plain understated colours in contrast to the move towards bright colours in some areas. White seems to be a popular choice in fashion and interiors while utilising white space is an increasing phenomenon in graphic design. Using natural materials is also popular at the moment in fashion and in interiors with designs inspired by nature being big in branding and online marketing. There is an overall drive towards creating something honest with fashion using plain white simple clothes and lots of see through materials, interiors created for comfort and cosiness and brands putting an emphasis on real life stories and the human touch.

I think it’s fascinating when trends spill across such varied mediums like this and it’s always interesting to see the way design comes to reflect wider social movements and attitudes. Keeping up to date with all this is such an important part of what we do at Spoken and just one of the many things we take into consideration when creating brands or designs for our clients. 

Lisa Seymour – Managing Director

www.madebyspoken.co.uk