Canva Forecasts The Most Striking Design Trends To Make 2024 Pop

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As the sun sets on the current year, designers and creatives worldwide are eagerly turning their gaze to the horizon, anticipating the colors, shapes, and styles that will define 2024. Canva has distilled the essence of emerging patterns, search trends, and collective creativity spanning 170 million users into a rich tapestry of anticipated design trends.

From the nostalgic pixelation that takes us back to our digital roots to the surreal escapism that frees us from the mundane, each trend offers a unique narrative. The forecast lays out a vibrant roadmap, guiding creatives into a year brimming with exciting work.

Preview the five themes that the graphic design platform is expecting to go big in the coming year, and read its full blog post here.

Pixelation: A Playful Nod to Nostalgia

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In 2024, get ready for the return of pixelation, a trend that marries precision with playfulness. Drawing inspiration from the beloved eight-bit graphics and Minecraft, this aesthetic revels in nostalgia while embracing modernity. Pixelated designs, from intricate artworks to quirky fonts and grids, are set to captivate, considering the 179% surge in searches Canva has seen in 2023. It’s time to channel your inner gamer and incorporate some retro digital flair into your designs.

Flow and Form: Where Geometry Meets Organic

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Prepare for the harmonious clash of geometric and organic shapes with the Flow and Form trend. This design style is all about making an impact with minimal lines, blending dynamic shapes with balanced colors. Look out for blob art, flowing shapes in murals, and oversized geometric elements that inject a contemporary vibe into brands and packaging. With a 27% increase in searches, this trend is shaping up to be a favorite for its ability to convey simplicity and expression.

Motion Collage: Dynamic Vistas in Design

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The collage is getting a motion makeover in 2024. This reinvention draws from zine culture and scrapbooking, turning static images into captivating, animated scenes. With searches for “cut out” and “scrapbook” soaring, the Motion Collage trend promises to bring a dynamic, attention-grabbing element to videos and digital content. It’s a nod to preserving the past while moving forward at an exhilarating pace.

Surrealism: Diving into the Fantastical

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Surrealism is set to make a big comeback, inviting you to leave reality behind and dive into a world of fantasy and ethereal designs. This trend encourages a break from the mundane, offering an otherworldly escape. With Gen Z at the helm, expect to see visuals that are bizarre, off-kilter, and brimming with individuality. Queries for “dreamy,” “ethereal,” and “fantasy,” have prominently increased, indicating a growing desire for designs that transport us to new realms.

The Bold Rebrand: A Future of Fluorescent

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As companies aim to captivate a new generation, bold branding is predicted to dominate 2024. Expect a kaleidoscope of vivid, fluorescent colors paired with rounded sans-serif fonts that exude positivity and fun. Neon hues and bold typographic systems will become the heart of design, with an astonishing 32,000% and 19,000% increase in searches for “lively” and “vivid.” The idea is all about standing out and injecting brands with a unique, energetic identity.

[via Canva]