Depositphotos Uncovers 2024 Creative Trends: From Urban To ‘Core’ Aesthetics

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

Depositphotos is looking toward the oncoming year through a vibrant lens and has just published its Creative Trends 2024 report, offering a sneak peek into the evolving landscape of creativity and visual expression.

These seven predictions paint a vivid picture of creative divergence, with Unfolding Reality as the overarching theme. They’re a departure from the expected, as they explore everything from minimalist text-focused campaigns to a revival of retro aesthetics and the emergence of futuristic concepts, all deciphered from market research and the surging tide of keyword searches.

“In 2024, after years of turbulence and escapism, content creators will—brick by brick—architect a new reality for us,” shares Maria Sibirtseva, head of content marketing at the stock content site. This reality is inspired by the latest technological advancements, local cultures, and fleeting social media aesthetics. It seeks to create messages and concepts that resonate more deeply with audiences, who yearn for a sense of belonging, clear meanings, and timeless values. Find out more below.

1. Back to the Streets

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

In an age of remote living, people are yearning for the authenticity of the streets. Street culture is experiencing a global resurgence, and creatives are tapping into this trend. To join this wave, incorporate urban aesthetics like graffiti lettering and post-production effects mimicking the look of late 70s zines.

2. A Way with the Words

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

Words are making a powerful comeback. Brands are experimenting with text-only communication, using vintage letters, contrasting typefaces, and even animated fonts to create captivating messages.

3. Core Wave

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

Inspired by the Barbie movie and other “core” aesthetics (like Wes Anderson-core and Animecore), this trend involves using visual details that align with specific decades, stories, or lifestyles. It’s a call for creators and brands to align with the identities their audiences cherish.

4. Retro yet Timeless

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

The allure of vintage and timeless elements is challenging fast fashion. Trends like #oldmoney on TikTok and “quiet luxury” searches on Google highlight a resurgence of interest in heritage and traditions. Muted colors, 20th-century-style fonts, and traditional ornaments are key elements to adopt.

5. Personality, Not Gender

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

Gender identity is taking a back seat as values and personality uniqueness come to the forefront. Brands should embrace diversity and showcase emotional states and unique beauty across all genders. This can be achieved through expressive poses and using photos that emphasize a diverse range of emotions and backgrounds.

6. The Dimensions Game

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

Creativity knows no bounds. Creators are experimenting with audience perception, reality switches, and style blends. Collages, multi-layering, and the combination of different styles are the tools of this trend.

7. Life, Work, Hybrid

Image courtesy of Depositphotos, featured with permission

With the future of work still in flux, there’s a focus on designing work environments and routines that prioritize employee efficiency and happiness. This includes creating visuals that depict diverse, human-centered workplaces with soft and friendly hues.

Each of these trends offers a roadmap for creators to navigate the evolving landscape of creativity and design, blending traditional elements with forward-looking ideas to resonate with audiences in 2024. You can read the full report here.

[via Depositphotos, images courtesy and featured with permission]