10 Graphic Design Trends in 2024 for Print & Digital

First up on our list of design trends is bold typography. Simply put, large fonts ensure your message gets seen. No matter the digital or print marketing asset, with a bold font, it’s sure to capture the attention of target audiences and beyond.

Bold typography is a cool design trend that makes an impact thanks to what it conveys. If you want your messaging to radiate strength, power and assertiveness, a distinct, bold font is the way to go. Try it on headlines, logos, promo materials, even business cards, and make a commanding impression.

One of our favorite graphic design trends is the return of the ’90s. In recent years, many brands and organizations have embraced nostalgia in their layouts – and to great effect. So much of the ’90s was about contrast (think early grunge vs. late pop), and that idea blends seamlessly into current trends in graphic design.

As you experiment with retro designs, just remember they work best (and make the most impact on your audience) when blended with modern aesthetics. From expressive fonts and neon colors to collages and virtual aesthetics, a touch of the ’90s will do wonders on direct mail campaigns, packaging, even your website design.

Of all the current design trends, this next one’s always a good idea no matter the year: sustainability. Focus on sustainability and your brand stands out in all the right ways. And while you can write social posts and press releases about your efforts, you can also fold sustainability into your designs with eco-friendly materials and themes.

At Smartpress, you can print everything from business signage to marketing essentials like brochures, postcards and booklets with green alternative materials and recycled paper stocks. More and more, consumers only want to do business with companies that make eco-friendly choices, and with trending designs and themes like this in your artistic arsenal, it only strengthens the trust your audience has in you and your brand.

Minimalism is another one of our favorite current graphic design trends. We love how simplified designs can pair with complex elements to create impactful marketing assets that don’t overwhelm your audience.

Whether you’re designing in print or digital mediums, your message needs to be communicated clearly through visuals, and that’s where minimalism really lives up to its name as one of the best graphic design ideas. Your clients are bombarded by content all day long, and a clean design is the ultimate contrast.

But a clean design doesn’t mean a boring one. When you add subtle details like foil accents or a protective high gloss UV coating, your simple design simply shines. From booklet covers to thank you cards, bookmarks to business cards, less truly is more.

See the power of foil printing: How Foil Book Covers Put Specialty into Your Strategy.

Another stand-out graphic design trend is vibrant color and gradient blends. Whether you’re incorporating a popular design tactic or creating something totally unique to you, color plays a huge role in the psychology and behavior of consumers, so it’s crucial to choose your palette wisely. Your words send a message, and when you pair them with the right colors, that message not only sinks in, but also creates action – aka sales.

So how do you narrow down your shade strategy? Think about the intent of your print or digital design, and then choose a palette that sets the tone. If you want to elicit enthusiasm and upbeat energy, add a friendly shade of orange to your outreach brochure or travel postcard. If you’re creating a sense of sincerity and trustworthiness with your clients, go with blue on your company letterhead, medical mailers or presentation folders.

When we think about the best graphic designs for print, layering with transparent elements is right at the top. A technique that creates imagery and designs by stacking different elements on top of each other, layering adds all kinds of interesting depth and texture to your marketing assets – and captures the attention of your audience.

We love graphic trends like this because you get to play and experiment with so many elements to find what makes the most impact. You might try layering transparent text over a solid graphic on a business card or find that when you stack one transparent graphic over a solid one it makes your message stand out even more on a postcard. Even semi-transparent elements layered on top of busy backgrounds can make a striking visual impact.

We’ve already discussed minimalism in graphic design trends, but there’s a place and time for more, too. Mixing media is one way to do more right. After all, any elements you add should complement your design, not detract from it.

For example, you might try a raised UV coating on your business cards or the velvety-smooth Soft Touch laminate on your event invitations. Both create texture that surprises and engages customers and clients.

And while you can’t feel mixed media like this in the digital space, there’s still an opportunity to add complexity on your platforms by combining different styles, like photography and illustration or digital painting and collage.

See how we took mixed media to new heights with the Minnesota Wild’s On-the-Glass Club.

It can be tempting to go all-in on popular graphic design themes, but always keep in mind one all-important metric: brand recognition. It’s why another one of our favorite trends in graphic design is custom illustrations that tell your unique brand story.

From logos to graphics to brand colors, the visuals associated with your brand speak louder than your content ever will. And those elements are everywhere (your website, products, marketing, social platforms, packaging, etc.), so the more unique they are to you, the more effective they’ll be in creating trust, loyalty and retention among your audience. (Oh, and definitely skip the stock photos!)