It was a hectic 12 months, and every single industry has felt the ramifications of COVID and the general chaos of 2020. But with 2021 here, we’re excited to pack away the stresses of last year and embrace something new — including in design.
Like other forms of art, graphic design and print design have been largely impacted by COVID. And, as the saying goes, “art imitates life.” Here’s what our experts predict in print design trends for this year:
QR codes and low-touch solutions
Even with vaccines becoming readily available, safety protocols will still be in place. Even once (fingers crossed) those protocols ease up, expect customers to hesitate touching materials other customers have touched. Those QR code menus or antimicrobial UV coatings will still be needed to bring customers peace of mind when it comes to the cleanliness of your store, restaurant or event.
Heightened focus on text
During the pandemic, communication between your business and your customers became paramount. Because of that, text-heavy messaging is another print design trend to embrace. Stylized text should be easy to read, functional, and understandable to your audience.
Sustainable solutions
Sustainability became a hot topic in the early 2010s, but thanks to 2020, we’ve glimpsed into a greener future. We’ve experienced living with reduced driving, spending more time at home, purchasing less, and reusing more. People are looking for ways to cut down and cut back, and it’s an opportunity for your business to get creative with reusable printed products and messaging.
Positivity
Yes, please take this as an opportunity to move away from “in these uncertain times,” and retire the word “unprecedented.” We predict 2021 to be the year of positive messaging in print design — a year where messaging and design evoke brighter, happier thoughts. Lean into brighter colors like yellow hues and vibrant patterns to make a splash. Have fun with fonts that step away from the formality of a standard Times New Roman or other serif font.
Playfulness
Speaking of fun, whimsical patterns and psychedelic tie-dye is back! Break out of the standard where you can, and experiment with an interesting dyed effect on your print collateral. These eye-catching and non-traditional prints play up the fun (albeit disordered) energy we expect to see into 2021 and further post-pandemic.
At Xerographics, one of Central Florida’s experienced printing companies, we can work with your team to create an innovative print collateral strategy that your customers will love. From direct mail that pops to banners that will impress, we can elevate your messaging with a design your target audience won’t forget. Call us at 407-490-0690 to kick off your 2021 with a bang.
