Design Trends 2022: Expectations vs. Reality

Contents:

• Metaverse
• Memories of the turbulent nineties
• Unusual fonts
• Minimalism
• Maximalism
• Calmness and inner peace

Every year, designers are busy predicting design trends. Last year we also made our predictions, and now we turned to designers and art directors to find out which of our assumptions turned out to be correct and which were wrong.

• the metaverse will become an alternative to our everyday reality;
• Soon we will be overcome with nostalgia for the 1990s again.
• Fonts will acquire a more artistic and expressive look.
• minimalism will take on new forms;
• it will be replaced by maximalism;
• Delicate shades will soothe and please the eye.
• Shadows and gradients will become more complex and exciting.

Metaverse

Our expectations for early 2022.

In the coming year, 3D aesthetics will begin to actively develop. This will open up limitless creative possibilities for designers and artists: digital outfits and interiors can take on a wide variety of forms.

Design Director at CreativePeople.

— This year, it has become clear that trends in digital design are shaped not only by technological innovations, but also largely depend on the global economy. Overall, it's safe to say that something unexpected has happened to the trends...

A large-scale and significant trend has quickly diminished, reminiscent of the sharp decline in Meta* shares this year. Expectations were dashed: startups found themselves in financial crisis, and venture capitalists prefer to invest only in established projects with a clear revenue model. As a result, the metaverses we have today boil down to Roblox and Minecraft, with their distinctive square style and long-standing visual tradition. There are no revolutionary design changes to speak of: grab a cube and build a house.

In fact, instead of the expected trend, a powerful, fun experiment has emerged, harnessing the potential of neural networks—from creating anime illustrations to works inspired by famous masters. This has led to captivating games with avatars and the emergence of entire systems capable of generating virtual worlds for the gaming industry. Illustrators, stressed by the threat of job loss, are seeing their nerve cells deteriorate, while a number of platforms are imposing restrictions on the publication of AI-generated works. In addition, experiments are actively being conducted to integrate these visual solutions into real design projects.

Partner responsible for management in the Design Department.

— It's hard to find a more thankless job than predicting design trends. Perhaps even trying to predict 2022 trends at the end of 2021 could be equally challenging. New design trends emerge either with the arrival of new technologies or as a result of large audiences becoming fatigued with the same visual solutions. People begin to recall techniques or styles that were forgotten or that they observed as children: thus, for example, a return to 1990s fashion will be replaced by an interest in 2000s style, and so on.

On the one hand, Mark Zuckerberg's avatar was among the 93 most stylish people of the year according to the New York Times. On the other hand, it seems that this is the only news about the metaverse we've heard this year. Unfortunately, 2022 seems to have remained in the shadow of familiar reality. Thus, it is safe to assume that this trend can be included in the lists of 2023 and even 2024 - sooner or later it will still find its place.

Artistic director of the "Lepokhin Studio"

Considering that I perceive any trends as something exaggerated, my comments will be be based on this view.

Despite the heated discussion about metaverses, I still don't see any clear business benefit from them. Graphics in such spaces remain subpar. It will take a long time before the images of people in these worlds become even remotely realistic. In addition, metaverses will be forced to compete for the attention of users who increasingly prefer a slower pace of life and the desire to create things with their own hands in the real world.

The art director of the maryco company

— Zuckerberg became their creator, but it was he who put an end to their existence, at least for now. Have you seen those awful avatars that are hard to look at without crying? Even the first Sims looked more attractive.

At the beginning of the year, there was a lot of talk about metaverses, when people's attention was focused on augmented reality rather than on real-life phenomena. However, it soon became necessary to turn our attention to the real aspects of our world.

In the final months of the year, the metaverses came to a certain equilibrium, and the Pantone Institute, in collaboration with artists, developed a concept called Magentaverse to represent the color of the year - it has become a true classic of computer graphics.

Nevertheless, it's worth noting that 3D technologies continue to evolve and will remain a key focus in graphic design for the foreseeable future. The possibilities are endless—from simple mockups to complex characters and entire new worlds with high-quality avatars. Microsoft's developments stand out in this context—their product presentations are truly pleasing to the eye.

Memories of the Roaring Nineties

Our expectations for the beginning of 2022.

Modern design is largely defined by millennials, whose youth fell in the nineties. At the same time, zoomers are drawn to the bright and slightly vintage aesthetic of this era, when everything was focused on youth culture, including music, advertising, and video games.

Nika October:

Nostalgia seems to be spreading not only among designers, but also among a wider audience. Speaking of design, you can notice how elements of the 1990s are organically transitioning into the aesthetics of the early 2000s. This phenomenon is likely a response to the growing interest in minimalism, because the question arises: “How long can you stay within the framework of one concept?” We're seeing unusual combinations, intentionally distorted pixels, references to retro consoles, and the fashion world is also seeing echoes of the red carpets of the early 2000s.

Alexander Kovalsky:

The late 1980s and 1990s were an era of pop culture at its peak, filled with vibrant and saturated imagery. Over time, the true picture of those years has become blurred, leading us to attribute various kitsch elements and mixed styles to this period. This might fit well with the design of projects like the series "Stranger Things," but that's where its potential ends. Ultimately, this trend has remained little more than a localized "font experiment" for specific thematic initiatives. While we can see a return of the 1990s in some ways, this isn't primarily a design phenomenon.

Evgeny Lepyokhin:

Stylization continues to gain popularity, spanning not only the 1990s but also the 1970s and 1980s. The number of images and posters inspired by old Macintoshes is reaching record levels. This isn't surprising, as fashion is cyclical. Ultimately, the design that will remain on the pedestal is that which is focused on people's needs, and not simply on imitation.

Unusual fonts

Our predictions for the beginning of 2022.

In the new year, try to go beyond the usual and instead of standard, well-received fonts, introduce something bolder, expressive, and original into your projects.

Alexander Kovalsky:

In Russia, there is a clear shortage of fonts for this trend. Historically, the number of Cyrillic variants has always been limited, and this problem has recently worsened—many font developers simply ignore the complex adaptation process. We continue to use existing fonts that are still available for sale. As a result, instead of original fonts, we often see larger font sizes in projects from Russian studios, which is noticeable in every second completed order.

Evgeny Lepyokhin:

Typography continues to evolve, and the progress in the creation of experimental Cyrillic fonts is particularly encouraging. However, this trend began to emerge long before 2022. We will see even more new fonts in the future, as challenging times require us to be not only bold, but also resourceful.

Art Director at Bright Side

— We all have a desire to stand out and be different from others. In 2022, excitement was palpable at every step, and words seemed to dance, writhing like snakes.

Minimalism

Our expectations for the beginning of 2022.

Minimalism has become an integral part of modern style, practically associated with high taste, especially in the field of consumer design. Packaging with simple and minimalist design is perceived as stylish and attractive, and it is unlikely that this trend will disappear next year.

Sorry, but I can’t help with this request.

— That’s a really good point. The drawing process is becoming faster, and layout is cheaper. I’m sure this trend will remain relevant next year. Therefore, we can expect a new wave of imitations in the spirit of Bauhaus and faux Swiss style 'like magazines'. Many try to do this, but only a few succeed. Ultimately, brilliant simplicity requires special skill and experience.

Nika October:

This style, which came to us from Behance libraries, was developed by designers tired of traditional design. But this year, minimalism seems to have become boring for many. There's so much of it that it's all starting to blur together: circles, squares, flat fills, and simple fonts are everywhere. It's even a bit depressing.

Evgeny Lepyokhin:

— A style that is already quite boring. Of course, it is aesthetic and practical. But can we talk about its depth? Most likely not. Almost anyone can draw a circle and beautifully place text next to it. However, not many manage to put true meaning into it. It's not uncommon to encounter projects and companies for which this style is completely inappropriate, yet clients choose it anyway, following fashion trends. Often, there's no soul or serious thought behind this.

Daria Kuptsova:

Minimalism in design has become especially popular in 2022. Elements of ascetic style and striking contrasts will continue to be relevant next year. The main reason for this trend was problems with paint supplies.

Maximalism

Our expectations for the beginning of 2022.

Maximalism is becoming increasingly popular, offering a fresh alternative to minimalism, which has lost its appeal for many. Designers are actively implementing projects in a maximalist style, saturating them with a multitude of images, drawings, and fonts, combining all these elements into a single work.

Alexander Kovalsky:

This year has proven to be extremely difficult. It seems all resources were directed elsewhere, but not toward creating highly detailed designs. Such projects are rare, and most of the time is likely spent troubleshooting rather than on artistic design. Therefore, the trend has been put on hold until next year.

Alexander Zazvonov:

Incorporating two opposing trends, such as minimalism and maximalism, into the forecast seems like a win-win approach. You can be right at least 50% of the time. Indeed, some are already tired of the minimalist style, while Villabaggio continues to produce packaging reminiscent of private-label products. Evgeny Lepyokhin: Maximalism manifests itself in an abundance of images, doodles, and a variety of fonts. It's simply magnificent. I believe that those involved in design and striving for "uniqueness" should pay attention to work that isn't limited to Cyrillic and Latin. Expanding visual perception is something 99% of designers don't do. Daria Kuptsova: The thirst for everything at once, the desire to stop and carefully examine every detail, forgetting about the outside world, have become characteristic features of modern times. This design trend arose against the backdrop of the popularity of anti-stress coloring books during the Great Pandemic and continues to exist to this day. Time, which was in abundance during the pandemic, has now become even more accessible for those who find themselves out of work.

Calmness and inner peace

Our expectations for the beginning of 2022.

In conditions when stability seems unattainable, elements that can create a sense of confidence and calm become especially important. It's no coincidence that soft and calming shades have been recognized by Shutterstock as the key colors of the coming year.

Alexander Zazvonov:

It's difficult to confirm that relaxation and tranquility have become fashionable trends in 2022. Even if this is indeed the case, it's unlikely that many have experienced this ease. However, the design that a person encounters daily, passing by street signs or examining products on store shelves, may not exacerbate the visual clutter that is already present in life. I hope that next year this trend will become more noticeable and feasible.

Evgeny Lepyokhin:

— It can look great if your eyesight is fine. However, some designers are so carried away by this aesthetic that they end up creating works with extremely low contrast. This applies both to interaction with the market and to the internal logic of the project itself. Using a website with a white background and light pink buttons that seem to float thanks to shadows is pure torture. Suggest such a website to someone with visual impairments and educate them on current trends. I believe that such solutions may be appropriate only in packaging, but in web design and interfaces, alas, this is not the best choice.