12 Design Trends Ruling Social Media Right Now

Design trends often come and go. Some stay for a short period of time, while others stay for long periods of time. Depending on the industry you are in, jumping on the bandwagon can be beneficial.

When it comes to social media, visuals matter greatly. A visually appealing social media post creates a lasting impression on the viewer’s mind. But how do you create attractive social media post designs in the first place? A sure-shot way is to follow the latest design trends and incorporate them into your strategy.

12 Social Media Design Trends to Get Behind

To make it easier for you, we have put together the top social media design trends you should be following this year.

1. Y2K

Y2K, which means Year 2000, is a design and style aesthetic of the mid-1990s, all the way through to the early 2000s. It is a trend where blues, pinks, and purples are used with luminous (sometimes holographic) patterns and shades. It primarily alludes to the millennial style, and is where pop culture meets technology.

2. 80s nostalgia

Source

Stranger Things, a series on Netflix, brought the 80s nostalgia back into the game. We can definitely say that this design trend has made the old new again. We’re talking retro aesthetics that remind you of the early aughts, think the rise of neon, monospaced fonts, and the Cyberpunk style.

3. Anti-design

There are a lot of design principles to be followed, such as color scheme, symmetry, geometry, visual hierarchy, and more. Anti-design is a design trend wherein you don’t pay much attention to rigid, conventional design norms. It lets you explore your creative potential to the fullest. It is prevalent in app and web design, but traces of it can be seen in social media post designs as well.

4. 3D characters

People love 3D characters, because they make the design more real and dynamic. With 3d designs, the possibilities are endless. You can create everything from GIFs and motion graphics. Another design trend currently on the rise is the mashup of 3D and 2D designs.

5. Doodles

We all have doodled at least once in our lives, haven’t we? When we’re just sitting in those boring lectures or meetings, having a notebook and a pen to doodle feels like an escape.

Doodles are trending these days, because they give out a personal and relatable vibe. At times, what you doodle says a lot about what’s going on in your mind. Similarly, the doodles you post on social media also will play a huge role in how people perceive your brand.

6. Bubble fonts

Source

Bubbles usually speak to the younger demographic. They give out a friendly, quirky vibe. To switch it up a bit, you can add bright and psychedelic colors to it. Bubble fonts can be elongated, round, shapeless, or stretched for added appeal.

7. Branded memes

Memes are something we all come across nowadays. Brands from various industries have been making use of them. They are your go-to if you want to communicate a message with humor. One of the major reasons why they work really well and are loved by people is that memes are entertaining. They are not just humorous, but also funny. That is why they have been in trend for so long, and will continue to be.

8. Candy colors

We all know that the online world is saturated with tons and tons of designs. So, to get eyeballs easily, designers have started using candy colors. Pastel or candy colors are soothing to the eye, and go especially well with minimalistic designs. These are primarily neutral tones, and work especially well during summer.

9. Minimalism

Minimalism has been loved by people for quite some time now, and this design trend is here to stay. These kinds of designs usually don’t have busy backgrounds, or too many variations in the text. The colors used are usually muted and soothing to the eye. Not to mention, there is a lot of white space at play.

10. Geometric patterns

Geometry is one of the core concepts of design, and is something we see almost everywhere. It is a design trend that has been there for a long time and won’t fade away anytime soon.

Different shapes have different meanings. For example, circles are seen as friendly, squares show stability, whereas triangles denote risk. So when creating a social media post design, keep in mind what shapes signify.

11. Maximalism

Quite the opposite of minimalism, maximalism is where you use a lot of patterns, textures, colors, and design elements. If you prefer dramatic and exaggerated designs, maximalism is the way to go. They signify abundance, glamor, and extravagance. And when done right, it can lure users right in.

12. Holographic designs

You can find this type of design almost everywhere. Be it websites, social media, or apps. If you want to give your brand a futuristic look, you should consider including this design trend in your branding. One of the best things about it is it shows movement even in non-moving (static) images.

It’s only when you have a good understanding of the design trends can you stay ahead of the game. In order to stay relevant, it is crucial to stay abreast of all that’s happening in the design industry, and adapt what you think aligns with your brand identity.

FAQs