Freeday | Visual Design Trends of 2019 #1

Hello people,

In today's post we are gonna get started talking about the most common and highly anticipated design trends of the year. The year started 4 months ago, but in Japan, Spring is technically the start of the year so I thought this topic is still timely. This is also a more passive look at how design is implemented in our daily lives; meant to encourage you all to think more critically about how things are marketed toward you and why certain artistic decision are made within the graphic design space. There are quite a few design trends to discuss, but in order to make all this information manageable, I will be going over one a week throughout the month. Some of my readers are not artist or designers so I don't want to be to heavy handed in disseminating the knowledge. Lets get started!

Nature
As technology continues to advance and become more integrated into our daily lives, a conscious or unconscious desire to find more balance is very noticeable. Since we are constantly assaulted with so much digital content and new media through our personal devices, the urge to see images of nature becomes more desirable. Yes, something as simple as a picture of a forest is very appealing and plays into our psychology.

However, images of people working with natural ingredients can just as easily solicit the same response. Over the past few years many people have become more socially conscious of where their food is sourced, its affect on our bodies, and where on the synthetic-to-organic range certain products and services sit. We, as consumers, are drawn to a wide variety of products and services incorporating organic ingredients offered by all types of businesses. You don't need to look any further than how the Trader Joes and Whole Foods of the world have rapidly expanded their market share among other traditional grocery store chains. Even those that don't have budgets or access, to these chains are more likely to buy locally and organically. Again, consumers are attempting to be more aware of the individual impact they have on their environment and communities.

Outside of food, people are incredibly drawn to natural experiences. We have seen an uptick in imagery that pertains to wellness and health as a means to find that balance with technology mentioned above. If you take a glance at social media or the environment around you, how many advertisements for spas, yoga, nature tourism, etc. do you see on a daily basis? I feel like Japan is especially representative of these trends. Unlike in America, the train stations are constantly advertising these types of natural experiences in adjacent prefectures. Take a look at some of the advertisements incorporate nature to sell the appeal of the destination.

In a sense, these images aren't just connecting the audience to nature, but to what is natural; connecting a person to themselves. Its almost as if they are selling spirituality. You could call it "marketing beyond materialism", because Millenials and Generation Z are now the targeted demographics for brands around the world. We are incredibly money conscious and are more prone to buy into products and services that are largely within our best interest. Fundamentally, that starts with the heart, body, and mind. So, its no surprise that nature is the number 1 visual design trend this year.

What do you think? Have you noticed more advertisements centered around nature? Are you finding it difficult to maintain a balance in your daily life between technology and your surroundings? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. As always, don't forget to like and share this post~

Until next time,
Peace