Five Fresh Summer Design Trends

The summer sun has us inspired to try out some fresh new ideas. We researched design trends to help infuse some creativity into your next publication or direct mail project. Here are our top five selections:

Brighten up with sunny, juicy palettes

One sure sign that we're starting to come out of the pandemic is the dialing back of muted, subdued tones. In their place are fun, juicy colors in bright citrus and berry hues. See it here on everything from kombucha to book jackets to magazine covers – "the future is so bright we gotta wear shades."

Hold the type

Dial back the type and let your images do the talking. Use bold, striking images to draw your audience in rather than bombarding them with many layers of type in different sizes and weights. Mainstream magazines like TIME and Wired have used this technique to make statement pieces, creating intrigue while sparking curiosity.

Authenticity and representation

2020 was the year that brought everyone's social consciousness into focus. Consumers are looking at brands to follow suit. Add authenticity to your designs by featuring real people and real-life situations. Focus on reflecting your targeted customers visually in your language and layout. It is essential to avoid appearing opportunistic or pandering. When in doubt, hire a freelance writer or designer to help bring an outside perspective to your team.

Elevate retail with look book styling

Capture your customers' attention by infusing lookbook styling into your retail or sales catalog approach. For example, fashion designers use lookbooks to show off their newest creations within themed collections using high-quality photography. Content is curated around the images, using in-depth product descriptions. Pricing is downplayed, either relegated to a separate sheet or landing page. This idea can be applied to any industry and set of products or services. They help to elevate your brand status and give your customers a memorable experience beyond just flipping pages. Here are a few tips:

• Keep the focus on images and layout – simple is always best

• Think about the whole theme you're trying to convey – is there a particular lifestyle you want your customers to experience or embody?

• Tell your story start to finish

Everything old is new again

Nostalgia design and retro-futurism are having big moments right now. 80s video game graphics, 90s music videos, and psychedelic typography and palettes all seem to be popping up on the design trends list this year. It makes for a lot of fun for designers to create and customers when they get that pop of recognition in seeing the effect.

 Are you ready to put these trends to work in print? Journal Graphics can turn any design trend into a top-quality print publication or direct mail piece. Contact us today to see what we can do for you!