The Impact of Social Media On Graphic Design Trends

Over the past decade, social media has taken the art of graphic design by storm! 

In fact, graphic design has seen a massive shift which explains the evolution of social media visuals too. While 2022 was all about dreamy gradients and white space, this year, you can anticipate newer graphic design trends to emerge, such as motion graphics, abstract surrealism, dark mode, etc. 

Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Behance have not only revolutionized the way we share and consume visual content, but they have also significantly impacted these graphic design trends. From viral challenges to designing inspiration, social media has become a driving force behind the ever-changing and dynamic world of graphic design.

Besides, with more people engaging with visual content than ever, social media’s impact on graphic design is far-reaching and profound.

In this blog, we will explore the fascinating graphic design trends of 2023, as well as the interplay between these trends and social media. So, buckle up, grab your stylus, and let’s dive into the exciting realm where social media meets graphic design!

Scope Of Graphic Design In Social Media

The scope of graphic design in social media is extensive and continues to grow with its increasing importance in today’s digital landscape.

It not only helps maintain a consistent brand identity on social media platforms but assists in brand collaboration as well. Besides, as graphic design is booming on social media platforms, infographics, memes, illustrations, logo design, and other visual assets can be effectively used to communicate messages and capture the attention of users.

Having said that, you must also know that 51% of business-to-business (B2B) marketers prefer using visual assets in content marketing, with 50% of companies increasing their graphic design budget from 2021.

But that’s not all!

Graphic designers can also create visual assets using design software, ensuring that they are visually appealing, on-brand, and optimized for social media platforms. These visual assets are then used in social media automation tools like Hootsuite to create and schedule content, saving time and effort for social media managers. However, if you want to explore more, try checking out Hootsuite alternatives like Sprout Social, Statusbrew, and Buffer for better results. 

4 Graphic Design Trends And The Impact of Social Media 

As social media has opened up a wealth of opportunities for graphic designers, let’s look at some of the current graphic design trends below and gauge social media’s impact on the same. 

1. Motion Graphics

The emergence of motion graphics in the mid-20th century transformed the discipline of graphic design, already making its way into many marketing campaigns. While video content isn’t new, silent videos with prominent captions made it big in 2022.

But this year is mostly going to be about motion graphics and animation software, with social media posts offering a compelling alternative to traditional and static designs. They’re engaging and make visitors pause at your content. Besides video content, it is expected that UX designs will also leverage this graphic design trend soon. 

For instance, take a look at the Apple Music homepage, where they have incorporated dynamic elements to make them more visually appealing and engaging. 

Impact Of Social Media: Social media has significantly impacted motion graphics, influencing both the creation and consumption of the same. Since socials are designed for quick, easily consumable content, it has impacted how motion graphics are designed, with a focus on creating visually compelling content capturing viewers’ attention within seconds. Besides this, socials often prioritize visual storytelling in motion graphics to convey complex information in a concise and engaging manner.

For example, TikTok is a prime example of how dynamic content, like motion graphics and animated graphics, is used to create captions to make videos more appealing and entertaining to viewers. You can see this on various TikTok Ads as well

2. Dark Mode-Supportive Graphics

It’s not unknown that maximum smartphone users prefer switching to dark mode, with 81.9% using them on their devices. One of the primary reasons for this is it can potentially help reduce eye strain and battery usage. 

Due to its surging popularity, you can expect to see graphic design elements featuring dark mode-friendly themes. Besides this, brands and designers are expected to use dual-color scheme designs for their creative assets. For example, reputed tech companies such as Apple and Facebook are already incorporating dark modes into their interfaces, apps, and UI designs. 

One of the major reasons for the popularity of this trend is its flexibility. Dark mode not only helps make your website appear easy on the eyes but helps convey a particular mood to your website or design as well. 

Furthermore, applying dark mode aesthetics doesn’t necessarily mean using only black. This trend also lets you play around with dark colors, like midnight blue or Payne’s grey. 

Impact Of Social Media: One significant impact of social media on dark mode-supportive graphics is the growing demand for visually appealing and user-friendly graphics optimized for dark mode.

Social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube, have integrated dark mode options in their interfaces to cater to user preferences. Besides, many social media influencers, content creators, and businesses use dark mode to create visually striking and cohesive aesthetics for their profiles and posts with the use of high-contrast color schemes, bold typography, and light and shadow. 

Further, it has helped designers prioritize creating graphics that are optimized for the dark mode to ensure its adoption in the wider digital design community. 

3. Abstract Asymmetrical Patterns

Graphic design trends come and go in cycles, evolving along the way, which is why this year, you will see more variations in the form of bold abstract shapes. These abstract asymmetrical patterns will continue to boom in 2023 as they help designers make graphics more visually striking.

Besides, this design trend utilizes variety and contrast without detracting from the message that a brand is trying to convey. It is eye-catching and easy to create using interesting shapes, like blobs, ovals, or ellipses. 

Take a look at the websites of Semrush, Trello, and Slack. They have significantly introduced this design trend. 

Impact Of Social Media: Social media platforms provide a space for artists and designers to experiment with bold abstract shapes and push the boundaries of traditional artistic norms. Artists can use these platforms to share their experimental work, gather feedback, and iterate on their designs. 

Besides, the popularity of certain shapes or design elements on social media can influence artistic trends and inspire artists to experiment with new shapes, techniques, and styles in their own work. The above-mentioned brands collaborating with designers to incorporate these asymmetrical patterns in their posts or websites have got a huge engagement for this blend of art.

4. Retro Line Art

Some designs are absolutely timeless and never go out of trend! Retro-inspired artworks and designs are one such trend that will always be evergreen. 

While 2022 saw the emergence of minimalist retro features, this year will mostly be about retro-inspired design elements to induce a sense of nostalgia and timelessness. Despite its existence for so many decades, designers find and make it relevant to current design needs. 

Popular brands like Burger King, MTV, and Herbivore Botanicals still make use of retro-inspired artwork for their websites and social media posts to kindle that sense of nostalgia. 

Impact Of Social Media: Social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr have provided artists with a global platform to showcase their Retro Line Art to a wide audience. Artists can now easily share their artwork with the world, leading to increased visibility and exposure. This has allowed Retro Line Art to gain popularity and recognition among art enthusiasts, leading to a wider appreciation and understanding of this art style.

It serves as a treasure trove of inspiration and reference material for artists practicing Retro Line Art. Besides, they can also follow each other and art communities on socials to get a constant stream of retro-themed images and inspiration. 

Conclusion

It is undeniable that the ever-evolving landscape of social media platforms has influenced not only how graphic designers create their work but also how it is consumed and shared in the digital spectrum. 

In fact, social media posts that feature visual assets like images deliver a 650% higher engagement rate than plain text posts.

From the rise of minimalist designs to the prominence of animated content, social media has revolutionized the way graphic designers approach their craft, providing opportunities for portfolio building, relationship development, and increased exposure. Moreover, due to the accessibility of social media, aspiring designers can also collaborate and seek feedback from fellow creatives. 

So, let’s stay connected and inspired to create compelling visuals that leave a lasting impact in the digital world.

If you want to incorporate these graphic design trends into your branding and visuals, why not tap a freelance graphic designer on DesignCrowd, or use one of our templates in BrandCrowd. You can create Instagram Posts, Facebook Covers, or TikTok videos with our easy-to-use templates. Get started on your branding journey now!

Written by DesignCrowd on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

DesignCrowd is an online marketplace providing logo, website, print and graphic design services by providing access to freelance graphic designers and design studios around the world.