As with most things in life… a lot can be learnt from the past – however, more often than not we are more concerned with looking forward and figuring out what the ‘next big thing’ is going to be.
This ethos holds true for Logo design, many of today’s most successful designs echo influence from the past, particularly with the recent uprising of the ‘hipster’ scene as a good example.
So, what’s going to be happening in 2016? Will we again be heralding in old style design such as a letterpress and ‘etched’ effects?
Well in honesty it does look as though some influence will be coming from the past However, with businesses gaining new ways of reaching audiences digitally, the biggest upsurge will be catering for those digitalrequirements.
Here’s what we believe are going to be the biggest hitters for logo design in 2016.
1. NEGATIVE SPACE.
Here at Depixion we love the negative space approach. It allows for double meanings and subliminal captivation all wrapped up in one image. So many stories can be told with negative space or, it can be used in way to enhance the businesses ethos… Think Fedex, can you see the negative space arrows? These are hidden within the logo, but subliminally project speed and the idea of forward motion.
This style of design fits well into our ever increasing digital world as more often than not a negative space logowill consist of ‘flat elements’. This means that – digitally – they contain less information (memory) and, therefore load quicker. They work better both in print and digitally, more often than not allowing for easy colour changes to accommodate a variety of backgrounds/environments.
2. FLAT.
Leading on from the above, flat designs will continue to dominate and become more and more relevant. This isn’t just because they’re clean and make an impact, but also because they lend themselves very well to the digital explosion. It is predicted that many companies this year will look to simplify elements of their logos to make them easier to identify.
3. HANDMADE.
Often described as ‘honest’ logo’s, this style is nothing new and is fast becoming a growing trend within the artisan industries and more ‘personal’ retail services. They manage to communicate a sense of honesty and out of the many styles to choose from, tend to have their own personality. Don’t forget that it is possible to also combine this style of design with the more modern ‘flat’ approach, this creates a design that carries the same appeal as a true handmade logo whilst adding a touch of the professional feel about it.
4. KINETIC.
Kinetic or Dynamic logos allow for a logo to change but remain the same. This style is on the rise and finds its place firmly within the multi-faceted businesses (businesses that have differing areas of interest and/or service arms). It allows the chance for a business to make its diversity very clear, but it does also throw up it’s problems. As, if done incorrectly, a ‘kinetic change’ can leave it’s audience completely confused. The best and most commonly used example of this style is the Google Doodle that changes every single day, this gives you a great idea as to how they can work when done right.
5. MONOLINES.
This is where the same line weight is applied to all elements of the design creating something that is as intricate as it is simple. This style of logo design also projects an air of honesty about it. They are a welcome break from gradients and strong colours, often more pleasing on the eye and of course easy to remember.
Well, that’s our brief insight into the styles of 2016… Have we got it right? Well, only time can tell on that one. As with all design, logo design is organic and will change with the audiences perceptions and demands. As creatives in this crazy world, to survive we must adapt, so must our designs.
©depixion
