Our best offer:

Lock in a year of Digiday+ for 35% less. Ends May 29.

SUBSCRIBE

What’s next for visual design: 8 trends to watch in 2015

Whether you’re agency or in-house, there’s never a dull moment in the design world. With both tastes and technology changing so quickly, it’s no surprise that visual trends are forever set on rapid-refresh.

With the year coming to a close, it’s time to look forward to 2015. To help you stay ahead of the pack, iStock by Getty Images has identified the visual trends that will sway the brainstorm and help your designs rise above  in 2015.

 

Dynamic Women

Unique lifestyles. Original looks. 2015 is all about the interesting female. Instead of cliché, over-idealized images, we’re saluting original, surprising women — quirks and all.

 

Letterbox Look

Filmmakers got the memo years ago. Now the wide format is all the design rage. New screen sizes are driving new image proportions. For designers, it means working with smaller spaces, which also means more creativity — but you’re a pro at that.

 

Monochromatic Color

Technology’s moving so fast, we sometimes get nostalgic for the old days. Images are feeling the tug, harkening back to the look of rich film and monochromatic color. Think bright whites and strong blacks, a modern take on Kodak® Porta colour negative film.

 

All Kinds of People

Celebrating the mixing bowl that is humankind — stir for best results. From cool hipsters in traditional settings to same-sex couples with kids, it’s not about being different. It’s about being real.

 

Point of View

The love affair with our own point of view isn’t over. Thanks to technology, it’s just getting more intimate. Now we take photos from ski masks, surfboards and the collars of our four-legged friends. The visual stories of 2015 bring us unexpected perspectives, up close and personal.

 

Sensory Immersion

Bring on pixels you can taste, touch, and smell — never mind the screen. 2015 is all about embracing experience in vivid, immersive imagery. Try macro images that heighten awareness, creating a sensory wonderland.

 

Super Still Life

Pause. Inanimate objects are taking over the small screen. And not in any ordinary way. 2015 is about the artistry of still life — the interesting angle, the exquisite arrangement, even capturing the intricate handmade object — resulting in big, dynamic images for small screens.

 

Busy with Boxes

It used to be all about copy space. Now, photos are taking a stand, becoming more complex. So copy is claiming its space in text boxes on top of busy images, creating richness and layering.

 

More from Digiday

The NBA’s contract with YouTuber Kenny Beecham could be a new blueprint for sports leagues

The NBA’s blueprint for working with creators like Kenny Beecham could be a sign of where sports leagues are headed.

Google’s latest commerce moves deepen the battle over agentic shopping

Google’s aim to own the entire shopper journey is heating up the agentic commerce battle against Amazon’s Alexa and rivals like TikTok Shop.

Media Buying Briefing: Production and media squeeze lead brands to run campaigns for longer

Data shows big brands keeping campaigns in play for longer. While consistency is gospel among brand strategists, pressure on production and media budgets may be the culprit.