VISUAL TRENDS
2020: THINK AHEAD

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The year 2020 is quickly taking on a very futuristic route. Things that seemed impossible are going to become household names, designers will continue to surprise us with CGI magic, and artists might just struggle to help us visualize the concepts and ideas that have yet to hit the mass market.

The Depositphotos visual trends report is about ideas, topics, and aesthetics with an outlook on the future of visual communication. This year, we spoke to creative agencies around the world to help us round up the main visual trends of 2020. What we’ve learned so far, is that if you don’t seek out new trends, they’ll inevitably find you.

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

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1. THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

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One of the hot topics of 2020 will undoubtedly be Extended Reality (XR). Facebook’s Horizon and updates with Oculus Quest aim to integrate VR into our daily lives. It’s not just going to influence the way we spend our leisure time, but the way we shop and communicate as well. Get ready to immerse in virtual environments at home, with retail, the arts, and the entertainment industry.

NEON DYSTOPIA

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2. NEON DYSTOPIA

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Movie releases can create some serious hype, but in 2020, it might as well be a role-playing video game to take the world by storm. The release of Cyberpunk 2077 will spark pop culture reinvestment into the sci-fi genre that focuses on AI overpowering humanity. The cyberpunk aesthetic is often used or referenced to convey deeper meanings about our modern society as seen in episodes of Black Mirror, Stranger Things, and the movie Blade Runner.

As an extension of the cyberpunk aesthetic, the neon lights and dystopian vibes could influence visual communication beyond the digital realm of the internet. The Neon Dystopia trend with cyberpunk roots will likely influence fashion and pave the road to futuristic undertones in other fields of art and design. References to this trend will stretch beyond and ironically involve all the technology we have to date to create atmospheric experiences.

WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING IS THAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT

DESIGN ELEMENTS – 3D, SKEUOMORPHIC, FLAT, ANIMATION,

ET CETERA – ARE GETTING INTERWOVEN MORE AND MORE.

AND WITH VR, AR, AI AND OTHER NEW TECHNOLOGIES

ON THE RISE, THAT INTEGRATION WILL ONLY BECOME MORE

PRONOUNCED.

Sebastiaan Scheer

Design director at MediaMonks Amsterdam

The cyberpunk aesthetic and neon color palettes add futuristic vibes to thematic projects.

digital glitch background visual trends 2020

Discover more:

cyberpunk neon gaming sci-fi dystopia

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

LIMIT AI TION

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3. LIMIT AI TION

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Fresh out of a sci-fi novel, AI is said to take on more human tasks by 2020. Thanks to increased computing power, AI has advanced at lightspeed and is surpassing humans in learning capabilities. It’s also is changing shopping and learning experiences, and influencing business and consumer activity around the world.

The other side of the coin is a surge in societal concerns about the implications of these fast advancements. If tech-leading states, companies, artists, and society have started looking for solutions to current concerns, we should be ready for serious AI-talks in 2020. Arguably it’s already started with the latest solutions against facial-recognition devices and algorithms from Hong Kong. The topic continues with growing concerns about Deepfakes, cybersecurity, and safety in general. Elon Musk tried to warn us.

WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF RISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT

OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK

AND LEARN FROM OUR PAST, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LOWTECH AS A TREND,

AND DOUBT ON TECHNOLOGY AND PROGRESS.

AI IS ONLY A TOOL, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER MANY FACTORS,

SUCH AS A REBOUND EFFECT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMETHING BECOMES

MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND THUS CHEAPER,

WE CAN USE MORE OF IT.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

Anfi Sa

Interdisciplinary Artist and Art Director at Super an der Spree

Artificial Intelligence is quickly changing the world and everyday life, including the arts.

visual trends 2020 3D illustration of robot

Discover more:

AI deepfake cybersecurity facial recognition identity

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

Bring down the Bauhaus

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4. Bring down the Bauhaus

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We celebrated a century of the Bauhaus school in 2019. The pioneering aesthetic in fine arts continues to influence the design of living today and in the years to come. Artists often make references to the foundations of the Bauhaus movement, adding a contemporary spin to it with their projects.

Bauhaus aesthetics is the new definition of “less is more”. It’s evident not only in craftsmanship, paint, textiles, architecture, and typography, but even web design and graphic design in general. It stretches beyond an aesthetic we’re all familiar with, to a school of ideas that can serve as inspiration and challenge the status quo in 2020.

IN MY OPINION, FLAT OR SEMI-FLAT DESIGN, MINIMALISM AND

SMOOTH MOTION DRIVEN EXPERIENCES WILL CONTINUE GAINING

POPULARITY, BUT WILL DEFINITELY BE TAKEN TO THE NEXT

LEVEL WITH MORE INTENSE INTERACTIVITY, EVEN MORE COMPLEX

TRANSITIONS AND THE USE OF 3D ELEMENTS. FURTHERMORE

WE’LL EXPERIENCE NEW, UNCONVENTIONAL LAYOUTS, CUSTOM

LAYOUTS, CUSTOM TYPOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS, WHICH

VISUALLY TRANSFORM TO A REAL IMAGE.

Martin Holoubek

CEO at PIXIT

Bauhaus-style design inspires creatives to reinterpret and adapt it in new ways.

Discover more:

minimalistic abstract geometric bold colorful

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

BRUTALISM AND DIGITAL DECAY

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5. BRUTALISM AND DIGITAL DECAY

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You can love it or hate it, but you can’t ignore it. Brutalism roots lie in architecture, but the concept and style has taken over the digital world as well. Five years ago, a newfound appreciation for Brutalism emerged with increased attention to the architectural style on Instagram. Today, it’s an evolving, rebellious trend urging both designers and viewers to step outside the comfort zone of polished work.

The “raw” aesthetic is often applied to website and graphic design, resulting in an overall stylistic that commands attention. It’s not always pretty, but certainly refreshing in a pool of perfectionist layouts, by-the-book compositions, and artistic choices made for universal appeal. Brutalism may be visually demanding, but certainly is not to be confused with anti-design.

WE SEE TOO MANY CASES OF "GOOD DESIGN" THAT IS BORDERLINE

BORING. ENTER BRUTALISM. DESPITE THE SEEMINGLY

SIMPLE EXECUTION AND FREEDOM FROM RULES, IT’S FAR FROM

BEING AN EASY STYLISTIC TO ACHIEVE.

NOT EVERY SKEWED LAYOUT WITH ODD TYPOGRAPHY

AND DISTORTED PROPORTIONS BECOMES "STYLISH".

THE KEY IS TO BE UNCONVENTIONAL, ATTRACT ATTENTION,

BUT AVOID LOOKING TACKY TO STAY IN LINE WITH THE

AESTHETICS.

Evgeny Vetrov

Art Director at BBDO Warsaw

The modernist movement stretches beyond architecture to break away designs from strict rules.

modern concept art visual trends 2020 depositphotos

trendy digital collage illustration trends 2020

Discover more:

brutalism digital unfinished urban architecture

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

MUTED SHADES BREAK

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6. MUTED SHADES BREAK

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The juxtaposition to bold, futuristic colors are color palettes that are soothing, gentle, and communicative. You might be familiar with the famous Tranquil Dawn color, or seen some of the beige undertones and monochrome highlights from this year. In a pool of bold designs and daring artistic choices, muted shades communicate a kind of sophistication that can only be achieved with a minimalist touch.

WGSN placed their bets on Neo-Mint as the color of the year. Arguably, this shade is in line with futuristic vibes, and it scrapes the surface of a bigger trend about preferences for muted colors. We need more color trends that work out the balance of nature and tech and serve as the perfect break for the eyes and mind.

FOR US IT’S ALL ABOUT JOMO, HOT OFF THE HEELS OF

THE MINIMAL MOVEMENT, JOMO IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING

THE JOY OF MISSING OUT. THINK MINIMALISM WITH

A BRIGHT GEN-Z COLOUR PALETTE AND CLEAN APPROACH

TO TYPOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

Nikki Burton

Creative Director at Perq Studio

Muted colors in all their shades can be both subtle and attention-grabbing.

Discover more:

pastel soothing monochrome JOMO Gen Z

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

PLAY ON OPTICAL PERCEPTION

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7. PLAY ON OPTICAL PERCEPTION

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All great designs manage to captivate audiences and grab attention. The play on optical perception, or the visual deformation of composition and typography, attracts the eye more so than a perfect composition. We can’t stop looking at designs in this style because it’s unconventional and doesn’t have clear patterns.

Our minds are programmed to look for patterns, but once you take that out of the equation in a design, one has to stop and grasp the bigger picture. Challenging viewers with distorted type and designs is a sure way to get them to pause, appreciate, and understand the message.

IF WE LOOK AT DESIGN AS A KIND OF VISUAL GAME,

THE ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS

TO FLAT DESIGN APPEALS AND ATTRACTS VIEWERS,

BECAUSE IT BREAKS OUT FROM THE 2D NATURE OF IT.

THE WORKS THAT OVERCOME THE LIMITATIONS OF

FLATNESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTEXT, MANAGE

TO BETTER TIE TOGETHER BOTH FORM AND MEANING.

Gleb Petrov

Co-founder of MADCATS

Vik Vatamaniuk

Art Director at MADCATS

You can play with the optical perception of a person to immerse them in your designs.

abstract bold colors background trend 2020

Discover more:

distorted kinetic deconstructed composition offbeat

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

ORGANIC MOTION GRAPHICS

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8. ORGANIC MOTION GRAPHICS

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With the right tools, you can produce designs that both define and defy the rules of gravity. Organic motion graphics is an extension of last year’s trend - 3D Design Transition, used sparingly to captivate audiences with soothing movement, fluid shapes, and deconstructed forms in animation.

Fusing animation, technology, art, and design, this trend also gathers inspiration from nature and organic forms. Sometimes, it is the invention of new elements and shapes, or the visualization of unpredictable chemical reactions shown as animation. The result is hypnotizing works with vibrant, gravity-defying 3D elements that draw the eye and add mystery to dynamic online projects.

Animation and videos that draw inspiration from organic forms tend to captivate us all.

abstract geometric 3d animation trend 2020

organic shapes motion graphics trends 2020

Discover more:

fluid organic hypnotizing quicksilver motion

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

SHIFT TO VERTICAL

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9. SHIFT TO VERTICAL

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We are now reading more content with our mobile phones and do just about anything online on our devices. Vertical video is the next big thing for brands, influencers, and individuals turning to social media for infotainment. Vertical videos get 90% more visibility than posts with just an image. We saw this trend coming.

There’s a growing demand for social-media-ready content. Brands are looking for quick solutions, and even stock photography platforms adapt to the new standard of a vertical format. The increase in demand for vertical photos and videos has paved room for more creativity from contributors that have to play with composition in portrait orientation.

"BLACK MIRRORS" ARE STILL THE SUPREME OWNERS OF

OUR TIME AND ATTENTION. SOCIAL MEDIA ARE AN

INDISPUTABLE JUDGE OF VISUAL DESIGN CHOICES.

NOTHING IS GOING TO ESCAPE THEIR SCRUTINY.

IMAGERY WILL HAVE TO OBEY THEIR LAWS IN ORDER

TO SURVIVE. WHETHER OR NOT OUR VISUALS ARE

"INSTAGRAMMABLE" WILL DETERMINE THEIR SUCCESS.

Roman Havrysh

Managing Partner at Aimbulance

Jovan Rocanov

Creative Consultant at Aimbulance

More social media-ready images will start flooding in to keep up with the growing demand.

Discover more:

vertical SM 9:16 portrait mobile

DEPOSITPHOTOS TRENDS FORECAST

HONEST CLOSE-UPS

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10. HONEST CLOSE-UPS

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It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture and lose sight of what matters. Brands are taking the honest route with images showcasing close-ups of products, focusing on the quality, and underlining the importance of being open with clients. Examples of the honest close-ups trend have surfaced with one or two big campaigns in 2019.

This trend includes the great movement to less post-production, and not just with advertising, but photography in general. Focus on less retouching and more details to showcase what your designs and projects are all about.

PEOPLE ARE BURNED OUT BY THEIR ALWAYS-ON LIFESTYLES,

TO THE POINT THAT EVEN SOCIAL LIVES HAVE BEGUN TO

FEEL EXHAUSTING. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS ON

EVERYONE’S LIPS THESE DAYS AND WE THINK BRANDS HAVE

A BIG ROLE TO PLAY IN ENSURING THEIR COMMUNICATIONS

MAKE US FEEL GOOD RATHER THAN OVERWHELMED.

WE EXPECT COMMUNICATIONS TO FEEL PERSONAL AND DIRECT,

WITH REAL HONESTY AND AUTHENTICITY TO MESSAGING.

Nikki Burton

Creative Director at Perq Studio

Details matter, especially with your choice of visuals if you aim to be authentic and open.

antique wooden drawers visual trends 2020

Discover more:

UGC detailed product-centered closeup focused

BRIGHT
OUTLOOK
ON 2020

VERY FEW CREATIVE PEOPLE STRIVE TO BE ON TREND, BUT

EVERY IDEA COMES FROM WHAT INSPIRES, AND PART OF

THAT IS WHAT WE SEE AROUND US SO BY DEFINITION

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT FOLLOW TRENDS TO

A CERTAIN EXTENT.

WHERE IT CAN GO COMPLETELY WRONG

IS WHEN TREND STANDS IN THE WAY OF CREATIVITY, WHICH

IT CAN EASILY DO WHEN WE FORGET THAT FUNCTION COMES

FIRST, OWNABILITY SECOND, SURPRISE AND DELIGHT THIRD.

Oscar Erlandsson

Strategy Director at B-Reel

Alexander Gårdenberg

Design Director at B-Reel

We want to empower creatives to experiment, question, and test the visual trends that have yet to set in. Trends in visual communication are about inspiration and the starting place of interpreting, adapting, and building on new and existing styles. Regardless of your field of work, this trends report can help you get on board with ideas that will circulate the web and ultimately wind up on the screen in front of you.

Agencies share their thoughts:

Download PDF

Image credits:
burakovac, sashkoderevo, Rawpixel, Barselona_dreams, tomeversley, Dpvue, Wavebreakmedia, Ranid, raspirator, grandfailure, Melis82, bashta, Wirestock, inferion69, svmedia21, ra2studio, Verlen4418, AndrewLozovyi, trismegist, Tzido, 3dmentat, livejournalist.guseff, digitalmiket, UnitedPhotoStudio, tony4urban, MediaWhalestock, tanor, philopenshaw, gauthierdan, YARmedia, fantom_rd, nmc2s, MaciejBledowski, Martyna1802, DreamsAlwaysComeTrue, YAYImages, UtlanovD, SvetlanaIs, Leika_production, Victor_Tongdee, Rangizzz, membio, wacomka, Maraha, puzurin, KrisCole, alicein3dland, DGLimages, kobrin-photo, phoenixstockphoto, simbiothy, nblxer, Milkare, Tverdohlib, keeweeboy, ccestep8.

Special thanks to the following creative agencies that helped us shape this project:

This page was designed by
Mihail Verbitsky in collaboration with Depositphotos.

VISUAL TRENDS 2020: THINK AHEAD

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

NEON DYSTOPIA

LIMIT AI TION

Bring down the Bauhaus

We celebrated a century of the Bauhaus school in 2019. The pioneering aesthetic in fine arts continues to influence the design of living today and in the years to come. Artists often make references to the foundations of the Bauhaus movement, adding a contemporary spin to it with their projects.

BRUTALISM AND DIGITAL DECAY

MUTED SHADES BREAK

PLAY ON OPTICAL PERCEPTION

Our minds are programmed to look for patterns, but once you take that out of the equation in a design, one has to stop and grasp the bigger picture. Challenging viewers with distorted type and designs is a sure way to get them to pause, appreciate, and understand the message.

ORGANIC MOTION GRAPHICS

With the right tools, you can produce designs that both define and defy the rules of gravity. Organic motion graphics is an extension of last year’s trend - 3D Design Transition, used sparingly to captivate audiences with soothing movement, fluid shapes, and deconstructed forms in animation.

SHIFT TO VERTICAL

HONEST CLOSE-UPS

This trend includes the great movement to less post-production, and not just with advertising, but photography in general. Focus on less retouching and more details to showcase what your designs and projects are all about.

VISUAL TRENDS
2020: THINK AHEAD