Predicting 2024 graphic design trends for small businesses and social media

Picsart
8 Jan 202405:13

TLDRIn 2024, graphic design trends for small businesses and social media are predicted to shift towards a focus on how designs are made rather than what is made. With the explosion of AI tools like image generators and AI writers, more creators are expected to take on the role of art directors, narrowing the gap between vision and execution. Authenticity will be key, with a move towards enhancing real images over creating fake ones. Additionally, there will be a paradox of choice leading to a return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations for self-expression, with formats like vinyl records and film photography gaining more visibility. The year will see a rise in art direction, faster execution, and a transition from artificial to authentic aesthetics, as well as a desire to create beyond pixels, using AI to free up time for creating real, tactile experiences.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **Art Directors Everywhere**: With AI tools, more creators will take on the role of art directors, narrowing the gap between vision and execution.
  • 🤖 **AI's Role in Design**: AI image generators, writers, and other creative tools will continue to grow, with over 1 billion images created using AI at Pixar alone.
  • 🖼️ **Authenticity Over Aesthetics**: There will be a focus on authenticity in imagery, as it influences emotions, perceptions, and connections more than just aesthetics.
  • 📈 **Prompt Engineering**: Creators will shift towards enhancing real images and focusing on diversity and storytelling in their prompts, moving away from creating fake worlds.
  • 🧩 **Choice Paradox**: The abundance of choice can be overwhelming, leading to a predicted return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations for a more focused and nostalgic experience.
  • 💽 **Analog Revival**: There's a rise in the appreciation for analog formats like vinyl records and film photography, signaling a desire for a break from the digital world.
  • 🌱 **Imperfect Beauty**: Embracing imperfection in design can add interest and curiosity, contrasting with the often sterile perfection of AI-generated content.
  • 🔄 **Refined AI Usage**: Online sellers and creators will use AI to refine their product presentations, changing prompts to achieve desired aesthetics for different seasons.
  • 🌟 **Stand Out with Basics**: Going back to basics in self-expression and design will help creators stand out, with a focus on the tactile and personal aspects of creation.
  • ⏱️ **Faster Execution**: The use of AI will lead to faster ideation and execution in the design process, allowing for more efficient creation workflows.
  • 🌐 **Beyond Pixels**: There will be a move towards creating real, tactile items, taking advantage of the time saved by AI to produce physical pieces that offer a respite from digital overload.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of design in 2024 according to Scott Walker?

    -The main focus of design in 2024 is not just about what we make, but how we make it, with a significant emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence and the resources it provides.

  • What has significantly expanded in the past 12 months that is impacting design?

    -The resources at our disposal, particularly artificial intelligence tools such as AI image generators, AI writers, AI logo generators, and AI style transfer, have significantly expanded.

  • How has the use of AI impacted the role of creators?

    -AI has enabled more creators to become art directors by narrowing the gap between their vision and execution, allowing them to edit, retouch, and layer their creations with greater ease.

  • What is one of the key predictions for graphic design trends in 2024?

    -One key prediction is a focus on authenticity in design, with a shift towards enhancing real images rather than creating fake worlds, and a move from artificial to authentic aesthetics.

  • Why is authenticity important in design?

    -Authenticity is important because imagery influences our emotions, perceptions, and connections with the world around us. Real and diverse imagery can create stronger connections with the audience.

  • What is the paradox of choice mentioned by Scott Walker?

    -The paradox of choice refers to the overwhelming number of options available to consumers, which can lead to decision fatigue and difficulty in making choices.

  • What is the predicted return to in the design world as a reaction to the paradox of choice?

    -There is a predicted return to tangible, tactile, and analog making, such as vinyl records and film photography, as a way to provide a sense of nostalgia and to stand out in a world saturated with digital options.

  • How can online sellers benefit from AI-powered tools?

    -Online sellers can use AI-powered tools to create seasonal aesthetics for their products without the need for additional photo shoots or extensive searches through stock photography sites.

  • What is the significance of prompt engineering in the context of AI and design?

    -Prompt engineering is significant as it allows creators to refine AI-generated content to match their vision more closely, making it a crucial skill for effective art direction using AI tools.

  • What advice does Scott Walker give for using AI in design?

    -Scott Walker advises taking advantage of AI to streamline the design process, allowing for more ideation and faster execution, while also using the extra time to create real, tactile designs.

  • What is the potential impact of AI on the design industry in 2024?

    -The potential impact of AI on the design industry in 2024 includes a rise in art direction, faster execution of design ideas, and a move towards more authentic and diverse imagery.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Evolution of Design in 2024: AI and Creativity

In this paragraph, Scott Walker, the executive creative director of Brandon Creative, discusses the shift in design from the 'what' to the 'how' of creation. He highlights the explosion of resources at our disposal, particularly AI, which includes image generators, writers, logo creators, and more. Walker predicts that more creators will become art directors, as AI tools are allowing them to bridge the gap between their vision and execution. He also notes that 70% of creators are now editing their AI-generated images, adding personal touches to make them unique. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of authenticity in design and the need for sensitive prompt engineering to create diverse and real images rather than fake ones. Walker's first prediction for 2024 is that the gap between vision and execution will shrink, empowering everyone to become an art director.

05:01

📀 Analog Revival: The Return to Tangible Creativity

The second paragraph briefly touches on the second prediction for 2024, which is a move towards tangible, tactile, and analog forms of creation. This prediction is a response to the paradox of choice brought on by the digital age, where too many options can lead to decision paralysis. Walker suggests that there will be a resurgence in the appreciation for physical media like vinyl records, which offer a nostalgic value that digital formats lack. He believes that creators who opt for analog formats in their work will stand out and provide a refreshing break from the digital overload. This trend is expected to manifest in various forms of self-expression and design, such as film photography, handwriting, and the tactile experience of physical objects.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is pivotal as it enables the creation and editing of images, logos, and other design elements without the need for extensive manual labor or specialized skills. It is exemplified by AI image generators, AI writers, and AI style transfer tools, which are mentioned as resources that have exploded in the past year, significantly impacting the design industry.

💡Vision and Execution

Vision refers to the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or clear foresight, while execution is the act of carrying out a plan or making it work. In the video, Scott Walker discusses how the gap between vision and execution is shrinking due to AI tools, allowing creators to more easily realize their creative ideas. This is illustrated by the example of online sellers who can now easily change the background of their product photos for each season without the need for new photo shoots or extensive image searches.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity in the context of the video means the quality of being genuine, real, and not imitation or artificial. It is emphasized as a key focus for 2024, with a shift towards more authentic aesthetics and storytelling. Authentic imagery is said to have a stronger emotional and perceptual impact on audiences, making it crucial for creators to maintain authenticity while utilizing AI tools to enhance their work.

💡Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is the process of carefully crafting the input or 'prompt' given to an AI system to elicit the desired output. In the video, it is suggested that prompt engineering will become more focused on diversity, storytelling, and sensitivity, with an emphasis on enhancing real images rather than creating entirely artificial ones. This approach is expected to lead to more authentic and engaging design outcomes.

💡Imperfection

Imperfection, as discussed in the video, refers to the presence of flaws or deviations from an ideal standard. It is highlighted as a desirable quality in design because imperfection can add interest and curiosity to a piece, making it more engaging and relatable to audiences. The video contrasts the boring nature of perfection with the appeal of imperfection, suggesting that embracing imperfection in design can lead to more compelling work.

💡Analog Formats

Analog formats refer to traditional, non-digital methods of creating and experiencing media, such as vinyl records, film photography, and physical books. The video predicts a resurgence in the use of analog formats for self-expression and design, as they offer a tangible and nostalgic experience that digital formats often lack. This trend is seen as a reaction to the overwhelming choice and artificiality of digital media, providing a refreshing alternative.

💡Tangible Tactile Analog Making

Tangible tactile analog making involves creating physical objects that can be touched and felt, as opposed to purely digital creations. The video suggests that there will be a move towards creating items with a tactile quality, which can evoke nostalgia and provide a break from the digital world. Examples given include vinyl records and film photography, which offer a sensory experience that digital equivalents do not.

💡Choice Paradox

The choice paradox describes a situation where having too many options can lead to decision-making difficulties or even dissatisfaction. In the video, Scott Walker uses the example of Blockbuster video to illustrate how an overabundance of choices can be overwhelming and lead to inaction. This concept is tied to the prediction that there will be a return to simpler, more focused forms of creation and consumption in design and media.

💡Aesthetics

Aesthetics refers to the study of beauty and taste, as well as the appreciation of art and design. In the context of the video, aesthetics are tied to the visual appeal and emotional impact of design work. There is a predicted shift from artificial, AI-generated aesthetics to more authentic and real-looking imagery, reflecting a desire for genuine connections with audiences through design.

💡Art Directors

An art director is a professional who oversees the visual style and images in various forms of media, including film, television, and print. The video predicts that more creators will take on the role of art directors in 2024, as AI tools empower them to realize their visions with greater ease and precision. This shift is exemplified by online sellers who can now direct the aesthetic of their product photography through AI-powered image editing.

💡Digital Rest Bite

A digital rest bite refers to a break or relief from the constant engagement with digital technology. The video suggests that there will be a trend towards seeking respite from the digital world by engaging with more traditional, tactile forms of creation and media. This is seen as a way to counterbalance the fatigue that can come from being constantly immersed in digital environments.

Highlights

In 2024, design is shifting focus from what we make to how we make it, with a significant increase in AI-powered tools.

Artificial Intelligence has expanded the resources available for creators, including image generators, writers, logo generators, and more.

Over 1 billion images have been created using AI generators at Pixar, indicating a strong adoption of AI in design.

70% of creators are now editing their AI-generated images, integrating their own personal touches.

The gap between vision and execution is narrowing, empowering more creators to become art directors.

Online sellers can now easily change the aesthetic of their product photography with AI, without additional photo shoots.

Authenticity in design will be a key focus in 2024, with a move away from overly perfect and artificial aesthetics.

Imperfection in design can add interest and curiosity, leading to more engaging content.

The paradox of choice is leading to a return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations.

Vinyl records are an example of the resurgence in analog formats, with more records sold than CDs.

Analog formats like film photography are becoming more visible in self-expression and design.

There will be a desire to create beyond pixels, using AI to free up time for tangible creation.

AI tools are enabling faster ideation and execution in the design process.

There is a growing trend towards authenticity in aesthetics, as people become tired of artificial looks from AI.

Prompt engineering will focus more on diversity, storytelling, and sensitive topics in 2024.

Creators are encouraged to enhance real images rather than creating entirely fake worlds with AI.