100 Inspirational Designs for 2019

in Best Practices

Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” As we take a look at inspirational design trends of 2019 – and because Simplification is a design trend for 2019 –  I’m going to take da Vinci’s advice. Less is more. Fewer words. More examples. So here we go… in no particular order, here are 100 inspirational designs that are projected to trend in 2019.

Color Me Coral

Each year, designs are inspired by the Pantone Color of The Year.  The 2019 Color of The Year – Living Coral – is an energetic hue of yellowish pink with golden undertones that will be seen throught web, package, print, and interior design.

GIF of Pantone of the Year Color Living Coral

Organic and Handmade Art

As you may know, I’m a big fan of handmade art. In the past, I’ve created hand-crafted illustrations like this, this, and this for Colorado State University. While traditional art will still dominate the design landscape of 2019, you’ll definitely see a counter-trend in the form of artistic creation that feels organic and hand-crafted, like these paper art designs:

  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example
  • Hand-hade paper art example

Simplification

All designers understand the importance of white space in design, but with the overload of information and clutter in our digital world, simplification will be more important than ever in 2019.

  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity
  • Graphic example highlighting simplicity

3D Design and Typography

Get ready for some eye-popping design in 2019. Technology and software have evolved to allow graphic artists to create amazing 3D designs, the kind where you feel like you can reach out and touch the art.

  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example
  • #D graphic design example

Nostalgia: Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern

As the old song lyrics state, “everything old is new again.” If bell bottoms and acid wash can make a comeback, so can art styles of the past. In 2019, expect to see two major retro styles recreated with a modern touch: the highly ornamental and glamorous Art Deco designs of the 1920s and the streamlined organic forms of the Mid-Century Modern period of the 1950s and 60s.

Art Deco

The centennial of the roaring twenties is approaching quickly, so expect to see Art Deco-inspired designs with a modern twist in 2019. These designs feature complex line-work, metallics, and symmetrical designs.

  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example
  • Art Deco design example

Mid-Century Modern

The reincarnation of mid-century-style illustration is on the rise. Designers are ditching flashy designs and embracing stripped down, organic clean lines, maybe even superimposed over modern images and photographs.

Color Overload: Duotones and Gradients

Thanks in part to the advancement in screen displays and art designed specifically for the web instead of print, we will keep seeing a rich range of colors in 2019. Brands like Spotify, who use duotones in their iconic playlist covers, have helped revitalize these two parallel color trends.

Gradients, or color transitions, have been trendy for the past couple of years. But as media consumption changes and more people receive their news and information from digital devices, the typical CMYK ties that bind designers will continue to fade in 2019, making for more colorful design and vivid color combinations.

  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example
  • Duotone and gradient design example

Moody Photos

To counteract the resurgence of bold duotones and colorful gradients, in 2019 we will continue to see a rise in moody, vintage tones in photography. This trend is a throwback to the natural, soft, low-fi photography of the 1970’s.

  • Moody photo example sunrise
  • Moody photo example students
  • Moody photo example restaurant
  • Moody photo example street
  • Moody photo example outdoor
  • Moody photo example mountains
  • Moody photo example sunset
  • Moody photo example lights
  • Moody photo example student
  • Moody photo example library

Line Art Illustrations

With complex trends topping trend lists for the past few years, it’s no surprise that line art is taking the 2019 design scene by storm. Expect to see hand-drawn illustrations with techniques that enhance the simplicity of design.

  • Line Art example JUTE services
  • Line Art example Bass logo design
  • Line Art example Taco Tuesday
  • Line Art example deer illustration
  • Line Art example City
  • Line Art example head in the clouds design
  • Line Art example wine toast
  • Line Art example bird
  • Line Art example icon set
  • Line Art example parrot and pen

Slab Serif Fonts

While illustrations are getting lighter, fonts are continuing to beef up, especially when it comes to serif fonts. In 2019, expect to see creative pieces that showcase typography as an active part of the design, interacting with real-life objects and people. Here are some of my favorite Serif fonts and links to where you can find them:

  • Shoreline Font example
  • Clyde Font example
  • America Font example
  • Argo Font example
  • Athletico Font example
  • Vista Slab Font example
  • Nexa Slab Font example
  • Museo Slab font example
  • Paul Slab Font example
  • Classic Serif vs Slab Serif illustration

Want to take a closer look? Find these featured fonts here:

Bringing It All Together

It’s pretty cool to see some of these design trends merge. Here are some examples of how these top trends for 2019 can be used together. Can you see where the trends overlap?

  • Explorer Font and Line Art example
  • Boxing Font and Mid-Century Modern example
  • Simplicity design and Pantone color of the year example
  • Line art and color example
  • Moody illustration example
  • Duotone and font example
  • Mid-Century and color example
  • Simplicity and color example
  • Illustration and duotone example
  • Chunky font and moody photo example

Did I miss any trends that you’re expecting to see in 2019? If so, let me know. Tweet about it and tag me @jensmith7 – let’s start a conversation 👍