Five Graphic Design Trends for 2009

Are you a graphic design aficionado? Do you immediately take notice when a brand changes its packaging or logo design? Can you look at a poster and immediately tell what kind of font was used for the lettering? Then you definitely have your finger on the pulse of the graphic design industry.

So you’re probably curious to know what trends are emerging in the field. Here are a few current trends in graphic design:

Augmented Reality Imaging - Companies like Papa John’s, GE and Topps have all developed Augmented Reality campaigns this year. What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented Reality, or AR, gives people the chance to interact in real time with computer-generated imagery through a webcam. For example, Papa John’s is putting an image of a 1972 Z28 Camaro at the bottom of their pizza boxes. When this image is recognized by a customer’s webcam, the customer can virtually drive the car. During the drive, customers will encounter exclusive discounts for future purchases.

Tactile Logos - Some graphic designers are now taking on the challenge of creating designs that look good enough to touch. These creations are called tactile logos because they look like you could reach out and touch them. Creating a tactile logo can be a difficult process for even the most experienced graphic designer. But when done correctly, the payoff can be huge. To accomplish this look, a graphic designer has to be patient enough to work with both specialized software and conventional tasks like, cutting, pasting and painting.

Carousel Navigation - This is becoming a huge trend in website design. Carousel navigation basically rotates images or text around like … a carousel. Carousel navigation can provide a more interesting way to display products.

Street Art - City governments have tried to wage war against graffiti or street artists for years. Now, graphic artists are embracing their style. Street art seems to be the preferred medium for producers of extreme sports and manufacturers of sports gear and clothing. Street art will be around for a long time because of its originality and edginess.

Origami-Based Logos - People skilled in origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, can create many intricate and beautiful designs. Many graphic artists are now incorporating elements of origami into their designs to showcase their skills. Like their namesake, origami-based logos are challenging to create, but they are a nice choice for corporate branding.

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