The world of visual design is changing. There’s a lot more technology involved. It is no longer “create an image in Photoshop” so that aesthetics are pleasing. We are lucky to live in an exciting time with access to many different tools; however, today, there is more competition. You have to keep up with trends, learn new skills and methods for creating your art, and be prepared for anything!
Design for different types of screens (and people)
A large part of designing for screens includes designing for different kinds of people. You should remember this when creating your visual content, whether a website, an app, or a digital product.
It would help to consider the various devices people use to access your products and services. If someone is on a desktop computer and another person is on their phone, there’s a chance they will have different preferences for things like font size and color combinations. Some are easy to see from across the room versus across town (or around the corner).
Suppose you want your work accessible to as many people as possible. In that case, you should always consider screen size when creating anything visual—and ensure that all elements are readable and set to responsive mode regardless of how far away potential users might view them. Therefore, consider the layout, typography, whitespace, negative space, focal point, space, and volume.
Design for social media
The internet is evolving. So are the ways we design for it. In the future, designers must monitor what’s what’s with user experience, social media, and mobile devices.
When you’re you’re for social media, think about the platform first:
- What does it look like?
- What are its strengths?
- How can you use those strengths to your advantage?
Then think about your audience:
- Who are they, and what do they expect from this particular platform?
Next, consider the content and message you want to convey. When looking at the format of your finished design (the size of photos or text), remember that no matter how gorgeous everything looks on a computer monitor, if it’s either small or too big, people won’t be able to see it correctly on devices such as smartphones or tablets.
Finally, ask yourself why someone would share this content in their feed first − would they want others to see their post as well? Or would sharing help them accomplish something else entirely (like making their followers feel good)?
Learn more about user experience (UX) and web design.
User experience (UX) is a person’s experience when using a product, system, or service. UX design is a process that focuses on improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product. UX can be applied to traditionally manufactured products like automobiles, household appliances, asking systems, and healthcare services.
As a graphic designer, you must understand how users interact with various interfaces, such as websites or smartphone apps. By doing so, you can create graphics that make it easier for users to accomplish tasks on those interfaces. This task should not require too much effort on the part of users.
For example, if some information needs confirmation from the user, pop-up windows can be deployed instead of making the user fill out a form again. Repeated filling out forms takes more trouble than simply clicking a yes button in a pop-up window.
Design for the future of branding
The future of branding is customer experience. Today, a good brand experience involves far more than simply the design of a website, a product, or a service.
Branding has to do with every interaction people have with a company, from how they find out about it in the first place and talk about it with others to how easy it is for them to get help when they need it—and whether that help comes from another human being or an automated system.
Designing for the future of branding means rethinking everything about your business—from strategy down to operations—to create an experience that’s as easy as possible for all your customers (current and future).
Design for social topics
By now, you’ve heard the buzz about social media and how it has changed how people interact. Social platforms have become an essential part of daily life for many people worldwide; however, they provide designers with a unique challenge regarding branding. There are many different types of screens (and people) to consider when designing for social media. These considerations include:
- UX design
- Web design
Design for video
Video is an excellent way of communicating a message and can add movement and rhythm to your website, more than just adding color or shape. Video can either be used as the main focus of your website or in conjunction with other web content to emphasize the focal point. If you attempt to convey your message, video is an excellent choice. Video is also the future of marketing; there will be more content than ever!
Utilize motion graphics when possible.
Motion graphics are becoming increasingly popular; therefore, knowing how to use them in your designs is essential. Motion graphics can express a design’s emotion and design something extra that words alone couldn’t convey. Somcouldn’t areas where motion graphics are used include:
- Briefs (presentations)
- Websites
- Social media posts
Find the balance between technology and creativity
You may have heard the adage − “Art is long, life is short.” You will have much work as a graphic designer. You’ll need to create and brand, design websites and apps, make brochures and flyers − you name it. And with all this work comes the temptation to rely on technology instead of creativity.
But don’t be swallowed by your tools! The most important thing for any designer is the ability to think creatively: If you cannot innovate independently without relying on software or other people’s designs, do people expect anyone else to use your work?
The truth is that technology will constantly be changing; what matters more than anything else are the principles behind it all—the human touch in every piece of design we create—and these will always set us apart from machines.
Explore augmented reality and virtual reality.
Augmented reality (AR) combines the natural world and virtual reality. AR is seen when images on a screen are overlaid on what you’re looking at, such as your Pokémon Go or Snapchat filters.
Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive experience in a simulated environment, such as watching 360° videos.
Learn a new coding language.
Learning a new coding language is essential because it will help you become a more valuable employee. The most popular coding languages are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, there are many others out there.
If you’re interested in learning one of these languages, plenty of resources are available online.
Visual design is moving toward technology, and it’s good to know what you’re looking for in the future!
- Look at the various types of screens and how they affect your design
- Understand social media and user experience design
- Learn about branding for the future
- Design for social topics as well as video, motion graphics, etc.
Conclusion: The Future of Visual Design
I hope this article has helped you understand the future of visual design while offering some tips on staying ahead in your field. Remember that keeping up with trends is essential; don’t forget creativity and good old-fashioned hard work!