15 main trends in banner advertising 2021 - 2022

Trends play an important role and surround us everywhere. In stores, when buying new clothes or choosing a new smartphone, car, etc. Some trends are rapidly replacing others, and in our time this happens as quickly as possible. And let someone say that trends are not the main thing, in the world of marketing and advertising new trends play a very important role. Imagine a situation where you are competing in a very saturated market with other companies. You have similar products, you use the same marketing channels, you may even have the same calls to action. How then can you stand out? In this case, you will benefit from design solutions that will put you in a favorable light and help you stand out from the majority of similar products and services. We are now talking about trends in the design of media and social advertising.

This information will be useful: 

• For designers.
• Marketers.
• Affiliate marketers.
• PPC specialists.
• SMM specialists.
• Business owners.

Why are trends so important? 

The latest trends in graphic design combine awareness and creativity, simplicity and brightness. Being on trend means creating innovative solutions that will result in your visual content attracting more attention and showing better conversions than the same, but standardly designed content from other companies.

Here are the 15 main trends for 2021-2022:

Bold and vibrant typography

It has always been popular to play with fonts and do unusual things with them. Many designers twisted them into spirals, decorated them with patterns, blew them up, etc. This trend was not spared by the advertising market - we are increasingly seeing bright and non-standard solutions that will only gain momentum in 2021.

Monochrome banners

Monochrome design has long been a favorite among many graphic designers. It has been used with varying success since ancient times, but it began to become a bright trend relatively recently. At first, with the development of graphic applications on smartphones, monochrome filters began to be used by everyone who was not too lazy. Then this technique migrated to the professional sphere and is now used everywhere in all types of advertising.

Simplified illustrations

Illustrations in banner advertising have been used for a long time and constantly reflect new trends and trends. In our age of satiety with everything possible, when people do not want to read even short texts, simple illustrations save the situation and better convey the meaning of the message. Designers are increasingly moving from pictorial to semantic illustrations that make it clear what they are talking about.

3D illustrations and depth

With the advancement of technology and the emergence of more and more new 3D tools, this design direction is experiencing a new renaissance and will be relevant this year and next. What is significant is that 3D design is influenced by trends in other areas. For example, funny little people with disproportionate arms and legs, which we saw everywhere this and last year, have now migrated to 3D. In addition, the use of simple geometric lines and objects in 3D, monochrome colors and the combination of 3D objects with 2D drawings and photographs continues to evolve. 

Bright and acidic, neon and futuristic colors

Bright colors have always been held in high esteem by designers, because color is perhaps the first thing that catches your eye when viewing an advertisement. But, like everywhere else, this trend is also constantly changing, and now blue, purple, pink acid colors that look futuristic and in the style of neon signs are coming into fashion. These colors are not found in nature, but they will make you stand out from the crowd of advertisements. 

Bleached colors

When a certain trend breaks into the masses and everyone begins to follow it, there is always someone who deviates from the canons and begins to try something new - first of all, to stand out among competitors. This happened with bleached flowers. While bright, flashy colors gained momentum in 2019, in 2020 brands appeared that, on the contrary, began to use muted, pastel, natural colors.

Geometric designs

Many famous artists were fond of geometric art, and Pablo Picasso even founded his own style, which he called cubism. He then inspired (and continues to inspire) creators of various genres and trends for many years. The seemingly simple, geometric style requires a thoughtful approach, because it is quite difficult to reveal the meaning of the illustration using only simple shapes. In the design of advertising banners we find both complex animated illustrations and the use of simple shapes and lines. 

Isometric illustrations

The trend faded away in full force in 2018 and 2019, but constantly transforming, it continues to take pride of place in the top ten design techniques. Actively used in infographics and web design, it has also found its place in banner advertising, where it is very often used as an animated, attention-grabbing element.

Simple lines

Lines, doodles, hand-drawn elements - this trend seems to be eternal. Starting with cave paintings in prehistoric times, it never loses its relevance and will also delight us in advertising banners in 2021. Moreover, as is now fashionable, designers will combine lines and hand-drawn elements with photographs, vector objects and 3D illustrations. And if previously drawn elements were an addition to the design, now they have become independent full-fledged illustrations, very often animated and with meaning embedded in them.

Fluid, smooth lines and elements

Unlike simple and rigid geometric shapes, flowing lines embody flexibility, movement and creativity. Having reached full speed in 2019, they continue to delight us now and will definitely continue to develop in 2021. Use smooth, fluid lines in combination with masking, textures, animations, and you will be guaranteed attention and click-through rates, especially when it comes to animated advertising banners. 

Collages with photos and hand-drawn elements

Does everyone remember how doodles burst into the world of advertising? A couple of years ago, everyone drew them and used them in their creative works. The situation is the same now, but, like everything in this world, trends change, combine and smoothly flow from one to another. The same with these examples: we take a photo, add elements by hand and voila - a trendy and super fashionable banner is ready!

Masking pictures and text

As a challenge pennant, this trend has been constantly evolving since previous years, but will not lose its relevance in 2021. An interesting graphic technique allows you to play with space, hide entire worlds in letters and force users to only guess what else is hidden there, inside.

Patterns and textures

For a long time, patterns and textures hung around on the fringes of design civilization, while flat design and line illustrations ruled the world. But times are changing, and patterns are starting to return, including in the design of advertising banners. But unlike the old days, now patterns and textures are very often used animated and in combination with different elements.

Color gradients

Like a notorious virus, color gradients have swept across the world and left their mark on the design of almost every brand. Website headers, clothing, digital and outdoor advertising - traces of this insanely popular design trend can be found everywhere. You shouldn’t discount it even now, because like the same well-known virus, trends constantly mutate and sometimes turn into something completely different. They move from rich colors to pastel palettes and are used in illustrations, giving them depth. They are even beginning to completely replace the flat design that seemed so unshakable for many years. So don’t even think about it – gradients aren’t going anywhere in 2021 either.

Looping animation videos

Animated GIFs continue to conquer the universe. They are everywhere – on social networks, in instant messengers, and in every second article. So brands keep up with trends - now looped animations can be seen in advertising of any self-respecting company. And if before it was difficult to create animations, now almost every graphics designer offers convenient tools for creating animations. 

Services for creating trending advertising banners 

• Canva
• Crello
• bannerboo
• Freepik

Remember: trends are not a panacea. Using some popular trend is not enough to get noticed and loved. Remember, the key is relevant, easy-to-digest content. And using trends will only help to distinguish it from competitors and show you as a professional.