Are you harnessing the latest motion graphic design trends to draw attention to your business?
The world of graphic design is changing to meet new consumer interests and demands. Motion design can help you keep up so your company doesn't get left in the dust.
Graphic design is a great tool for companies, but it can also be your worst nightmare. A poor graphic design choice looks outdated and can be even worse than having nothing at all. However, a great graphic catches the eye and makes your business memorable to the customers you want to attract.
Wondering how to use motion graphic design trends to your advantage? Here are some of the top trends coming up for next year.
1. Gradient Colors
With colorful iridescence trending in fashion and makeup, it only makes sense that shifting color gradients would also be popular in motion graphic design.
There are many interesting ways you can approach this trend. You could create a shifting rainbow for a visual iridescent look. Or, you could gradually transfer between a few colors that best represent your brand, to make a quiet but engaging design.
Gradients add more depth to colored backgrounds and can give effects like the warm glow of a fire or cool, rolling waves. With shifting colors, the design possibilities are nearly endless.
2. Shape-Shifting
Morphing from one image or shape to another is a great way to link ideas or visually show transitions.
There are many different ways to approach this concept. For example, you could have your logo morph into a visual example of what you do. You could have an image of the base material you use morph into a finished product. You could even show a dissatisfied customer morphing into a happy one (after they buy your product or service, of course).
3. Texture
Adding visual texture or graininess is another cool way to make your graphic effects more dynamic.
Many modern designs lean toward clean lines and minimalism, and these elements certainly have their place. But adding the appearance of texture, or even shifting between "textured" and "smooth" designs, creates an incredibly cool look. Instead of having flat images, they can appear to pop out of the screen in three dimensions.
4. Animated Stories
Although they're not exactly new, modern technology has created many new places where you can put an animated story. For example, a short Instagram video can feature a fun animation that demonstrates something you want customers to see.
With animation, there's a myriad of styles you can choose between to give a different tone. From your website to social media, you'll find all kinds of creative places to put your animations.
5. Blending 2D and 3D
While most of your graphic design will be presented in 2D, you can give the appearance of three dimensions in just two. Blending the two together can create a cool effect that makes an impression on viewers.
For example, an architecture company could create a design that starts with a 2D image of a house, which then shifts into a 3D rendering. This shift from "picture" to "reality" helps your customers see how you'll make their dreams come true.
You can also mix 2D and 3D to get a creative, stylized look, or to add layers of complexity to your designs.
6. "Liquid" and "Solid" Motion
The most eye-catching motion graphics often involve contrast. You can contrast soft "liquid" motion with hard "solid" motion to create some really cool visual effects.
Liquid motion can involve flowing lines, softly shifting shapes, and much more. This contrasts against hard motion like sharp changes and hard lines.
Of course, you can also use liquid motion on its own for a flowy, attractive visual. It's harder to use hard motion on its own, but with certain designs, it can work well. Most of the time, though, a combination of the two will give you the best results.
7. Cinemagraphics
"Cinemagraphics" is a fancy way to say moving photo. However, these photos typically move in a specific way. Most of the image will stay motionless, while just one part has a repeated motion.
This subtlety is both chic and eye-catching. You can use a video or gif format to publish cinemagraphics.
8. Soft Pastels
There's a reason why millennial pink has been trending for a few years now. Soft pastels are relaxing and easy to look at, making them a great choice for all kinds of graphic design needs.
Of course, you don't just need to stick to pink. Soft blues, greens, lavenders, and all kinds of pastel shades work well. Pastels can be either childlike or grown-up, depending on how you approach them. But the pastel palette is almost always pleasing to the eye.
9. Creative Text
The whole word doesn't have to appear on the screen at once. There are many different ways to get fancy with how your text appears.
For example, some of the letters in your brand's name can get rearranged into a word that represents what you do. Or, you can start with some letters showing up on the screen before others. You can create a "slow reveal" effect as words and letters gradually come together.
10. Interactions
Tiny visual interactions on a site can make a huge difference for visitors.
For example, maybe the arrow cursor can change to another image when users hover over a certain part of your site. These subtle changes can make the experience of using your site much more enjoyable.
Which Motion Graphic Design Trends Will You Try?
Simplicity remains key to a lot of good graphic design. It's important not to mix too many trends into a single graphic, and to keep your company's aesthetic in mind as you create.
That said, these motion graphic design trends offer tons of flexibility that can work for all kinds of brands. With the right moving graphics, customers will soon start to gravitate toward your company.
Wondering what makes motion graphics so special? Check out our guide to why moving logos are the way of the future.
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