How to keep up with graphic design trends

Graphic design is a fast-evolving industry, and it’s critical to keep up with trends and developments to produce outstanding work for your clients. Still, since graphic design changes so quickly, staying updated on the latest design trends can be a challenge. Whether you’re a new designer or a seasoned pro, this guide will stay on top of graphic design trends.

We’ll cover the following:

• Why graphic designers need to keep up with trends
• How to keep up with graphic design trends
• How you can free up more time to stay on top of trends

Graphic design is a highly competitive field, so staying up to date with current trends and techniques will give you an advantage over designers that stick to what they’re used to.

Knowing what’s trending both in your particular niche and in graphic design as a whole means you can offer clients innovative ideas for their requests. In addition, constantly trying new things while keeping your personal style will empower you to create a diverse and unique portfolio that people will love.

Here are a few ways you can stay on top of graphic design trends:

To be the best graphic designer you can be, you need to constantly educate yourself and look for ways you can improve your work. If you’re new to graphic design, look into what courses you can take to deepen your knowledge. Also, take advantage of practical learning opportunities like workshops and internships to perfect your skills.

Even if you’re a seasoned veteran, you should keep your eyes peeled for new skills you need to learn. For example, you might need to deepen your knowledge of animation and work on your skills in that. 

Refusing to leave your comfort zones is one of life’s greatest limitations, and the same goes for your career. As a graphic designer, you have to be comfortable with trying new things because your clients will expect you to know the latest tricks. 

Try to find new ways of opening up your creativity, learn new skills, and inspire your ambition. Even if a technique or style seems alien and challenging, embrace it as a way to become better at what you do.

You have a wealth of graphic design resources at your fingertips, thanks to the internet. In addition, surfing around online will lead you to plenty of quality blogs, RSS feeds, social media profiles, news outlets, and so on. 

When browsing, look for online design galleries that showcase graphic designs created by other designers. Websites like DeviantArt, Behance, and Delicious CSS are all great examples of sources every graphic designer should check out. 

You can also join design forums, comment on blogs, and share your opinion in online discussions. Joining the action means you can get feedback on your comments and suggestions that will help you improve.

Speaking of joining the action, creating and maintaining strong relationships is essential for picking the brains of other bright minds in the industry. That exposure helps keep your ideas sharp.

A tip is to network with people who work in different niches to you. While discussing ideas with like-minded people is great, speaking to people with contrasting styles to yours can open your eyes to new ideas. Hearing ideas that have helped other graphic designers succeed is a great way to keep in touch with the latest techniques, trends, and technology.

Books and magazines are other great sources for inspiration and for staying up to date on graphic design trends. No matter where you are in your career, you should always look for new sources of inspiration. 

Some examples of must-have graphic design books include:

• Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
• Branding: In Five and a Half Steps by Michael Johnson
• The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
• Why Fonts Matter by Sarah Hyndman

You can also subscribe to magazines like the ones below for a constant flow of new ideas:

• Print
• Communication Arts
• Digital Arts

The general rule of thumb is to go to an expert for inspiration to improve your skills and expand your knowledge. There is no denying that speaking to experts is useful. Getting insight into the brightest minds in your field is one of the best ways to become a better graphic designer. 

That said, you might be surprised at how much you can learn from amateur graphic designers, meaning those who design stuff because they enjoy it. These people tend not to have any traditional graphic design training and can bring a fresh perspective. Or, these amateurs could at least show you what you don’t want to do. Either way, you learn something new.

If you take our advice to heart and use these sources to boost your skills, you’ll soon gain new clients interested in working with you. More clients equals more money you need to track and manage.

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