What will reach the target groups in the coming months? Which visual solutions help brands to become more up-to-date and attractive? As the world becomes more volatile every day, answering these questions is a real challenge for businesses.
To help communicators, marketers, designers and other creatives start 2023 with ease, Depositphotos has published a list of 7 creative trends that have high potential to explode this year. The quick tips and infographics found below are based on research into equity content demand, international expert opinion and concepts that have dominated the most important cultural, social and business events of recent times.
“Ready to escape?”. Why guiding customers through new realities is so important in 2023
Reality can be scary, lead to information or emotional overload or, on the contrary, seem boring. In return, brands can give their customers what they crave most – a ticket to another world where they can safely relax, disconnect, and find inspiration.
In 2023, a thirst for escapism will lead us to Japanese animation aesthetics, discovery-driven globetrotter, magical realism, immersive wellness experiences, and more. Brands can never go wrong by choosing or combining any of the 7 trends outlined below.
In terms of ethical concepts, age inclusivity and environmentalism will continue to spread across the globe, removing from the agenda those who remain indifferent to them. But this time, changes in brand missions and their positioning will replace theorizing and chaotic small business.
Creative trends 2023: How to use them in your projects
#1 Anime Thrills
Global Y2K nostalgia has become a prominent communication trend over the past year as Generations Y and Z have become the most profitable audiences for brands. In 2023, Japanese animation will manifest itself as an evolved form of it.
Resist the temptation to stylize your visuals in your communications like old-school anime or reference manga plots. Instead, turn to anime color schemes and their slightly naïve vibes to captivate millennials.
Where to find inspiration: Watch classic anime series like Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion or Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Discover marketing campaigns from Adidas and Acura with integrated anime aesthetics.
#2 Back to the wild
Travel will never be the same again. Most of your clients will be ready to forget about tightly scheduled vacations, popular attractions and staying at a hotel pre-booked by their agents. Instead, everyone wants to be pioneers and insiders.
It’s up to brands (even if they’re far from the travel industry) to help the customer feel like a traveler in the wild, wherever they land – on your website, on Instagram or in-store.
Where to Find Inspiration: Discover recent Patagonia campaigns or videos promoting South Africa, Sweden, Portugal and the UK as destinations in 2022; Follow the summer release of Airbnb (the platform’s biggest service update of the decade).
#3 A wonderful age
The healthcare industry is evolving so people are now living longer (and spending more). In addition, today’s women and men over 60 sometimes lead more active lifestyles than their children and grandchildren.
The best thing you can do now is start thinking about how your products can benefit boomers. To appeal to this audience, start with age-appropriate images.
Where to Find Inspiration: Visit the social media pages of top senior influencers including Dinner and Dance (Instagram), Shirley Curry (YouTube) and Grandma Droniak (TikTok); Enjoy marketing campaigns for Nike’s CruzrOne sneaker and L’Oreal’s Age Perfect makeup line.
#4 Ethereal World
Technologies related to augmented and virtual reality are great tools to create a unique environment for clients to immerse themselves in their thoughts or break away from the mundane. However, this is not the only way to capitalize on the trend.
In 2023, the response to dreamlike aesthetics in packaging, fashion, interfaces, architecture and even the processing of visual content will increase. Whatever your product, try adding an otherworldly aesthetic to your marketing and enjoy the results.
Where to Find Inspiration: Rediscover Magical Realism classics like A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez and Beloved by Toni Morrison; Check out a Twitter omnichannel branding campaign (If you dream it, Tweet it) and the extremely viral offline promo for Stranger Things 2022.
#5 Focus on sustainability
Zero impact ideas are the most talked about goals of modern conscious entrepreneurship. At the same time, it is often only possible to achieve zero environmental pollution with your products or services by realigning the company.
If you’re already on the eco-friendly path, make it stand out with minimalist imagery on your website, creative campaigns, and social media. If not, now is the best time to choose a green future.
Where to Find Inspiration: Read about Ocean Bottle’s #econfession campaign launched on TikTok and explore Everlane’s brand mission and current creative campaign. Keep an eye on brands like Patagonia, A Good Company, Allbirds and more.
#6 Wellness Upgrade
Concern for physical and mental health knows no bounds. At the same time, the emotional and physical state of your customers is influenced by everything that surrounds them, and therefore you too can improve. For example, through soothing color schemes.
Find out if there is a place for wellness immersion in your communications with clients. A brand can offer customers a multi-sensory experience through packaging flavors, textures or offline initiatives.
Where to Find Inspiration: Use some of the best wellness apps that leverage VR, AR and XR for better customer experiences including FitXR App, Supernatural App, Mind Labyrinth VR Dreams or Chakra VR; Explore topics such as VR-enhanced surgical training and pain management.
#7 An explosion of joy
A source of dopamine can be clothing, interior design, or a specific resource activity. Your job as a brand is to make your customers happy.
Mood-enhancing colors, images that bring pleasure (delicious healthy food, animals playing, shiny things or sports) and delightful melodies that encourage listeners or, conversely, make them calm down and relax – all of these can help you reach a wider audience to reach.
Where to find inspiration: Check out Carolina Herrera’s 2022 campaign for an example of a dopamine dressing ad, listen to mood-boosting music (like ABBA’s Dancing Queen or Beyoncé’s Love on Top), and smell scents with a scientific proven well-being effect, including the smell of baked cookies, freshly cut grass and sea salt.
Match emerging trends to the nature of your brand
Blindly following the creative trends of 2023 will not bring results. For an idea or ideas to work, you need to incorporate them organically into your communication, whether it’s an image in the spirit of Japanese animation or music that can lift the spirits.
Start with a trend that aligns more closely with your brand philosophy, or learn more about each trend to connect more deeply with your audience. Collections of images and other files related to each trend can be a good start for creative experimentation in 2023.
Continue reading: 8 Graphic Design Trends That Will Dominate 2023
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