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10 dazzling logo design trends for 2021

After a less than ideal start to the new decade, the 20s are in dire need of a rebrand. Luckily, the following logo design trends for 2021 are more than up to the task.

We polled our community of logo designers from around the world, and their predictions represent the shifting climate of the design landscape. While last year’s trends were focused on reinvention through new technologies, a common theme in 2021’s logo trends appears to be innovation within constraints. The past year may have constrained the world in a number of ways, but the logo designers of 2021 are pressing on regardless.

Here are the top 10 logo design trends for 2021:

Stained glass

Perspective drawing

Simplistic geometry

Divergent letters

Authentic portraiture

Pristine symmetry

Kooky characters

Modernized symbolism

Static motion

Analogous color schemes

1. Stained glass —

Logo design, as a relatively modern invention, often seeks inspiration in the techniques and limitations of the past. In 2021’s case, many logo designers are finding enlightenment in the stained glass windows of the Dark Ages.

By eLyateh

When applied to modern designs, the fracturing of images into shards of solid color lends ordinary concepts a touch of the abstract. Stained glass is also associated with sanctity given its roots in the medieval church. It is likely no coincidence that this logo trend is so often used in conjunction with beautiful vistas of nature. After spending the better part of a year stuck inside, we can expect our fragile ecosystem to be blessed with reverence in the stained glass logo designs of 2021.

2. Perspective drawing —

As iconic logo designer Lindon Leader once put it, great design is born from simplicity and clarity. These two virtues are what allow logo designs to effectively communicate the complex identity of a brand to a viewer. It is why so many past logo trends have focused on minimalism and flat design.

While the logo designers of 2021 are in no way abandoning this approach, they are looking to reclaim some of the magic that has been lost in over-simplification. A popular logo design trend has been to incorporate subtle perspective angles. Using basic drawing techniques such as linear perspective, curvature or foreshortening, designers are able to create the illusion of depth without complicating the design.

The effect is that logos feel emphatic—the brand literally leaping off the page—while the semi-flat design techniques that have served designers so well up until now remain intact.

3. Simplistic geometry —

Shapes are the building blocks of imagery. But while primitive shapes such as triangles, squares and circles are often phased out once they have laid the groundwork, there is power in their pure simplicity.

By KisaDesign

The designers of 2021 are taking advantage of this power with logos made out of simple lines and shapes. This strict adherence to shape minimalism gives these logos an air of calculated restraint, allowing them to take liberties elsewhere—such as in richly saturated colors.

By smiDESIGN

An added feature of this approach is that simple layering can create an illusion of structure and depth, a nod to the perspective drawing trend we noted earlier. Through pure shape language, designers are able to create logos that are easy to parse, memorable and joyously bright with color all at the same time.

4. Divergent letters —

Wordmarks—logos that are based around a typeface—have a reputation as straightforward, for better or worse. While they make the brand name the entire focus of the logo, and therefore more memorable, they do not leave much room for creative license. But the logo designers of 2021 are changing that impression one letter at a time.

By Radovan Ciobanenco

Specifically, we are seeing more and more exaggerations of one letter within a wordmark. This can be as subtle as an off-colored title over a lowercase ‘i’ or as noticeable as towering chopsticks forming an uppercase ‘H.’ The divergent letter not only creates a point of interest to draw the eye, it gives brands the best of both worlds: a traditional, type-based logo that also isn’t afraid to break the rules.

By extrafin

5. Authentic portraiture —

It is a well-documented fact that people intuitively seek out other faces, and that is why portraits are useful for establishing an emotional connection in design. The more authentic and recognizable those faces are, the deeper the connection.

By Graphz Real

For this reason, more logo designers in 2021 are turning to portraiture that reflects diverse races, cultures, genders, age groups, and more. In contrast to the homogeneous representation that too often overcrowds the media, this approach creates an authentic and real impression, which helps people connect with a brand in an instant. These logos can range from simple, flat character portraits to detailed illustrative techniques that highlight flaws and wrinkles.

The bottom line is designers are fed up with images that don’t feel personable. At the end of the day, whether a logo is telling a story about the people behind the brand or the people whom the brand serves, people are the point.

By green in blue

6. Pristine symmetry —

Balance is one of the essential principles of logo design, and symmetry is perhaps the most extreme expression of it. Symmetrical logomarks are identical on each side when split down the middle.

While sameness and predictability might seem synonymous with redundancy, symmetrical design is all about strength. They remind us of buildings, which—however tall and complex—are designed to stand their ground, and they achieve this through perfect symmetrical balance.

By twelve.point

This pristine symmetry allows logos to contain line art that feels both impossibly intricate and perfectly ordered. But even though symmetry is common in geometrical designs, we are also seeing this trend find a home in hand-drawn logos. Whether it’s perfection or strength designers are pursuing, one thing is certain: the logo architecture of 2021 is built to stand the test of time.

By S.Kitanović

7. Kooky characters —

While logo designers are leading the charge in representations of real people, many others in 2021 are contrasting this by appealing to caricature and exaggerated humor. We are seeing a rise in mostly illustrated logos that present witty, if outlandish, concepts from a rat playing doctor to a flamboyant donut dandy.

By RaidenD

Businesses that deal in comfort or entertainment are looking to put their audiences at ease, and designers are responding with logos that radiate bonhomie. Ultimately, these whimsical designs make customers feel like they’ve found a friend instead of a brand.

8. Modernized symbolism —

Logos have always had their roots in the symbols of old—from the rising Phoenix to the immortal goddess to the all-seeing eye. And like ancient hieroglyphs and pictograms, it is also the purpose of a logo to communicate through simplified iconography.

By Yokaona

Typically, logos seek to create their own unique symbolic language, but in 2021, designers are channeling the power of ancient symbols. The effect is to associate commonly understood, classical virtues with the vision of a striving brand. Starting a new business is a leap of faith, and these symbolic logos carry the promise of a revelation.

By PrstiPerje

9. Static motion —

In past years, we’ve seen the animated logos trend soar in popularity. While technology has provided the means for these impressive visual feats, 2021’s logo designers are challenging themselves to create motion within motionless logos.

By JohnBaiatul

This means an increase in motion tracers, fluid shapes, splatter particles and action lines. For businesses that look to innovate—such as tech brands—this is one logo trend sure to make a splash. It reminds customers that a brand is more than a product or a service: it is a living thing.

by GT Designs

10. Analogous color schemes —

With yearly logo design trends, we often expect to find techniques that are dazzling, revolutionary and subversive. Analogous color schemes, on the other hand, are what student designers learn about in first year color theory. This essentially means pairing colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel, and the result is a scientific approach to creating harmony (in place of the contrast of opposing colors).

By Spoon Lancer

While analogous color schemes are not necessarily new, their rising popularity in logo design may indicate a rejection of contrast. Color is one of the most important tools designers have for affecting the emotions of a viewer, and if you ask us, a little harmony is what we should all be looking forward to in 2021.

By Arthean

2021 will be an exciting year for logo trends! —

The 2021 logo design trends are an opportunity to rebrand this young decade. And with trends that focus on revitalising minimalism and classical compositions, from perspective techniques to simple shapes to symmetry, the logos of our future seem to be striving for a kind of purity. Whether or not this enthusiasm holds strong may depend on the rest of the world as much as it does these logo designers.

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junesmitth · 4 years

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11 inspiring graphic design trends for 2021

The great thing about graphic design trends is that each year arrives with the opportunity for a reset. And given the challenging shape of 2020, the design trends of 2021 may offer us the biggest breath of fresh air yet.

While past trends were driven by the promise of a new decade, borrowing from sci-fi and futuristic tech, 2021’s graphic design trends are putting people first. We sampled opinions from our global community of graphic designers, and their predictions—ranging from classic symbolism to nature elements to analogue painting—signal trends that are grounded in the here and now.

Graphic design is all about transforming the plain into something special. So let’s take a look at how the designers of 2021 are influencing the trajectory of this decade.

11 graphic design trends that will be huge in 2021:

Abstract psychedelia

Symbol revival

Retro futurism

Seamless surrealism

Authentic representation

Irreverent characters

Comics and pop art

Fine art infusion

Elements of nature

Blur and grain

Socially conscious design

1. Abstract psychedelia —

Psychedelia has its roots in the music and art scene of the 60s. It is associated with hallucinogens and creative experimentation under the backdrop of social upheaval: in short, the opening of one’s mind. In contrast from then to now, it seems to fit the times: the chaotic imagery of psychedelia fostering freedom, the sense that designers are no longer bound by traditional constraints.

In 2021, graphic designers will be reviving psychedelia through excessive color and intensely intricate abstractions that would make M.C. Escher himself dizzy. These are designs that take on a life of their own, both in their explosive arrangements and in their complexity—to the extent that no two viewings feel quite the same.

By Eliza Osmo

I was really excited when a Berlin based client asked me to make a giant psychedelic mural. I totally felt like Eliza in Wonderland wandering the streets at night, making art under the neon lights.

- Eliza Osmo

While distorted shapes and confused imagery might be the point, symmetry can make even the most complicated of these compositions feel stable. It’s as if this new psychedelia suggests there are ways to stay grounded even in the most nonsense of circumstances.

2. Symbol revival —

In design, the little things matter. Colored bars on a waving banner can unify a nation, and a shape as simple as a red octagon can save lives at a busy intersection.

Historically, symbols like these have been about universality. Whether this comes in the form of conveying warnings or identifying a cause under shared iconography, the power of classic symbols lies in their ability to transcend language. Designers are leveraging this power in 2021 to create aspirational icons of resilience, growth and empowerment.

By Yokaona

They do so by creatively incorporating recognizable symbols of power, such as goddesses, the stars and stoic lions. We’re also seeing designers modernize classic visual motifs, such as Eliza Osmo’s medieval crest or svart ink’s stained glass framing. Through classic symbols, designers are shaping the talismans we’ll need to ward away despair in the coming year.

By svart ink

I like to express myself through symbols. For Celestial Soaps the idea was to reflect the existence of the natural ingredients through symbols, as if the consumer is feeling the presence of a celestial object.

- svart ink

By Thio

3. Retro futurism —

Retro futurism, the sci-fi dreams of a bygone era, is appealing for the spectacular ways in which the past got it wrong. By now, we were expected to have flying cars, ray guns and robot maids. Instead, we have Roombas.

But through the ages, retro futurism as a visual style has prevailed due to its bold imagination with a surprisingly optimistic outlook—at least more so than our current visions of doom in shows like Black Mirror. The retro futurists believed in human progress, to the extent that even scary green martians in flying saucers would be no match for our scientific ingenuity.

For this artwork I had to think of a cool and strong woman wearing sunglasses with a reflection of a futuristic city. Then I remembered Tom Cruise! Why? Because of his sunglasses in “Top Gun”. When I found his leading lady Kelly McGillis with her retro look, her jacket and her curly hair I had found the inspiration for my artwork.

- XZEQUTEWORX

Stylistically, this optimism finds its expression through an emphasis on bright colors, computer-inspired typography, and curves—from fishbowl space helmets to arches and domes. Rather than returning us to an idealized past, 2021’s retro futurism promises to transport us back to the good old days of the days yet to come.

By Serhii Polyvanyi via Dribbble

4. Seamless surrealism —

‘Surrealism’ is one of those artistic terms people tend to associate with the inscrutable—imagery that is nonsensical by design. But what people often forget is that it contains the word ‘realism.’ The real is intertwined with the surreal, and in no year was that more deeply felt than in 2020, when the pandemics of bad fiction became our way of life.

By _Ossobüko_

I like to take characters or objects out of context to give them new attributes that help convey what the client wants.

- _Ossobüko_

Graphic designers are expressing this anxiety through surrealist collages, where images that would be normal separately become strange when combined. An apple-headed man can be ordinary from the neck down and a backyard swimming pool can contain an entire mountain range.

The illusion is seamless, making it difficult to separate one image from another. The effect is to greet the strange with nonchalance, to accept impossible combinations as one. As a high concept approach, we expect to see this trend more frequently on image-focused media such as posters, album art, and book covers.

5. Authentic representation —

The Black Lives Matter movement represents an unprecedented watershed moment of global protest. We remain hopeful that it is only the beginning of a reexamination of systemic prejudice and that its impact will continue to ripple through every industry in 2021, including graphic design.

As a designer portraying diversity is the way we can do our part for a better and more inclusive future. By portraying diversity, we inspire & encourage people of all backgrounds on their journeys and that’s such a needed and positive change.

- Fe Melo

By Dudeowl

We have already seen designers make efforts to ditch models in favor of authentic and diverse people in illustration and stock photography. We imagine that this will go even further in 2021, beyond mere inclusivity to celebration. We saw designers of color uplifted in the immediacy of the BLM protests, and the result was portraiture of black men and women in powerful and inspiring settings and poses.

By Jdodo

2021 will be the year to show how different people are and how rich our planet is exactly for that. The trend is to use images of real people with their own characteristics, flaws and uniqueness.

- IsaDesignNet

If there is one thing design should avoid, it is sameness. Highlighting various cultures, skin tones, ages and identities represents an exciting opportunity to make designs that, like authentic people, are truly one of a kind.

6. Irreverent characters —

Good design can tell a story. Great design makes that story unforgettable. For 2021, many graphic designers are looking to ditch abstract visuals in favor of quirky characters. And the more personality these characters embody, the more memorable they become.

By jcontreras

Concept illustration lies at the heart of this trend—providing not only character poses but personality in the form of a hand-drawn approach. It’s why these styles can range from detailed cross-hatching to the simplified shapes, lines, and colors of modern cartoons. The concepts themselves—suit-wearing animals and anthropomorphic sushi—signal the much-anticipated return of humor and weirdness in the months to come.

By Wintrygrey

The inspiration for this design was the old-school biker culture from the 70’s. The thing I like most about it is that the overall look reflects that the goat rides his bike like there’s no tomorrow.

- Wintrygrey

7. Comics and pop art —

Like an arch nemesis, the design styles of the past never truly die. And this year, graphic designers are resurrecting the grainy colors, the heavy inking and the action lines of vintage comics.

By WolfBell

Born of an era of primitive printing technology, comics often used halftones, or simplified dot shading, to represent color. Nowadays, this approach can breathe new life into modern minimalist trends such as flat design through grainy texture and depth. Similarly, web designers can break the grid with slanting panels and skewed shapes to create the sense of drama and motion.

By bayuRIP

In the global pandemic our medical professionals are considered our modern super heroes. I chose a comic style because when I was a kid I really liked comic books like Superman and Marvel. The comic book art style really inspired me during the design process.

- Dexterous

Though spandex-clad superheroes are not essential to this trend, the designers of 2021 are turning to the texture and illustrative techniques of their graphic novels to rescue modern design. Except for comic sans. Nothing will rescue that.

8. Fine art infusion —

There has always been a separation between fine art and design, but 2021 is less concerned with traditional borders. As a result, we are predicting painterly techniques such as acrylic brushstrokes and abstract expressionism will make their way onto shelves and screens across the world.

By LucaToni

Abstraction is one of my favorite painting directions and techniques, which allows us complete freedom of expression. Abstraction is not limited by law: colors, textures, shapes and spaces.

- LucaToni

Painting infuses designs with surface variation and depth, making them look real enough to touch. For that reason, this trend pairs well with physical products. Specifically, since fine art is associated with culture and class, it is useful for products that wish to convey an old world elegance—like wine labels and cosmetic packaging.

Painting also results in darker tones than those created in computers, and this gives designs an air of solemnity. Though this might not sound cheery, designs like these naturally invite the viewer to take a moment and reflect.

9. Elements of nature —

There’s no avoiding it: many people spent much of this year cooped up inside. That would go double for designers who might have experienced their work-from-home freelance lifestyle begin to resemble solitary confinement. It may be no surprise then that the outside world will be making its way inside 2021’s graphic designs.

So many of us have felt cooped up in 2020 with COVID, and have a strong desire to spend time in green spaces. Even looking at photographs of these places can feel soothing if you are stuck in apartment. I think we’ll see a greater appreciation for these kinds of visuals coming through in 2021.

- Megan Dell, Director of Design at 99designs

Whether this trend manifests in the form of leafy patterns, earth-tone color schemes or illustrations of breathtaking vistas, graphic design is going green. The best part about this trend is we are seeing it reach beyond environmentally-oriented products.

The effect of nature imagery is to impart serenity, renewal and growth—all of which we’ll be breathlessly anticipating in 2021.

What particularly influenced me in this piece was a quote I read: “Nature is like a woman who enjoys disguising herself, and whose different disguises, revealing now one part of her and now another, permit those who study her and assiduously to hope that one day they may know the whole of her person.”

- vanessa ives

10. Blur and grain —

Gradients and color transitions have been a popular trend for a few years now. In 2021, many designers will be looking to veer off on a new tangent: into even more blurry and blended backgrounds. Add in a grain filter, and these designs manage to walk the line between feeling transitory and real-to-the-touch.

By iva

Blending unusual colours with intense blur and grainy textures is a mood.

- Claire Taylor, Senior Product Designer at 99designs

The benefit of this trend is that it allows foreground elements such as bold typography or evocative imagery to pop against a near indiscernible background. It also thrives in gloomier contexts as opposed to the cheery gradients of yesteryear. There is an inherent grunge and grime to grainy textures, and a blurred image can evoke shadows and the unseen. This trend is a mood, and we expect to see it more and more as the tool of choice for designs with a dark side.

11. Socially conscious design —

As the dawn of a new decade, it seems fitting that 2020 was the year the world understood how much it needed to change. From healthcare to environmentalism to Black Lives Matter to pandemic preparedness, 2020 laid bare the many challenges to come. The good news is that this conflict might just be a turning point, provided everyone does their part.

With this in mind, designers from all over the world are stepping up to the plate to contribute their talents for the betterment of their community. We’ve seen this in the rise in creative hand-lettering that delivers messages of unity, responsibility and advice. It comes in the form of protest art. It comes in illustrations that personalize mask-wearing. Whether through charity work or personal design projects, 2021 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in which design gets involved.

In 2021 we’ll see more designs and imagery resonating with a movement, or social & environmental issues. I’ve seen more and more brands rallying around issues and connecting with their users on a deeper level.

- Tristan Le Breton, Creative Director at 99designs

Ready for the biggest 2021 graphic design trends? —

As the start of a decade, this past year may have proved to be a disappointment. But the graphic designers of 2021 are determined to turn it around in their own way. Out of tragedy, they are giving us irreverent characters. Out of self-isolation, they are giving us nature. And out of confusion, they are giving us our symbols of speech. Each year of graphic design trends will always bring change, and it is the designers who will determine whether that is for better or worse.

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junesmitth · 4 years

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Lockdown monsters: kids’ artworks reimagined by creative caregivers

The majority of freelancing designers are accustomed to working at home but for those living with kids, the logistics of lockdown came as quite a shock. Not only were creative caregivers experiencing a sharp influx of Zoom interruptions, but they were gaining a fresh source of energy and inspiration on a daily basis, all thanks to the sudden, constant presence of their family members in their day-to-day work lives.

When we surveyed the global freelance design community, 48% reported having to balance additional responsibilities like home schooling, extra childcare and distance learning in addition to their freelance work. Peace and quiet? Balance? Out the window–at least in the beginning.

52% of freelancing designers claimed that having loved ones around improved their creative process.

It’s not all clutter and noise, however. We asked designers how having other people in their work space impacted their creative process and found that a whopping 43% said it actually had a positive effect. Additionally, when we asked parents about sharing their workspace with their families, we were met with an even higher figure of positivity as 52% claimed that having loved ones around improved their creative process!

We can’t help but think that these are facts worth celebrating. Feeling inspired, we challenged our creative community to professionally reimagine their little ones’ quarantine artwork and share their parenting wins. As you can imagine, the entries were particularly heartwarming and hilarious.

Scroll to see the winning illustrations and read stories from creative parents surfing the wave of 2020.

“Dogcula” by J Studio –

by J Studio

My nephew and I had lots of fun playing games, making things and conjuring up unbelievable stories, one of which inspired this drawing.

- J Studio

“This is the drawing my nephew made for me a few months ago, when he was staying at my home during quarantine. I love spending time with him, he’s so mischievous (and cute). We had lots of fun playing games, making things and conjuring up unbelievable stories, one of which inspired this drawing.”

“Sea monster” by C!N –

“The artist behind this drawing is my youngest son, Dante. When he was six years old he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD. One of the characteristics associated with these conditions means you can become obsessed with things and, in his case, it’s boats and trains. His dream has always been to be captain of a ship, but his problem is that he’s also afraid of what lives amongst the depths of the sea, particularly large marine animals.

…without realizing it, he took a huge step to face his fears, which for me is something truly exciting.

- C!N

Earlier this year, before quarantine began, Dante saw the sea for the first time when we travelled to the beach. After years of only drawing ships and trains, this trip seemed to spark a change in him and suddenly he drew this! I asked him afterward about the drawing, he said, “It’s just a joke!” (Genial! Atrapamos muchos! literally translates as “Great! We caught many!”). This may seem like a small thing but without realizing it he took a huge step to face his fears, which for me is something truly exciting and is why I chose this particular drawing.”

“Rock monster” by Frankfigueredo –

One day he asked me where rocks came from… my ‘adult’ answer could not persuade him so he imagined they came from a giant rock monster.

- Frankfigueredo

“The littlest one at home is eight years old and loves to collect rocks from a nearby river. Like any child his age, he is very curious and one day he asked me where rocks came from, worried about the different sizes and types.

Unfortunately, my ‘adult’ answer could not persuade him so he imagined they came from a giant rock monster. I chose this piece, which he made earlier this year of said monster, to honor this funny story.”

“Rabbit” by Stenaleo –

I hope my interpretation of her drawing will show Nina that even a ‘bad’ work isn’t so hopeless if you just add a little bit more imagination.

- Stenaleo

“The original drawing was made recently by my niece, Nina. She tried to do a rabbit, but unsatisfied with the result, she scribbled over the picture with a red pencil. I don’t consider this work a failure, I see within it a unique and funny character. I hope my interpretation of her drawing will show Nina that even a ‘bad’ work isn’t so hopeless if you just add a little bit more imagination.”

“Coco Pajaro” by ricardomacia —

Children have loads of creativity and on so many occasions we need their vision to bring to life otherworldly characters.

- ricardomacia

“On the right is my nephew Luka’s drawing. Due to quarantine, my sister asked me to look after him for a weekend, so we had a lot of fun watching movies and doing what he likes most: drawing. As he also really likes music, he created a rock monster named ‘Coco Pajaro’.

We both had a lot of fun creating these illustrations; children have loads of creativity and on so many occasions we need their vision to bring to life otherworldly characters.”

“Rainbow Color Monster” by Binhsketch –

I drew this picture with the rather noisy support of my wife and two sons; your contest has given us some time to work together as a team.

- Binhsketch

“My son is over five years old and he painted this piece back in July 2020. I was so surprised when he showed me it, I thought I must capture that proud moment with the photos and story behind it.

According to the artist himself: – It is a large and powerful monster that can destroy large buildings. – It eats everything and spits everything out like a rainbow. – It can attack humans. – But, it’s always fun, only attacking when someone makes him angry.

I asked if this monster had a name and my son replied immediately, ‘His name is Rainbow Color Monster’. I then drew this picture with the rather noisy support of my wife and two sons; your contest has given us some time to work together as a team.”

Reimagining freelancing in 2020 —

It’s no surprise that kids are an inspiring bunch. What’s incredible is the depth of impact that these children have had on their caregivers’ work lives during such a chaotic period.

For more insights about what it means to be a freelancer in 2020, check out our report “Design Without Borders: The Freelance Revolution”.

Download the report in full

...and catch a glimpse into freelancers' lives.

Let's go!

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Lockdown monsters: kids’ artworks reimagined by creative caregivers posted first on https://www.lilpackaging.com

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junesmitth · 4 years

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10 dazzling packaging design trends for 2021

As the year draws to a close, we’re looking forward to the new packaging design trends that 2021 has in store for us. At first glance, they look pretty different from each other—you’ve got simple geometry right alongside super-detailed ink drawings and fleshed-out characters. But there’s actually a cohesive theme here, and that’s a pivot away from packaging design that immediately reads as “commercial” and toward packaging that feels like art.

This year, we saw just how critical ecommerce is to our everyday lives. That’s not changing anytime soon. With ecommerce, you lose the experience of walking through a store and experiencing a curated brand ambience, something even the most immersive website can’t compensate for. So packaging designers and business owners are upping the ante to deliver a piece of branding right to your door.

The goal isn’t to replace the in-store experience, but to meet consumers where they are now and where they’ll be in the future. It’s all about creating a new, more immersive brand experience through the unique packaging trends of 2021.

Here are the biggest packaging design trends for 2021:

Tiny illustrated patterns that reveal what’s inside

Authentically vintage unboxing experience

Hyper-simplistic geometry

Packaging dressed in fine art

Technical and anatomical ink drawings

Organically shaped color blocking

Product names front and center

Picture-perfect symmetry

Story-driven packaging featuring quirky characters

Solid all-over color

1. Tiny illustrated patterns that reveal what’s inside —

Patterns and illustrations can be so much more than just embellishment. They can reveal what a product is all about. In 2021, expect to see a lot of intricate patterns and tiny illustrations on packaging, and expect it to be doing one specific job: giving you a hint about what’s inside.

Tea packaging design via Gamal Assy

These illustrations are often simplified or abstract, giving you more of an artistic rendering of what’s inside the package than a literal look at the product itself. For example, instead of a photo of actual tortilla chips, a chip brand might decorate its bags with a triangle pattern that’s reminiscent of tortilla chips.

In 2021, expect to see packaging design that uses small illustrations and patterns in whimsical ways just like that. Intricate patterns like Gstar’s design for Nourish or the cute, minimal popcorn pattern by Cime show you everything you’re getting without overwhelming you with a complicated, overwhelming image.

Packaging design by maneka

2. Authentically vintage unboxing experience —

Vintage-inspired packaging has been a trend for a while now, so what’s different about it this year? The fact that the whole unboxing experience looks so authentic, you’ll think you travelled through time.

In 2021, you’re not going to see a bunch of generically vintage-inspired packaging. You’re going to see packaging that has an authentically old-school look and feel that is taking things further by creating a complete immersive experience. You’ll come across packaging designs that look almost indistinguishable from something your great-grandmother would have used, transporting you to a different moment in time.

That means going beyond logos and labels and encompassing the whole brand experience, making use of vintage-inspired textures, bottle shapes, materials, outer packaging and imagery choices. It’s no longer enough to give a package a few fun retro details. Now the package itself feels like it was plucked from a shelf that was frozen in time.

Packaging design by Giocovision

Packaging design via CRUCE Design Group

3. Hyper-simplistic geometry —

Another one of the packaging trends we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2021 is designs that make use of extremely simplistic, yet bold geometric concepts.

We’ll see bold geometry with neat lines, sharp angles and expressive colors giving packaging designs an edge (literally). Much like the pattern trend, this trend gives consumers a sneak peek at what a product stands for. But unlike patterns and illustrations, which depict what’s inside the box, these designs are abstract to the extreme. It may seem simple at first, but it’s an incredibly impactful way for brands to make a statement and leave a lasting impression.

Beer label design by exsenz

4. Packaging dressed in fine art —

In 2021, expect to see lots of packaging designs where the packaging itself is a piece of art. This trend is mostly gaining momentum with high-end products, but you could see it on mid-range products too. Designers are drawing inspiration from paintings and paint textures, either playfully integrating them into their designs or making them the focal point. The goal here is to blur the line between packaging design and fine art, demonstrating that anything, even a bottle of wine that will eventually end up in the recycling, is beautiful and unique.

Still life painting inspired cheese packaging via The Clients Agency

While some designers like to draw inspiration from the old masters (like the cheese packaging above), this trend largely draws from abstract paintings and fluid painting techniques. Texture is key here, and packaging designers are emulating the kinds of textures and effects you’d see on a long-dried oil painting or a freshly-poured resin painting.

Can design via Andrea León

5. Technical and anatomical ink drawings —

Seeing the theme yet? Overall, 2021’s upcoming packaging trends feel way more “art gallery” than “commercial graphic design.” Alongside bold geometry and tactile textures, you’re also going to see a lot of your favorite (and soon-to-be favorite) products packed up in designs that feel like they were pulled right out of an anatomical illustration or engineering blueprint.

Product packaging design by Emir Alcic

Perhaps it’s because 2020 forced us to slow down and reevaluate what’s really worth doing, or maybe it’s a response to the years that minimalism reigned supreme in packaging designs. In any case, prepare to see more designs with incredible detail that look and feel like they were sketched and inked by hand for an ancient (and sometimes surreal) science publication.

6. Organically shaped color blocking —

Color blocking is nothing new. But color blocking in blobs and blips and spirals and dips? So 2021.

Packaging design by monostudio

What separates 2021’s organic color blocking from previous color blocking trends are the textures, the unique color combinations and how much the blocks vary in shape and weight. These aren’t clear, straight-edged boxes of color that make perfect grids and clean lines; they’re uneven, unbalanced, freckled and dappled collages that feel inspired by an eclectic flower garden or a dalmatian’s coat. They feel real, they feel organic.

Packaging design by monostudio

Patterns are blocked on top of colors, designers play with unexpected color palettes and shapes like spirals and squiggles find their way into these packaging designs, like JianBranding’s design for Little Rituals.

7. Product names front and center —

Instead of making an illustration or logo the packaging’s focal point, some designers are instead choosing to make the product’s name the star of their designs. These are designs that get extremely creative with lettering to allow the product’s name to take center stage. Each name on these packaging designs feels like an artwork in itself, giving the whole design a distinctive personality.

Packaging design by Pepper Pack Design

With this kind of packaging, there’s no doubt about what the product’s called or what kind of product it is, making this the perfect packaging trend for product-focussed businesses that aim to increase brand awareness. These designs rely on strong typography that can carry the brand’s whole aesthetic. Any additional design elements are just there to make the name shine.

Supplement packaging design via Igor Kovalev

8. Picture-perfect symmetry —

It’s not uncommon for a year’s top trends to contradict each other. In fact, it happens almost every year, and 2021’s packaging trends are no different. While some packaging designers play with organically imperfect shapes in their designs, others are swinging far in the opposite direction and creating pieces with perfect symmetry. These designs appeal to our sense of order, giving us a sense of grounding amid the chaos.

Packaging design by Mj.vass

Label design by Sisia Du

Not all the designs that fit into this trend are tight, intricate designs. Some, like Raluca De’s design for Yerba Mate original, are looser, more disconnected patterns that incorporate negative space for a less closed-in feel. They’re just as perfectly symmetrical as the more complex designs, though, which creates the visually satisfying sense of perfection that’s characteristic for this trend.

Packaging design by Raluca De

9. Story-driven packaging featuring quirky characters —

Storytelling is a key part of any effective branding, and in 2021, you’re going to see lots of brands extending their storytelling to their packaging.

2021 will bring us characters that go beyond being mascots to seemingly living their own fleshed-out stories. And instead of just being static mascots, you’ll see these characters in scenes, like you’re looking at an individual panel of a graphic novel. So instead of having to head to the brand’s website to read their story or inferring their brand story through the ads they run, you’ll have the main character delivered right to your door, telling you a story right from your buy’s package.

These characters bring their brands’ stories to life, often in a cartoonish, fun way that makes you feel like you’re reading a comic book as your eye travels through the packaging design. One example is St. Pelmeni’s stunning Peachocalypse design, which gives us a full scene of a giant peach attacking a city.

Beer can design by St. Pelmeni

10. Solid all-over color —

Right alongside bold packaging that reads like a comic book, you’ll see products packaged in single colors. Although it’s working with a far more limited palette, this packaging trend has no less character than any of the others in this list. In 2021, expect to see packaging designs that let the copy and (often unconventional) color choices do all the talking.

Packaging design by Archangelo

One thing you’ll notice about these packaging designs is that for the most part, they’re using bright, bold colors. That’s what makes this trend feel so fresh—this isn’t the sterile all-white packaging your Macbook came in; these designs are loud, in-your-face and take a decidedly bold tone. And in the instances where they don’t, like Eva Hilla’s design for Babo, they choose an unusual shade that creates a mood and guides the buyer’s eye directly to the copy. By doing this, they build anticipation by telling the buyer about the product, rather than showing it immediately.

Packaging design by ANAMOLLY

Ready for the biggest 2021 packaging design trends? —

If you’re planning on unleashing a new product on the market in 2021—or redesigning a current product’s look—pack it up in one (or more!) of today’s hottest trends. Great packaging design gets buyers pumped about your product before they even open it, so don’t miss the opportunity to wow them from the second they see it.

Want to wow your customers with amazing packaging?

Our designers can create stand-out packaging design just for you.

Get packaging

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junesmitth · 4 years

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How designer Shwin’s illustrative style breathes life into statistics

Last week we published our long-awaited report on the freelance industry: “Design without Borders – The Freelance Revolution”. And thanks to the amazing design work by Top Level designer Shwin it looks pretty stunning, if we may say so ourselves. Here we talked to him about his design career, how he got into design and his approach to this challenging project.

Designer Shwin’s illustrations make Design without Borders stand out. Download the report here.

Shwin is a British-born graphic designer based in Vietnam. A self-taught talent, he joined 99designs early on in his career to learn new techniques and build on his skills. While he admits to never winning contests initially, Shwin has seen significant growth on the 99designs platform. Now with nine years under his belt as a professional designer, his career has seen him break into London working for some of the city’s biggest agencies and clients. Specialising in branding and illustration, Shwin believes diversity is key, so he never shies away from a new challenge.

In taking on this project, Shwin felt it had great potential for creativity. By combining his flair for beautifully crafted illustrations with new, experimental brush styles, he breathed new life into the information. And the end result? A colourful and edgy expression of technical data that you can’t take your eyes off.

How long have you been designing?

9 years, but I wouldn’t consider myself ‘a good designer’ for all 9 of them! I used 99designs early on to see how I could tackle different projects – I but I never won any contests because I was frankly terrible ha. However, this was how I learnt my skills, taking on projects and learning new techniques for each one. Eventually, I won one.

How did you get into design? I was always encouraged to draw when I was younger by my parents and I think that moving that onto my computer was just the natural progression.

Diversity is definitely the key for me.

I didn’t go to uni, youtube was my tutor and my bedroom was the campus. So I was thrilled when I finally broke into London, working for the biggest agencies and clients, as I wasn’t sure it was possible without a degree.

What would you say is your speciality in terms of design?

by Shwin

I love branding and illustration most but, as you may be able to see from my work, I like to take on all kinds of projects and doing them in all different styles. Diversity is definitely the key for me.

What was it about this project that made you want to take it on?

I’ve worked with 99d on a few projects before and they’ve always been good fun and the project itself had a lot of potential for creativity.

The project itself had a lot of potential for creativity.

Also, it’s a big endorsement of your work to get a call from the big guys.

How did you approach this brief?

I started experimenting with illustration styles and brush strokes then created some drafts which we narrowed down together.

What is your favourite part of the end piece?

I like the illustrative style. I think overall it’s great to look at stats in an engaging way.

Love Shwin's work?

Hire him for your next project!

Let's go!

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junesmitth · 4 years

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Comparing the 7 best free website builders: which is right for you?

What’s better than user-friendly website builders to help first-time business owners? The answer is: free website builders.

The people who need website builders the most are also the ones who don’t have much to spend. If you have a DIY spirit, but don’t have money to spare, free website builders let you create your site how you want without the investment. The question is, of all the free web builders out there, which is the best for you in particular?

Illustration by OrangeCrush

In this guide, we review the best free website builders out there, along with their pros, cons and whom they’re recommended for. But first, take a look at the next section to see if a web builder is what you need.

Can free website builders help you? —

What is a website builder? Typically, they’re software or applications that allow inexperienced users to create working websites using premade templates or themes. The range of customization they offer varies—some are simply fill-in-the-blanks boilerplates, while others are more of a blank canvas.

Although they can’t compete with professional web designers on the quality of a website, their goal is to provide convenience, speed and/or a low price; they’re meant as a helping hand to first-timers, or else a faster, cheaper alternative for business owners in a pinch.

Of all the ways to design a website, website builders are the easiest to use—for better or worse. If you want a pixel-perfect website that is unique and on brand, you might want to look into other options to get a professional looking website; but if you want something quick and easy that was due yesterday, a website builder is your best bet.

But where do free website builders fit in? Free web builders offer the same convenience, but at no cost—at least, no traditional cost. The trade-off is often something like forced ads or a freemium model, where more alluring features are locked behind a paywall. Still, they give virtually anyone the ability to publish a live, functioning website and even help with the setup, making them popular for new businesses.

You won’t know for sure if one of these free website builders is right for you until you take a look at what’s out there. To help you make that call, we reviewed seven popular free website builders below.

The best free website builders —

1. Webnode

via Webnode

Some free website builders try to entice users with extra customization features, but Webnode leans the other way: quicker, simpler web design. While you can’t create complicated websites for free, you can make basic ones in mere minutes, perfect for temporary, one-time websites for events like weddings.

Webnode’s design options are stilted, as you’d expect. That’s not to say the sites don’t look good — they do — but the user has very little customization options and Webnode free sites are more cookie-cutter than those created with other free web builders. There’s also not a lot of storage in the free version, so it’s best for small sites.

Pros:

Quick and easy

Just a small ad banner in the footer

Cons:

Very limited customization

Only 100MB of storage

Free domain format:

your-site.webnode.com

Recommended for…

single-use sites (particularly events)

basic business sites or online portfolios

2. SITE123

via SITE123

SITE123 makes good on its claim of being the “by far the easiest website builder,” and its name is quite fitting. Like Webnode, SITE123 caters more towards speed and convenience than customization or design options. In fact, you don’t get to choose your own template. Instead, SITE123 chooses one for you based on your answers to a preliminary survey, the epitome of speed over style.

Still, there’s plenty about SITE123 that stands out against other free website builders. It has reportedly excellent 24/7 customer service, a huge perk for beginners with questions. Echoing their commitment to easy usability, they also offer one-click installation, a generous free image library, and an onboarding assistant to auto-generate a site for you. Although the 500MB of storage is common, its unlimited pages are not.

Pros:

Very user-friendly

Excellent 24/7 customer service

Auto-generated starting template

Unlimited pages

Cons:

Very little creative freedom; can’t even choose template

Domains end in .me, not .com

Free domain format:

yoursite.site123.me

Recommended for…

Users who prioritize customer service

Quick, do-it-for-me web design

3. IM Creator

via IM Creator

Formerly known as XPRS, IM Creator is one of the quickest and easiest of the quick & easy free web builders. The design process is more or less choosing your template, and from there the majority of your site is auto-generated. While that may frustrate users who want more control or customization, for users who want something fast and painless, it’s perfect.

The templates themselves are good, and the visuals are more than satisfactory, but the features and options are bare-boned. What IM Creator offers that others don’t is the opportunity for students, artists and NGOs to get a premium site for free — just submit an application to see if you’re eligible.

Pros:

Quickest and easiest

Potentially free subscription for students, artists or NGOs

Auto-generates most of your site, if you’re worried about designing yourself

Cons:

Bare-bones features

Very little customization

Free domain format:

im-creator.com/free/yourname/yoursite

Recommended for…

Students, artists and NGOs

Users who want to do minimal designing

4. Wix

via Wix

One of the most popular free website builders, Wix is quickly becoming the go-to brand for creating small websites. Although their paid options have much more versatility in what you can do, the free option is still rather generous.

With the free plan, you only have 500MB of storage and bandwidth, but that’s more than enough for basic websites. The real drawback is the forced ad, though a small price to pay for a live site that’s free forever.

The editor’s usability is another advantage of Wix. For starters, they have an onboarding system to suggest themes or even generate an automated ADI template. This is a time-saver for people who prioritize speed and turnaround, but also a useful place to start, as you’re free to customize specific aspects of the site later.

Pros:

Easy to use

More features and capabilities than other free website builders

Helpful onboarding

Plenty of diverse themes

Cons:

Forced ads

Once you publish your site, you can’t change your template

Free domain format:

yourname.wixsite.com/yoursite

Recommended for…

small business websites

personal portfolio sites or blogs where more customization is prefered

5. Weebly

via Weebly

A top contender against Wix, Weebly offers more advanced options than the other free website builders on this list. Although they have fewer features than Wix, in general Weebly’s site editor functions largely the same as Wix, including the drag-and-drop interface.

Where Weebly shines is its practical SEO tools, which are available in the free version. In the right hands, these options can make all the difference and provide a great launching platform for expansive digital marketing campaigns. This, combined with their scalability, makes Weebly a good choice for small businesses with big plans. Unfortunately, their ecommerce functionality is only available for paid plans.

Pros:

Excellent SEO tools

More customization features than most other free website builders

Cons:

Forced ad

Not quite as robust as Wix

Free domain format:

yoursite.weebly.com

Recommended for…

Serious businesses anticipating fast growth

Businesses prioritizing SEO and digital marketing campaigns

6. Jimdo

via Jimdo

Getting a free website is one thing, but getting a free ecommerce website is another. Luckily, Jimdo offers all the essentials for opening your own (limited) online store for free to help aspiring online retailers get their feet wet.

Jimdo actually offers a bit more than other free website builders in way of features, but the trade-off is that you can only sell five products, and your site will not be indexed by search engines. Still, you’ll be able to accept payments through PayPal, not to mention the 2GB of bandwidth — more than average for free web builders — and 500MB of storage.

Pros:

No forced ads (just a footnote)

More bandwidth than other free website builders

Complete ecommerce transactions

Cons:

Can only sell five products

Limited design options

Bad for SEO — sites not indexed by search engines

Site editor not as user-friendly as other free web builders

Free domain format:

your-site.jimdosite.com

Recommended for…

First-time online retailers who want as little risk as possible

Retailers who want to test experimental products

7. Mozello

via Mozello

Although Mozello offers mostly standard features, where it stands out most is multilingual options: Mozello is one of the few free website builders that lets you use more than one language. Right away, if you’re dealing with a multilingual audience, Mozello might be the best — or only — option available.

Their other features are nothing special, though, yet adequate enough. They do have ecommerce capabilities with up to five products on the free plan and PayPal integration, but you’ll have to pay for your own SSL certificate. The editor itself is a bit simplistic, with limited customization, although easy enough for beginners.

Pros:

Multilingual options

Ecommerce capability

No forced ads (just a footnote)

Cons:

No SSL certificate included

Can only sell five products

Simplistic editor

Free domain format:

your-site.mozello.com

Recommended for…

Sites where multiple languages is a priority

Why sometimes it pays to pay —

For non-designers using free web builders, you pretty much have two options: learn web design yourself, or stick closely to the templates. But what if you have an amazing site idea, but not the technical skills to bring it to life? If that’s the case, you have only one option: work with a professional web designer.

Professional designers can take your ideas and apply years of design expertise to bring them to fruition. You end up with your dream site, custom-built with the best web design techniques.

Still unsure what web solution is right for you? Try the quiz below to figure it out!

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junesmitth · 4 years

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Design Without Borders 2020: the takeaways

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.

That’s exactly what we found when we surveyed the global freelance design community and asked them to weigh in on their year. Amongst the challenges of 2020 were stories of connection, personal growth and remarkable resilience during one of the biggest global crises the world has ever seen. We collected the significant takeaways from our annual report in this handy infographic.

Want to know what it really means to be a freelance creative during a pandemic? Read on to get the scoop.

Creativity thrives in 2020 —

by Shwin

Read the full report

Join the freelance revolution!

Let's go!

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junesmitth · 4 years

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How freelance creatives are thriving in 2020

From a global pandemic to climate instability and political uncertainty—we’ve seen it all during this crazy year. Yet as everyone prepared to stay (and work!) from home, freelancers already had the upper hand. After all, they’ve been doing this for years.

For the second year in a row, we asked the global freelance design community to open up about their 2020 experiences in our annual survey. From Sydney to Salzburg, 11,362 freelance creators across 147 countries shared their insights and stories in the most wide-reaching survey of the sector to date.

We were blown away.

Despite facing an unprecedented moment in history, freelance creatives are demonstrating a remarkable ability to adapt… and thrive.

Read Design Without Borders

Find out what happened when the whole world went freelance.

Let's go!

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junesmitth · 4 years

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What does a web designer do?

Depending on whom you ask, web designers seem to do it all these days. That’s because the term “web designer” is often used as an all-encompassing label for anyone who creates websites.

Design by OrangeCrush

The truth is a bit more complicated than that. It takes a lot of planning, content creation, artistic effort, coding and hired specialists to make a website a reality. Web designers are one of those specialists, but they usually have a very specific role within the whole process. Whether you’re looking to become a web designer or looking to hire one, it’s important to familiarize yourself with what exactly web designers do and don’t do. Otherwise, you might end up wasting time and money. With that in mind, let’s walk through the typical responsibilities of a web designer and where they fit into the web development process.

What is web design? —

Web design is the process of establishing the aesthetic appearance of a web page, including how content is arranged and how the elements of design are implemented. Web designers are typically focused on what is called the “front-end” of the website, the part of the website users actually see and interact with (as opposed to the “back end” code that makes the website function).

Web designers are responsible for the visual design of a web page. Design by wildanya

This means they can be responsible for choosing everything from the photos and imagery, the fonts, shape language, color scheme, buttons, as well as how all of these elements fit together. They use design software (such as Photoshop or Sketch) to create mockups, or image-based representations of how the final website should look once code is applied.

With that said, web designers are typically not responsible for building a working website—they focus on establishing the visual design only. Developers write the code that makes websites work, and website development requires a different skill set and sensibilities from design.

Where does a web designer fit into the process? —

In order to understand what a web designer does, let’s briefly go over the most common roles involved in the steps to create a website.

Website strategist: Conducts in-depth market research to establish the business goals for the overall website and individual pages.

Graphic designer: Creates visual brand elements—logo, color scheme, typography—and graphic assets—illustrations and icons—that are used on the website.

Copywriter: Creates all written content—from headlines to body copy to button text—across the website.

UX (user experience) designer: Focuses on the user’s needs, and designs skeletal web page layouts (called wireframes) that optimize website elements around user behaviors and expectations.

UI (user interface) designer: Designs interactive elements such as buttons and forms.

Web designer: Focuses on all of the visual elements of a website, and turns wireframe layouts into finished web page designs.

Front end web developer: Uses formatting languages and code (HTML, CSS, Javascript) to implement the web design onto a web browser.

Back end web developer: Uses coding language to develop more complex functionality behind the scenes of a web page.

It typically takes multiple specialists to create a website, including web designers. Illustration by Konstantin Kostenko

In short, a web designer refers to the goals set by a website strategist and a UX designer’s wireframe, and combines the content from graphic designers, copywriters and UI designers into a finished web page mockup. Developers then take that design mockup file, separate and export the graphic elements, and use code to turn this into a live web page. This all means that if you are looking to hiring a web designer, you should have your strategy and most of your website content either roughed out or finished.

With all that said, do take these job descriptions with a grain of salt. They are generalizations and describe the traditional definitions of these roles. As mentioned earlier, many people use the term “web designer” broadly, so it can mean different things to different people. There can be overlap between roles—most web designers do their own market research, have graphic design and UX, and some can even double as developers (especially on the front end). It is also not uncommon for companies (or clients) to combine roles and responsibilities depending on their budget. Always make sure before you start a project that you are on the same page about your expectations for the role.

What are a web designer’s responsibilities? —

Let’s get into a step by step breakdown of everything a web designer generally has to be responsible for in order to create finished web pages.

Web designers create website mockups in a design program like Photoshop. Image via Adobe.

What a web designer does

Visual design and layout: Often using wireframes and site maps, web designers order and arrange website content to optimize both visual communication, hierarchy and aesthetic sensibilities.

Mobile and responsive design: Web designers also design the look of mobile and tablet versions of web pages.

Static mockup files: Web designers create image files that represent the final look of the web page.

Exportable design assets: Web designers layer their mockup files so that each page element can be easily separated and exported for developers to implement piece-by-piece onto a working web page.

Photo editing: Web designers typically must be able to edit media assets that appear on the page.

Formatting: Web designers often use some formatting languages (especially HTML and CSS) to implement and test their designs in web browsers.

Website code is typically handled by web developers rather than web designers. Design by PANG3STU

What a web designer doesn’t do

Coding: Web designers focus on the visuals and are usually not responsible for coding the website.

Writing: Web designers should not be expected to write any website copy. Many use lorem ipsum placeholder text in their designs if the copy is not already prepared.

Branding: Web designers are not responsible for creating logos or making broad visual brand choices as establishing the color scheme and fonts to be used on corporate assets outside of the web page.

Illustration: Web designers typically do not create illustrations for the website. They incorporate graphic assets made by other professionals into their design. Some designers may design custom elements where needed.

Photography: Web design and photography are separate disciplines. If the client has not hired a photographer, it is very common for web designers to select and incorporate stock photos into their design, the license of which the client must purchase.

Animation: Custom animations should go through an interaction designer or professional animator.

Market research: While web designers do perform some competitor research ahead of their design, they do not have access to all of the data, analytics, and expertise that an in-house marketing professional would. Usually, web designers depend on clients to deliver this information to them.

What skills do web designers need to have? —

Becoming a web designer involves learning a number of skills. Design by damuhra

If you are thinking of becoming a web designer yourself, you should consider the kind of skills you will need in order to set yourself up for success. Although a college degree is certainly not a bad idea, it is increasingly common these days for designers to be self-taught, and there are plenty of web design tutorials available online.

Graphic design knowledge

At the end of the day, web designers are designers, and even if they aren’t making logos, they should know how to combine text, copy, images, and color in a way that is visually pleasing. In particular, they should know how to strategically leverage the principles of design to create a desired effect on a viewer. This also includes knowledge of design history, knowing which design trends are still useful and which are overdone and tired.

Industry practices

Web design has been an established career path for over two decades now, and a number of design conventions and standard practices have been established with time. Because websites are software that users are meant to find intuitive, it is important to play into these conventions to meet user expectations, even while putting your own artistic spin on them. These conventions usually have to do with an approach to a design, and they range from standard website layouts, grid systems, mobile-first design and more. This is gained partially through experience, but also by paying attention to industry conferences and talks, like those posted to awwwards YouTube channel.

Learning some web development can be useful for web designers. Illustration by Sevarika

Software skills

Although the basics of a web page layout can start with a paper and pencil, eventually web designers need to use software to create files their team and/or clients can use. Photoshop is one of the most common software used for web design, but UX prototyping apps like Sketch have become increasingly popular amongst web designers. For more on this, refer to our list of the best web design software.

Web development knowledge

Although coding should typically be left to a developer, creating a website is a technical undertaking no matter which way you slice it. Web designers should be aware of technical capabilities and limitations, which is why it is often helpful to have some familiarity with code to know what design choices will work and what won’t. Some design effects or textures may be difficult to implement with code, and some may result in file sizes that slow the loading of a web page.

Where can you find a web designer? —

If you need to hire a web designer or you are curious about the options web designers have to find work, there are a number of possibilities. Many work in agencies and can be found through referrals from past employers or other colleagues. A common place to find web designers looking for work are professional networking and job sites such as LinkedIn.

Freelance web designers are easier find and hire these days than ever before. Illustration by Natalia Maca

But instead of wading through the profiles of all the users on a general purpose job listing site, a creative platform like 99designs can give you access to a global pool of professional freelance web designers. You can work with designers two ways: search for designers and contact one to negotiate rates and work one-to-one in a secure project space or you can run a contest in which you submit a project brief and multiple designers compete by submitting sample web page designs.

Find a web designer today —

Web designers have a role to play in the building of a website, but contrary to popular opinion, they don’t do everything. They are largely responsible for the visual construction of a web page. But considering that the visuals are the part of the website that users interact with, it is a big job worthy of a dedicated position. In order to get a standout web design, make sure you’re working with a web designer who knows their role and how to do it well.

Want to get the perfect web design?

Work with our talented designers to make it happen.

Let's go!

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