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From expressive typography to bold minimalism, Drupa’s 2023 design trends

Drupa identifies six design trends we shouldn’t miss.

Trend No. 1: Expressive typography
Typography is one of the most essential elements of graphic designers. In order to give the individual letters more character and to convey essential messages demonstratively and decisively, designers resort to expressive typography. This is no wonder, because, in a visually oriented era, it makes sense words evolve to become more pictorial. In the new year, accessible software such as Glyphs makes it easy to create your own font that is an ideal fit for your business or brand.

Trend No. 2: Branded illustrations
Brand illustrations can make complex messages simple and also add character and feeling to a company’s brand. Big companies prefer using branded illustrations, and smaller companies also use their advantages for themselves. By creating their own unique look and feel, they establish their own distinctive visual identity that will inevitably be associated with them, even if no logo or lettering is used. After all, illustrations can easily tell a story or an idea by combining visual elements with fine art. Also, audiences love illustrations, mainly because they are relatable, personal and usually creative. Branded illustrations also add creativity and style to any platform where it exists.

Trend No. 3: Motion
Advancements in design technology have made it possible to create high-quality, moving images that can be used for both indoor and outdoor advertising. The world of motion graphics has experienced a big boost over the last few years. From kinetic typography to isometric shapes, there exists a huge variety for experimenting with motion graphics. In a world where audiences’ attention spans are increasingly diminished by the constant stream of content across all channels, moving image formats attract more interest simply because the recipient can’t catch them in a single glance.

Trend No. 4: Bold minimalism
Unlike trends like branded illustrations, bold minimalism is an industrial design style characterized by clean, simple lines and shapes. The focus is on functionality, so decorations are kept to a minimum. In graphic design, industrial elements like small icons and badges are often used to add depth and interest and can be combined with expressive typography for an overall effect. In contrast to this is the trend toward maximalism. Yet, here, too, striking fonts can play an important role. If the tone of voice and aesthetics of a brand are rather, bold, loud and energetic, the “more is more” approach can also be the way to go. The main thing is to stay true to yourself.

Trend No. 5: Nostalgia
Fashion already showed it last year, and now in 2023, we’re looking back to the 1970s and 1990s in graphic design as well. The designs recalling these years show cute icons, stamps or doodles, placed seemingly randomly on a product to mimic the visual effect of a sticker book. Further, the ‘70s vintage aesthetic is coming back and we’ll see more and more designs in warm, earthy colour schemes and comforting designs, especially in the packaging industry. All of these elements can serve as vehicles for storytelling and reviving the past.

Trend No. 6: Foil printing
Another trend we can expect in 2023 is foil printing. It offers a unique way to add an extra bit of luxury and style to print materials. For brands, finishing can help add a touch of class and sophistication to products. For instance, you can go full gold to give a product an air of sophistication or you could use multi-coloured foil to make it appear more futuristic.

In summary, 2023 holds exciting design trends that inspire the printing and packaging sector alike – whether that’s reflected in print products or how goods are advertised and packaged. Of course, it is unclear to what extent the design trends presented will actually prevail in 2023. But one thing is certain: it will definitely not be boring.