By: Yehudis Blicksilber, Crisis Critique
I noticed something interesting while I was pulling this together: the design world seems to be running in two directions at once.
On one hand, ads are hyping up a notch, pulling on popping colours and thick lines and crazy concepts - anything to grab attention - and on the other, there’s a more sophisticated, understated vibe emerging with placid neutrals, graceful blushes and nudes and an extremely minimalist approach.
There’s also a heavy-handed, hard-lined, Gen-Z energy that’s popping up which is fresh and edgy. Think uber-bold text and fonts and lines which are clear to the point of ugly - definitely towards the more exciting end of the spectrum, and it’s going to be fun to try out!
There’s another thing trending that I’m frankly finding a little unsettling - I’m seeing an uptick in ads that don’t really look designed.
In the bigger picture of beta launches and stealth startups, I guess it makes sense to see business owners winging it on the bare minimum you’d need to put your advertisement in a publication, but it’s still interesting to note how this has taken hold even in higher-profile industries like furniture, jewelry and fashion.
So…
Here’s a breakdown of 6 trends that have been busy happening over the past year.
Take a seat and grab some inspo:)
Trend #1: Immersive, close-up backgrounds
These ads are all image, which gives them an instant “close-up” feel: There’s a sleekness to these ads but also a tactile, even intimate effect, like you’re sampling the product close up. So far, this has been happening mainly in the fashion industry, and I’m curious to see where it will end up.
Vibe: Cutting edge and so evocative.
Trend #2: Cartooning with personality
Illustration is seriously letting its hair down.
Bold, bright and punchy and hovering on the more mature side of childish, next generation cartoons teamed with funky textures (like the awesome Bestore ad below by Chevy Altman) and cheery characters have been starting to show. I’m expecting to see more unique takes on this as 2025 rolls along.
Vibe: So vibrant, fun and now.
Trend #3: Sparse elegance
The freshest shades of cool right now are organic and understated - muted pistachios, bare ecrus, subtle peaches and almost-whites. The punch comes from one or two contrasting elements placed directly on the canvas in a very basic frame, and the overall feel is chic and sleek.
Long, lanky serifs finish the look with a touch of retro, and I’m seeing a lot of outlining (see #4) going along with this style too. If you’re looking to model an ad after this trend, think less, not more; and sharp, sharp, sharp.
Vibe: Nothing to prove.
Trend #4: Outlining
This trend is what it sounds like: Outlining text and elements in bold, dark strokes - thick or thin.
It’s a versatile one - it can look cheery and playful (think RCCS’ Not A Joke Campaign) or upscale and sophisticated (like Esti Meisel’s brilliant ad for Giftr), depending on how you play it. Put it through its paces to organize a text heavy advert, make an element pop in a funky way, or just next time you want to go really vibey and individual.
Vibe: Edgy.
Trend #5: Double Spreads
For all the designers joining the race for impact: taking up double the space seems to be the way to go!
There’s been a sharp increase in the amount of double page spreads in the frum publications, and even three page series, where page one is the teaser which opens to a double spread.
Check out some awesome examples below.
Vibe: We’re big enough to go big.
Trend #6: Popping brights
There’s a certain cool about these intense hues that’s very un-shy.
The trend is pretty simple to spot: Look for acid greens, candy pinks, hot oranges and other eye-grabbing colors that draw your eye without asking your permission. I’ve seen this a lot in packaging too - it’s about looking big, fresh and unapologetic.
Vibe: Steal the show.
So here it is. The next time you’re working on a design that needs that elusive something fresh, something trendy; not too out of the box but not too overused (yet;), I hope there are one or two trends here that you can reach for to inspire your creations.
Happy designing!
Yehudis Blicksilber
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