Mid-Year Trend Report

A review of the trends and templates that have made this year (so far)...

Where has design taken us, and where will it go?

We’ve asked a few experts to shed light on growing design trends from the past year, and we’ll see how this insight can be applied to the future. From web design to video, see what trends are dominating in 2019.  

Dive in now or keep scrolling to get a taste of the trends.

Design Trend | Retro Aesthetics

Illustrator and designer Daisy Ein is one of many fans of the retro illustration trend.

I love how much retro aesthetics are visibly here right now. The 80s are absolutely my jam—I love, love, love saturated colors. Sometimes, I think art history never really goes away; trends always seem to sneak back somehow, sooner or later.

Rad retro graphics:
• Retrowave Photoshop Action (pictured)
• Back to the 90s Photoshop Action
• Analog Film Photoshop Action
• 80s Text Effects

Photo Trend | Diversity

Envato Tuts+ Photo and Video Editor Jackson Couse lets us in on the strongest photography trends of 2019:

I’m seeing media images that break stereotypes, with more diversity of people, bodies, and lifestyles.

There are clearly changing gender ideas: our assumptions about what “men” and “women” look like, and should look like, are shifting.

Picturesque diverse photos:
• Diverse Group of Women Standing Together (pictured)
• Young Adults Using Smartphones Together
• Diverse Kindergarten Students Holding Hands
• Diverse Business People Discussing

Web Design Trend | Colorful Inviting Palettes

From Envato Tuts+ Editor Ian Yates:

In terms of aesthetics, at the moment you’ll see a lot of illustration, with warm, colourful palettes and organic forms showing up on websites across all kinds of industries.

SVG has really helped designers explore what’s possible with illustration and animation, giving us static decoration like on this Foton Software and App Landing Theme.

Colorful Illustrative Themes:
• Foton Software and App Landing Theme (pictured)
• Innovio Multipurpose Landing Page Theme
• SEOLounge - SEO Digital Marketing Theme
• Bryson - Illustration & Design Portfolio Theme

Audio Trend | High Energy Percussion

Envato Audio Content Specialist Adrien Gardner explains the latest audio trend:

A genre that’s really taking hold is dramatic percussive arrangement, with big drums and stomps. These are high impact, high energy pieces that work really well to drive the power behind a visual message.

A good example of an uplifting percussive track is the Percussion Drums Action Trailer.

Popular Percussive Tracks:
• Percussion Drums Action Trailer (pictured)
• Percussive Energetic Upbeat Action & Sports
• Percussive Stomp Clap

Video Trend | Authenticity

From Envato's Video Marketing Specialist, Jen McKinnon:

Authenticity is probably the number one thing that seems to be resonating with video-makers in 2019, and a shift in viewer preference towards more raw, honest content has driven that change.

Personality is what consumers want to see (warts and all) and the best way to do that is by putting a human in front of the camera.

Understated Type Templates:
• 20 Minimal Lower Thirds (pictured)
• Dynamic Minimalism - Typography | Mogrt
• FCP Callouts

Font Trend | Imaginative Script Fonts

From our latest Font Trends of 2019 piece:

Calligraphy is a captivating and soothing writing style to watch. And it’s even more satisfying to design with.

These imaginative script fonts are really stepping it up in 2019! Lines are getting crisper, baselines are getting bouncier, and there’s a flirty appeal to the fun designers are having with creative script fonts.

Stylish Script Fonts:
• Illusias Elegant Typeface (pictured)
• Sunlight Brush Font Duo
• The Greatly Font Duo + Logo Templates

The Trends Don't End Here...

Browse the full mid-year trend review for 2019 now.