Design Trends 2018: Gradients
Update: Learn about the 7 top graphic designs trends that will be taking over in 2019.
New in our video series, our Graphic Designer, Lindsey, shares one of the biggest design trends this year: gradients. This video explains what gradients are, how they have been used in the past, and how we’re using them now!
Design Trends 2018: Gradients
In this video, we use examples of gradients from brands with the purpose of commentary and example. We do not take any credit on the imagery we did not create for this video.
The brands are:
Nike© | Sprite© | MTV© | Fresh Prince of Bel Air© | Spotify© | Hulu© | Saved by the Bell© | Instagram© | Adidas Yeezy Boost 350© | Apple© | WordPress©
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Lindsey, the graphic designer at Get Online NOLA. I get really excited about all design things, and one of the most exciting design trends for 2018 is gradients!
I’m sure you have noticed gradients popping up in some of your favorite brands, but if you’re unfamiliar with the term, it is when one color fades or blends into another color (or two).
If you watched TV in the 80s and 90s you definitely remember this trend. MTV, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Saved by the bell all use gradients in their graphics.
You may or may not know that all trends make full circle within a decade or two. So the 90s kid inside of me is rejoicing because the gradient trend is back! However, the gradients being used now in big brands such as Instagram, Hulu, and Spotify are more sleek and less flashy than the holographic style 90s gradients.
Big Brands are using gradients to make bold statements by using more than one color where one color would normally be. Flat colors are limited but gradients allow for more depth and mood by blending two colors together. You can combine two similar colors together for a subtle gradient, fade a color to white by combing it with white, or blend two or more totally different bright colors together for a more drastic look.
Gradients can be used in logos, in the background of images, in buttons, as spot colors, in illustrations. You name it. Although we don’t recommend using it in all of these places at once. It is a simple way to add a more unique color story to your brand.
We incorporated gradients into our new website in the hills in the homepage illustration and we use a blue/green gradient throughout the website in the headers to establish a consistency on the pages.
Gradients are everywhere in nature. fruits, Leaves, and flowers, the sunset – are all gradients, not flat color. Look to them for your inspiration when thinking about how to incorporate gradients into your own brand.
At Get Online NOLA we help businesses of all sizes create beautiful branding and graphics. Let’s chat about updating your graphics in a free strategy session.