Design data trends need to be methodically determined and statistically accurate before they’re useful. Even then, they need to yield the kind of information that reflects target audience preferences and not just the Brownian-motion-like shifts in designer proclivities from one year to the next.
Most of the design trend pronouncements I’ve seen are purely anecdotal, which are useless for any kind of statistical analysis. Predictions based on anecdotally gathered trends are even more useless. Actions based on those kinds of voodoo predictions are downright foolish.
Trends that do have some statistical validity, like, stylistic shifts that show up in yearly annual design competition submissions, might be interesting. But they’re still of strictly limited value since they’re primarily a reflection of designer preferences and/or technical innovations rather of target audience engagement.
On the other hand, if, say, an auto manufacturer has statistical data showing a quantifiable trend away from red cars and toward blue cars, that’s useful information with money-saving predictive potential. But this is precisely the kind of example DocPixel used when she mentioned market data analysis at Nordstrom.
Maybe you have some statistically valid and useful design trend data, and if you do, I’d like to see it. Personally, I’ve run across very little of that kind of thing — at least in the context of what this thread has been about up until now.
I won’t use the word “wrong.” But if you are talking about a particular instance in time such as “the latest” time, then it’s oversimplified. If you are talking about a time period such as the last decade or what works for the newest generation of young adults, then you are getting warmer. If you are talking about longer periods such as the information age or the post-industrial age, then you are even warmer. And if your time period is as broad as the modern era, you’re flexible enough to use any graphic communication trend that has worked within the last 5 centuries and might work again depending on the brand and message you are sending.
I’m not saying that 18th Century Calligraphy will work on the Samsung booth at the Consumer Electronics show. I’m saying that 18th Century Calligraphy might work on a wine bottle label or a museum exhibit.
In your experience there has been little, if any, “statistically valid data” that can serve the designer well in design trends? So if a photo research company like istock or 123rf say their data has a 980% increase in space and space technology that wouldn’t be something data trend-worth for a designer?
I would use that information to better connect with my applicable audience; maybe incorporate a night sky with many stars, a moon, a satellite instead of a daytime scene as a background as long as it suits the overall purpose of the project; doesn’t jeopardize the communication; as long as it helps it.
Well, maybe, but it would likely be a fairly minor consideration that would largely be overridden by other, more immediately relevant, concerns. Sixty million households in the U.S. own dogs and 94 percent of Americans supposedly eat pizza, for example, but I’ve never made a conscious effort to work them into layouts.
I don’t disagree with your broader premise, however, about paying attention to things that might affect the success of a design solution. Even my disagreement about following trends isn’t a disagreement in kind as much as it’s a disagreement in degree.
My main point in this thread is that designers who seem fixated on trends on trendiness have their priorities mixed up.
I’d wonder first what event might have prompted that before adding space elements to any particular design.
For instance, was there just an eclipse? Or maybe just some millionaire launching a car and spacesuit into space…
Data is great. It can also be manipulated in just about any way you want (or by anyone with a marketing intent, like said stock company.) Relying on raw data can send you barking up the wrong tree.
Also, I don’t believe that istock and 123rf would be considered “photo research” companies. They’re in the business of selling usage of stock images that are submitted to them.
They may have data on the type of images they receive, but I wouldn’t base any marketing decisions on that.
Eric, correct me if I’m wrong, and they do research too.
Correct. That was a bad example. I wouldn’t base my designs off their research.
We would definately have to trust the source. I like data and data driven information but only if I can trust it otherwise, like most of you have mentioned, I’d be barking up wrong tree.
Haha, that’s fantastic. Designer colleague of mine very seriously told me that icons aren’t the trend anymore in web design and won’t be used as much. He was very proud to have that valuable information among many other trend related. It annoys me to no end.
This. Combined with marketing + Canva and similar available tools for people who need a quick design fix.
Hi again!
So I finished the project that I was referring to regarding new trends per the thread. Thanks for all your advice. The project was for Tosh.0’s Season 10 main title opening and bumpers. I found a nice balance between the time-lapse of Daniel Tosh, the 3D logo the client wanted and the 2D retro style for the background that seems to be hip right now without trying to pigeon-hole the look too much.
