Predicting 2024 graphic design trends for small businesses and social media

In 2024, graphic design trends for small businesses and social media will focus on the creative use of AI tools, narrowing the gap between vision and execution. This empowers creators to become art directors, as AI facilitates editing and personalizing images. Authenticity in design becomes crucial, with a shift towards diverse storytelling and real image enhancement. Additionally, there's a predicted return to tangible, analog formats for self-expression, as a counterbalance to the digital overload.

Takeaways

• 🎨 **Art Direction for Everyone**: The gap between vision and execution is narrowing, allowing more creators to become art directors using AI tools.
• 🚀 **AI-Powered Creativity**: Over a billion images were created with AI generators, indicating a significant shift in design creation.
• ✍️ **Authenticity in Design**: There will be a focus on authenticity in imagery, with an emphasis on enhancing real images rather than creating fake ones.
• 🌐 **Diverse Storytelling**: Prompt engineering will evolve to be more diverse and sensitive, reflecting real-world diversity.
• 🧩 **Paradox of Choice**: With too many choices available, there will be a return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations for a more meaningful connection.
• 💿 **Analog Revival**: Formats like vinyl records and film photography will gain more visibility as people seek a respite from digital saturation.
• 📈 **Rise of DIY**: There will be a trend towards creating physical items that can be touched and felt, offering a nostalgic and personal touch.
• 🤖 **AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch**: While AI will continue to aid in design, there will be a move away from artificial aesthetics to more authentic ones.
• 🌱 **Imperfection as Interest**: Embracing imperfection in design will add interest and curiosity, moving away from the sterility of perfection.
• 🔄 **Sustainable Creativity**: Using AI to streamline design processes will free up time for creators to focus on tangible and sustainable creations.
• ⏱️ **Faster Execution**: The combination of AI tools and human creativity will lead to faster ideation and execution in the design process.

Q & A

What is the main focus of graphic design trends in 2024 according to Scott Walker?

The main focus of graphic design trends in 2024 is not just about what is created, but how it is made, with a significant emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence tools to enhance the creative process.

What has the impact of AI on the design industry been in the last 12 months?

In the last 12 months, AI has exploded onto the design scene, with tools like AI image generators, AI writers, and AI logo generators becoming widely used. This has led to over 1 billion images being created using AI generators at Pixar.

How are creators expected to evolve with the use of AI in 2024?

Creators are expected to take on the role of art directors, with the gap between vision and execution becoming smaller due to AI-powered tools. This allows them to edit, retouch, and personalize their creations more effectively.

What is the significance of online sellers being able to act as art directors?

Online sellers acting as art directors means they can change the aesthetic of their product presentations seasonally without the need for frequent and costly photo shoots or extensive searches for stock images.

Why is authenticity important in graphic design for small businesses and social media?

Authenticity is crucial as it influences emotions, perceptions, and connections with the audience. Real and diverse imagery creates a stronger connection, which is more impactful than overly perfect or artificial visuals.

What shift in prompt engineering is predicted for 2024?

There will be a shift towards more diversity, storytelling, and sensitive prompt engineering. This means a focus on enhancing real images rather than creating entirely artificial worlds.

How does the paradox of choice impact the design trends for 2024?

The paradox of choice suggests that having too many options can be overwhelming. As a result, there is a predicted return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations that offer a sense of nostalgia and simplicity.

What role do vinyl records play in the predicted design trend of returning to analog formats?

Vinyl records serve as an example of the shift towards analog formats. They offer a nostalgic value that is not found in CDs, with the physical experience of handling a record and its cover art being a significant part of the appeal.

What does Scott Walker predict for the use of AI in the design industry in 2024?

Scott Walker predicts a rise in art direction, more ideation, and faster execution facilitated by AI. However, there will also be a move from artificial to authentic aesthetics as people become tired of the fake looks generated by AI.

What advice does Scott Walker give to those looking to take advantage of AI in their design work?

Scott Walker advises to use AI to save time and effort, but to also use the extra time to create real, tactile creations that offer a respite from the digital world and stand out in a crowded online space.

How can small businesses and individuals benefit from the evolving design trends in 2024?

Small businesses and individuals can benefit by becoming more versatile in their design capabilities, using AI to enhance their work, and focusing on creating authentic and tangible designs that resonate emotionally with their audience.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Evolution of Design and AI in 2024

Scott Walker, the executive creative director of Brandon Creative, introduces the video by highlighting the shift in design from the focus on what's made to how it's made. He emphasizes the explosion of resources available in the past year, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence. AI tools such as image generators, writers, logo creators, and style transfer technologies are becoming integral to the design process. Walker shares that at Pixar, over a billion images have been created with their AI generator since its launch the previous year. He predicts that more creators will take on the role of art directors, as AI tools are allowing them to bridge the gap between vision and execution more effectively. The video also touches on the importance of authenticity in imagery, suggesting a shift towards enhancing real images rather than creating fake ones. The narrative concludes with the prediction of a return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations, as a counterbalance to the overwhelming choice and artificial aesthetics provided by digital mediums.

05:01

🎶 The Resurgence of Tangible Creations

This paragraph briefly continues the previous discussion on the future of design, suggesting a move towards creating physical, tangible items as a reaction to the digital overload. It implies that there will be a renewed interest in creating things that offer a tactile experience, such as vinyl records, which provide a nostalgic and sensory engagement that digital formats like CDs cannot match. The paragraph ends with a note on the importance of self-expression and design through analog formats, hinting that those who embrace these traditional methods will stand out in a world dominated by digital creations.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is pivotal as it enables the creation and editing of images and designs without the need for extensive manual labor or specialized skills. The script mentions AI image generators, AI writers, and AI logo generators, which are all tools that have become more accessible and have significantly reduced the gap between vision and execution in graphic design.

Authenticity

Authenticity in the video script refers to the quality of being genuine or real. It is emphasized as a crucial aspect of design in 2024, suggesting that despite the advancements in AI, there is a growing importance placed on creating content that resonates as true and relatable. Authentic imagery is said to have a stronger emotional and perceptual impact on audiences, making it a key focus for designers.

Vision and Execution Gap

The vision and execution gap describes the difference between what a designer envisions and what they are able to create. The video suggests that AI tools are helping to close this gap, allowing creators to more easily realize their design visions. This is exemplified by the ease with which an online seller can now direct the creation of seasonal product images using AI, without the need for additional photography shoots.

Art Directors

An art director is a professional who oversees the visual style and images in various forms of media. In the script, the prediction is made that more creators will take on the role of art directors thanks to AI tools. These tools empower individuals to direct the creation of images and designs that align with their vision, without requiring traditional art director skills or budgets.

Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is the process of carefully crafting the inputs or 'prompts' given to AI systems to generate desired outputs. The video discusses a shift in prompt engineering towards enhancing real images and focusing on diversity and storytelling, rather than creating entirely artificial or fake worlds. This approach is expected to lead to more authentic and engaging design outcomes.

Imperfection

Imperfection, as mentioned in the video, adds interest and curiosity to designs. It contrasts with the often sterile and flawless output from AI, suggesting a move towards embracing the unique and the irregular in design. The video implies that in 2024, there will be a preference for designs that show character and personality, rather than those that are overly polished and uniform.

Analog Formats

Analog formats refer to traditional, non-digital methods of creating and experiencing media, such as vinyl records, film photography, and physical artwork. The video predicts a resurgence in the use of analog formats as a form of self-expression and design. This trend is driven by a desire to create tangible, tactile pieces that offer a break from the digital world and evoke nostalgia.

Tangible Tactile Experiences

Tangible tactile experiences are those that involve physical interaction or touch. The video suggests that there will be a move towards creating designs and products that can be physically felt and experienced. This is linked to the broader trend of seeking authenticity and a connection to the physical world, as opposed to purely digital or virtual experiences.

Paradox of Choice

The paradox of choice is a phenomenon where having too many options can lead to decision paralysis or dissatisfaction. The video uses this concept to discuss the overwhelming number of choices currently available to consumers and creators. It predicts a shift towards more focused and curated selections, which can simplify the decision-making process and reduce the stress associated with choice overload.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics in the context of the video refers to the visual aspects and the sense of beauty in design. There is a predicted shift from artificial aesthetics, which may be perceived as fake or overly polished due to AI involvement, to more authentic aesthetics that resonate with real-world experiences and emotions. This shift is part of a broader move towards designs that feel genuine and relatable.

Nostalgic Value

Nostalgic value pertains to the emotional and sentimental significance attached to objects or experiences that remind us of the past. The video script mentions that formats like vinyl records have a nostalgic value that goes beyond their physicality, suggesting that this emotional connection will be an important factor in design choices in 2024, as people seek to create and engage with designs that offer a sense of continuity and personal meaning.

Highlights

The gap between vision and execution in design is shrinking due to the rise of AI-powered tools.

Over 1 billion images were created using Pixar's AI generator in its first year of launch.

70% of creators are editing their AI-generated images, adding layers, stickers, and personal touches.

2024 will see more creators taking on the role of art directors, narrowing the gap between visualization and execution.

Online sellers can now easily change the aesthetic of their product photography with AI, without additional photo shoots.

Authenticity in design will be a focus in 2024, with a shift towards enhancing real images rather than creating fake ones.

Imperfection in design can add interest and curiosity, moving away from the current trend of digital perfection.

The paradox of choice is leading to a return to tangible, tactile, and analog creations for a more nostalgic and personal touch.

Vinyl records are outselling CDs, indicating a preference for physical and nostalgic forms of media.

Analog formats like film photography will become more visible as a form of self-expression in a world saturated with digital content.

The use of AI in design will allow for faster ideation and execution, with a focus on creating real, tactile creations.

There will be a move from artificial aesthetics to authentic ones as we become tired of the fake looks generated by AI.

The power to be an art director is now available to everyone, thanks to advancements in AI technology.

Prompt engineering will focus more on diversity, storytelling, and sensitivity, enhancing real images over creating artificial ones.

The rise of AI in design will lead to a faster and more accessible creative process for small businesses and social media.

Scott Walker, executive creative director of Brandon Creative, predicts a significant shift in design trends for 2024, influenced by AI.

The use of AI will allow for the creation of diverse and emotionally resonant imagery that connects with audiences.