Vibrant patterns and gorgeous colors are in full bloom for 2017. Check out a few of our favorite design trends below.
Popular Design Trends of 2017
2017 looks to be the year of bold color! It all began with Pantone announcing its Color of the Year as:
“Greenery, a symbol of new beginning.”
The zesty, green-yellow shade is fun and inviting, and has been received well by many designers. With a shift in focus towards healthier foods, and growing concerns over the environment, the vibrant green lends itself as a refreshing symbol of rebirth and new beginnings.
So what else is in store for this year? Let’s dive into some of the hottest trends currently hitting the industry.
Looking for more trendy resources? Browse Envato Market and Envato Elements for more high-quality templates.
1. Rose Gold With Marble
Who knew there could be a more winning combination of color and texture than rose gold and marble? The simplicity of this light stone texture against the elegance of rose gold makes for one sublime team.
Back in its day, marble was the quintessential material used by sculptors during the Age of Enlightenment. Greco-Roman artists continued to use this luxurious stone as a cultural symbol of refined taste.
And of course, you can’t have luxury without a little gold! Going back several centuries, the value of gold remains a distinct reflection of extraordinary taste and style.
Not sure how to work with texture? Instructor Grace Fussell shows you how to apply lovely gold foiling to your print designs in the tutorial below.
One way to utilize this trend is for a modern set of business cards. This template, for example, showcases a stunning combination of marble and gold elements for a chic, minimalist vibe.
You can also create classy designs for your restaurant menu. The clean aesthetic of marble provides a great background accent for any project. Sprinkle in a few rose gold titles as a lovely accessory like this delightful menu design.
Or elevate your logos with a stunning rose gold text effect instead. With layer styles, you can achieve professional quality graphics in only a fraction of the time. This package, for instance, includes eight fully layered Photoshop files to transform any text or smart object.
Pair the rose gold text above with this set of marble textures for a brilliant result! Featuring six high-resolution images at 3000 x 2000 pixels, this pack contains several common marble textures for more variety.
Or why not just combine the two together? Go for bold design with this jaw-dropping texture pack featuring 12 gold marble textures. Perfect for labels, packaging, and brand identities, this awesome pack is one we’re sure you’ll love.
2. Tropical Leaves
Kick off your summer design essentials by incorporating some tropical leaves into your work. This trend has recently popped up in many unique poster designs, highlighting the beauty of tropical plants.
The types of plant most commonly seen are birds of paradise, areca palms, or lovely philodendrons. These healthy plants provide exceptional, inspiring colors that add life to your creative projects.
Our very own Grace Fussell took this challenge on by creating a stunning Wedding Invitation using a few leafy stocks.
Nature-based design always has a refreshing quality to it, and this tropical pattern is no different! Just imagine the lovely breeze as it shuffles through the vibrant green leaves. Need some project inspiration? This pattern works great for posters, websites, and more.
If you’d prefer to have the leaves as separate design elements instead, then check out this awesome pack! This pack includes a mix of watercolor tropical leaves to beautify any design. Designed in Adobe Illustrator, this file is already print ready for fast results.
Learn how to create a tropical pattern yourself in this tutorial by Yulia Sokolova.
Make a bold statement by mixing stunning typography with tropical elements. This exotic poster design features a tropical aesthetic that is definitely on trend, with two high-resolution Photoshop files for easy editing.
In this awesome bundle, you’ll get access to 30 seamless tropical patterns. Ideal for stationery and design projects, these patterns will help bring paradise to you!
Become the hero of summer! Throw a luau party your guests won’t forget! This sweet party invitation features a few tropical leaves alongside colorful fruit. Just switch out the text by clicking on the fully editable text holders.
3. Unicorns & Mermaids
Some of your favorite mythical creatures are also in full effect for 2017. Unicorns and mermaids are legendary creatures commonly known from ancient folklore. Even today, they captivate the imagination of designers around the world.
Unicorns symbolize purity and innocence. Try pairing them with a rainbow to show off their whimsical humor and overall bright energy.
Mermaids are seductive and charming. They help you create enticing designs with the help of allure and mystery.
Love mermaids too? Monika Zagrobelna shows you how to magically change any vacation selfie into a beautiful mermaid in this detailed Photoshop tutorial.
Launch your brand with an adorable mermaid character reminiscent of a delightful Disney movie. This design features a fully editable vector mermaid with several flat ocean elements in the background. It’s super trendy and insanely pretty!
Or add realistic scale textures to your work. With 100% vector files, you can resize these scales without any loss of quality. Use them as a great accessory to a mermaid-inspired design or feature them alone for a fantastic piece.
Show the strength of the unicorn symbol with a powerful logo. This exemplary design features bold lines and solid details. It’s great for any service-based business or official organization.
Unicorns plus rainbows equals awesome design, always. And you can satisfy all your whimsical needs with this delightful pack of seamless patterns. Follow this trend to create pretty designs that please your followers.
Or learn how to create a unicorn illustration in this tutorial by Nataliya Dolotko.
Make 2017 a memorable year with a fabulous unicorn celebration! This party invitation is great for many ages and features a fantastical rainbow design.
4. 90s Revival
It was a time of funky colors and loud patterns, but the 90s will never die. Twenty years later, designers still find ways to honor this fun time with nostalgic designs.
So what are a few of the key characteristics of 90s revival design?
- Chunky Text
- Neon Colors
- Abstract Shapes
- Seamless Patterns
Minimalists love this style for its simple, clean lines and pleasing abstract shapes. Beginners to design can learn a lot by studying the simplicity of retro poster templates.
Feeling a little nostalgic? Test out your Photoshop skills with a 90s-inspired text effect!
Throw a rocking music festival this summer with an epic 90s poster template. This design features bold black and white lines with early MTV-esque colors. Create a real throwback Thursday with this awesome and fun design.
Make a bold statement. Download a funky 3D neon text effect for logos, headlines, and more.
Another huge trend is this retro but chic 90s poster design. This template features lively pastel colors and a bold 3D text effect.
Creating individual abstract shapes can take a long time. Cut the time in half by opting for this abstract shape generator. This generator creates an infinite number of random shapes to apply to your designs. Try it out today!
Nothing says the 90s more than an awesome retro font. This Thunderstorm Typeface screams the style of an epic 1990s sitcom everyone loves. Throw back to a truly epic era with this wonderful typeface.
5. Galaxy
From beautiful posters to elegant digital paintings, everyone is obsessed with the galaxy lately.
Space is represented by many symbols in design. And there’s no wonder that it’s super inspirational with its beautiful cosmos and mystifying galaxies.
Love space elements too? Instructor Rose shows you how to create an awesome galaxy text effect with this detailed tutorial.
Keep in mind that some space graphics are often more conceptual than literal. This space flyer, for instance, has bursting 3D abstract shapes with stunning deep colors.
Add a few stars to your sky manipulations with this awesome star brush pack. This pack features 45 star brushes with varying shapes and flares.
Or set a beautiful nebula background as your website or social media banner. This nebula bundle includes three HD backgrounds available in two sizes.
Love spacey designs? Create a cool Sci-Fi outer space scene in this tutorial from Jenny Le.
Need an effect fast? Try a Photoshop action to add a beautiful space effect to your photos.
Create a compelling design with a galaxy background. This extraordinary bundle features beautiful bokeh effects and light flares. Use it to elevate any website or poster design.
6. Gradients
Whenever a large brand makes a major change, the design industry usually follows suit. And with the boom of gradient colors across major platforms like Instagram and more, designers have fallen back in love with this vibrant transition.
When designing with gradients, consider the symbolic qualities of the colors you choose. Mix and match color arrangements and even experiment with different types of gradient styles (radial, linear, etc.).
Want to create a gradient icon similar to Instagram’s official logo? Then check out this awesome tutorial by Mary Winkler.
Match your social media across several networks with a set of flat gradient icons. Flat graphics are hugely popular because of their clean aesthetics and simplistic design.
Also on trend is the duotone look for Instagram filter-like aesthetics.
Gorgeous gradients are applied to your photos with the help of an amazing Photoshop action. This duotone action includes 50 total gradients with amazing combinations.
Love this effect? Learn how to create a pride rainbow overlay in this tutorial by Sharon Milne.
Sometimes you only need a little color to pack a punch. So try out a gradient magazine template to launch your new brand. Know when to incorporate bold colors for an elegant layout.
For the ultimate modern logo, consider adding a bold gradient. This diamond template, for example, features lovely purple hues that transition well into text. Create a smart logo that will stand out from the crowd.
This last resource includes 500 colorful gradients for your desktop backgrounds, websites, and more. Inspire yourself with the gorgeous color schemes that translate to inspiring, happy colors.
Share Your Favorite Trends!
From gold textures to vibrant tropical leaves, 2017 has a lot to offer in the realm of design.
So which of the following trends are your favorite?
- Rose Gold With Marble
- Tropical Leaves
- Unicorns and Mermaids
- 90s Revival
- Galaxy
- Gradients
Let us know in the comments and share your trendy designs with us!
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