4 huge visual trends for 2019

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Adobe Stock has announced the visual trends it's forecasting for 2019, and it's not surprising that these trends are closely linked to some of the social and political trends we've seen this year, such as an increasing appreciation for nature, activism and an ethical conscience when it comes to brands.

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These trends were curated by Adobe Stock, which looked at areas such as fashion, art and business to discover the emerging visuals that will be taking a more central role in 2019. The report outlines four visual trends we can expect to see a lot more of next year and beyond, so don't be surprised if you see them crop up on your next mood board.

01. Natural instincts

In our digital world, people are longing to connect with nature

As we spend more and more of our days online or staring at a screen, people are feeling further and further away from nature. This trend sees creatives being drawn into the natural world, and using it as their inspiration. 

Consumers are also increasingly tuned in to nature, with nearly half of US consumers looking for natural ingredients in products. Consumers are now also looking for products that are ethical, sustainable and transparent: with "clean beauty" the fastest growing section of the wellness and beauty industry. 

The other growing area is "spirituality", with brands looking to satisfy consumer's spiritual needs.

Of course, what consumers are looking for affects what brands seek to deliver, and brands all around the globe will continue to look to the natural world to engage their customers. In terms of visuals, expect to see "aspirational images with natural elements and celebrations of physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness." That means yoga poses on top of a mountain are still very much in.

02. Creative democracy

Bright colours and "unstudied images" make up this visual trend

The ubiquity of mobile means that it's no longer just creatives who are shaping our visual worlds. According to the report, 95 million photos are uploaded to Instagram, and people watch 100 million hours of content on Facebook every single day.

Brands are tapping into this trend by capitalising on user-generated content, for example, furniture companies such as Wayfair are inviting customers to post images of their new furniture.

"Diversity rules in Creative Democracy, both in front of the lens and behind it," says the report. "Visually, creative democracy is all about unstudied images, bright colours, diverse subjects and video that moves people."

03. Disruptive expression

Brands are borrowing the visual language of protest to create powerful visuals

According to Adobe's report, "People are ready to have their voices heard." And Brands are harnessing this by borrowing the visual language of protest for shop windows and clothing lines.

This new form of self-expression isn't necessarily about politics, and the visuals surrounding it are inclusive, unapologetic and eye-catching. "The images range from haunting and hypnotising, like luxury fashion house Balenciaga’s jaw-droppingly bendable models, to shiny and playful, like the boom of Instagram posts bedazzled with the KiraKira app," says the report.

Expect powerful and intense images that cover a wide range of identities and experiences. 

04. Brand stand

Good-looking branding is no longer enough – consumers expect their brands to be ethical too

These days, branding isn't just about products. Gen Z and millennials in particular are loyal to brands that have "stated values and a commitment to transparency." This means that brands need to incorporate the brand values into their messaging, and communicate this appropriately. 

"Other brands are helping consumers become more ethically aware themselves," says the report. "The innovative financial firm Aspiration, for example, created a program to help consumers match their day-to-day spending to their ethical beliefs."

What does this mean for visual trends? We'll be seeing more powerful images of popular causes and issues, and these images are likely to have a big impact.

Read more:

• 5 huge illustration trends for 2019
• Shutterstock reveals 2019's trending colours
• Typography trends to look out for in 2019

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