21 Jan 5 Major Product Design Trends for 2021
5 Major Product Design Trends for 2021
Designers used to rush to adapt to whatever new trends were coming into vogue each year, making most products look at least somewhat similar.
Over the last few years, all of this changed as artists and typesetters struck out on their own and tried several dramatic techniques to achieve a more significant brand visibility level.
The product design trends that this kind of behaviour has spawned will be going strong throughout the new year, but a few of them are poised to blossom over the next 12 months.
1 – Artisan Packaging Designs
One of the most significant product design trends right now is making the exterior packaging design of products look almost like they’re examples of bespoke fashion design.
You can bet that this isn’t going to slow down one bit in 2021.
It’s become especially popular with managers from smaller companies that offer natural foods and healthcare products.
Product packaging design experts have suggested that dull earthy tones might be the best for any company that wants to showcase its offerings in this kind of light.
While you might be inclined to think that this kind of design could be somewhat dull, nothing could be further from the truth.
As consumers become increasingly concerned about chemical additives in food and the proliferation of labour-related issues, they might be turned off by slick modern-looking packages.
A return to natural, unbleached materials and creative typography has helped attract a new consumer type.
2 – Simple Visualisations & Infographics
Infographics have become increasingly complicated over the last few years, which has made it hard to figure out the specifications of a new product.
Whether you’re reading the news or the back of a package in your favourite retailer, there’s a good chance that you’re suffering from a little information overload.
That’s why so many designers are now pushing for simple data visualisations, making it easier to understand complex topics.
Rather than trying to beat consumers over the head with facts and figures, these are designed to help them comprehend complex issues to make better purchasing decisions.
3 – Purchasing Off-the-Shelf Designs
Traditionally, small business owners would hire a graphic designer to get a logo or put up any material on a website.
With so many designs now available on sites like CafePress, it’s possible to acquire an off-the-shelf template that looks every bit as good as something that they’d have custom made.
Since each of these templates gets created by a professional team, they’ll still look unique while saving entrepreneurs a great deal of money in the process.
4 – Designs Based on Market Research
Graphic designers and typesetting crews typically put together layouts based solely on their own opinions.
All that is starting to change as more and more small businesses request designs based around data they’ve collected from marketing studies.
According to a study commissioned by the Insights Association, 60 per cent of new product launch ideas never make it to market.
Rather than waste money attempting to develop a product that never sells, more people invest additional money into the market research process and spell out precisely what they expect in a design.
Whether they’re looking to improve the exterior packaging or even the layout of the finished product, business managers are trying to make design decisions based on various studies’ results.
5 – Custom Art for Shirts
Many older lifestyle brands have found that t-shirt design has been so profitable for them that they’ve abandoned their original businesses.
While it’s doubtful that most businesses can make that successful transition, nearly every kind of company will likely be commissioning custom branded t-shirts in the next year or so.
Even technology companies who might have previously been stuck with a somewhat nerdy image have suddenly been able to lend their logos to shirts that help them to increase their level of mainstream recognition.
Companies who don’t currently don’t have established logos might very well look into hiring a designer at some point during 2021 to keep up with these product design trends.
There’s never been a better time to get prepared for an effective marketing campaign.
