Shutterstock trends of this year

Prepare for work in the stock market this year with the guide Shutterstock on the latest trends, derived from analyzing billions of search queries and downloads of images, videos, and music by the stock photo bank’s customers.

Bright colors, cartoonish faces, and deliberate animal patterns showcase the vibrant trends of this year. It’s a treasure trove of crazy, playful reflections of our bold individualism. Echoes of past trends — leopard prints, gold frames with swirls, neon signs — remind us just how loud and lively design can be.

Main Stock Trends of the Year

Our key trends, based on the analysis of the increasing number of search queries year after year, are influenced by an era of design that emphasizes our brightest and boldest memories. Like a TV program from the past, painted in incredible colors.

Zine Culture

In the age of digital technology, Zine culture thrives in the decentralized minds of social networks, where independent creators can share their creativity and form interest groups.
The increase in search queries for the phrase ‘collage of contemporary art’ is +1376%.

This style is uniquely unbalanced and appears deliberately rough and messy, especially standing out in the polished digital world of today.

This style, built on collage-making principles and inspired by the art of copy creation, has several distinctive features — such as: paper cuts, noise, and high grain, layers with rough edges.

80s Luxury

The 80s are back and ready to astonish everyone with gold chains, animal prints, and their sense of self.
The increase in search queries for phrases is:

• +1060% elegant patterns;
• +731% chain print;
• +157% snake skin pattern;
• +168% leopard print.

We say — forget good taste; it’s all about good timing!

When every element competes for attention, the effect is inexplicably harmonious.

The challenge is the key word of this trend. Think of leopard print, snake skin, peacock feathers, gold chains, soft furs, and the textures of precious metals.

Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Old is back in fashion. This trend focuses on the charming return of old technologies, emphasizing how yesterday’s tomorrow looks. Characterized by neon colors, faded landscapes, and the buzzing of synthesizers.

The increase in search queries for phrases is:

• +717% synthwave;
• +676% retro waves;
• +230% duotone.

The key here is the colors and sounds defining the flourishing digital era, such as gradients of lavender, blue, and pink blending into each other, basic vector graphics, and dreamy synthetic melodies.

New Growing Trends in Stocks

Some of the growing trends of the year are a rhapsody of beauty and joy, created for an escape from reality, placed in the spotlight. Starting from unique illustrations to issues requiring immediate engagement — take a look at what to pay attention to this year.

Life Without Plastic

Given the increasing use of this material, a world free of plastic looks more tempting than ever.

The increase in search queries for phrases is:

• +729% plastic-free;
• +676% green tourism;
• +752% hemp.

As the climate changes, so does our attitude towards consumption.

Now discussions of alternative paths are beginning. Eco-friendly products, cotton and bamboo goods are in huge demand, and the main motto for the coming years becomes the three “R’s” – Reuse, Recycle, and Reduced Concentration.

Kawaii

The culture of cuteness, kawaii, originated in Japan, but it is now capturing the world as a desired distraction during times of doubt and insecurity.

The growth in search queries for the phrase is:

• +911% kawaii;
• +182% cute illustrations.

We are biologically destined to love and be charmed by cute characters in the kawaii style.

Joyful faces, vector pastel tones, and inanimate objects with adorable faces are the distinctive features of this delightful style.

It attracts our attention in ways that other cultural forms of art cannot, offering a respite for the soul from the routine of everyday life.

Kalamkari

Kalamkari is a traditional Indian method of drawing and printing on fabric with stunning results.

The growth in search queries for the phrase is:

• +160% kalamkari;
• +974% ceramic decor.

This style is characterized by natural colors and intricate patterns.

In this manual process of creating elaborate patterns and motifs, only pure, natural dyes are used, such as indigo, mustard, and green ivy. Digital analogs mimic handwork using pure colors and naturalistic floral and animal patterns.

Rococo Romance

The Rococo period is known for its rich and thoughtful works filled with dramatic vintage patterns, golden floral scrolls, and hypertrophied vegetation.
The growth in search queries for the phrase is:

• +160% vintage romantic design;
• +1277% damask.

Romantic tones are based on soft pastel shades, the sensual play of light and shadow, and the elegance of curved lines.

Inspired by the distinctly ornamental period in art, this new theatrical trend is dedicated to artistic maximalism.

It extends beyond artistic workshops, starting to manifest not only in fine arts but also in other areas of life, such as elegant colors and textures in interior design, intricate lighting systems, scenography in photography, as well as in thoughtfully designed web design.

Prism

Color will never go out of style, and this trend proves it by showcasing every color of the rainbow from a bright and geometric perspective.

The growth in search queries for the phrase is:

• +7923% disco lights;
• +434% geometric rainbow.

The dazzling rainbow incorporates 3D forms and seamless patterns.

This trend can be cheerful, playful, super-saturated, sharp, whimsical, or neon. Thanks to seamless patterns and smooth motion graphics, it employs multi-coloring as a powerful design tool.

Hypnotic

Repeating patterns, twisted spirals, and kaleidoscopic illusions of this trend create a truly captivating design suitable for the digital age.

The increase in search queries for the phrase is:

• +844% polyart;
• +513% kaleidoscope;
• +741% hypnotic.

Multifaceted and colorful illusions create designs that put you in a trance. These elements are the foundation of psychedelia, offering a mind-altering experience through surrealism and abstraction.

Look for hints of a new, mind-blowing dynamic called datamoshing in this classic style.

Everyday Futurism

The incredible achievements that seemed impossible at the dawn of the 2000s have now become part of our everyday life.

The increase in search queries for the phrase is:

• +1679% esports;
• +1414% facial recognition;
• +923% robotics.

As new technologies emerge in our lives, new words and symbols reflecting everyday life come to light.

From massive esports competitions and an abundance of virtual realities to biometric scanning at the consumer level, including a revolution in the world of automation, the world of technology is full of imagination and exciting events, and we can witness it evolving before our eyes.

Take a closer look!

Get ready to have some fun! This sweet style is the cherry on top of our creative trends.

Tempting Typography

Covered in thick cream and powdered sugar or chocolate with sprinkles – this is the world’s first typographic trend that has securely claimed its place at the dinner table:

+8389% – letters in glaze.

The growth of augmented reality and immersive design has inspired the exploration of new recklessly bold depths in digital typography. This whimsical typographic trend, using practically tangible vector inscriptions, demonstrates how sweet 3D design can be.

This font, delivered through shadow, texture, and sometimes splashes, can be tasted as you experience it through the monitor screen.

Global Trends in Stock Photos

Some of the new, rapidly growing global trends address very significant themes, while others amaze with their simplicity. Here, as a final note, is the top of the most common queries in 20 countries around the world:

1. Canada – ice cream pattern;
2. USA – colorful cartoon art;
3. Mexico – fragmented illustration;
4. Brazil – vintage romance;
5. Argentina – fish pattern;
6. United Kingdom – intellectual space;
7. France – motorcycle;
8. Spain – checkered pattern;
9. Germany – world tourism;
10. Italy – watermelon;
11. Poland – veloceRaptor;
12. Turkey – geometric watercolors;
13. Egypt – fabric pattern;
14. South Africa – black and white spiral
15. Russia – golden beast;
16. India – peacock;
17. Malaysia – magnolia;
18. Korea – retro neon;
19. Japan – superhero;
20. Australia – elephants.

Link to the original: www.shutterstock.com/blog/trends/2019-creative-trends

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