The Ultimate Guide to Graphic Design Styles

Contemporary/Modern Graphic Design

Although the contemporary design style is a crowd favorite, it is not always the easiest to define, given the fact that it borrows elements from many other aesthetics. The contemporary style boasts hints of modern, traditional, art deco style, and even futuristic design.

This graphic style dates back to the 1970s and is so unique and difficult to define due to its ever-evolving nature. This makes sense, seeing as the word “contemporary” quite literally means “of the moment.” This design style is all about living in the moment, taking on whatever is ‘in’ today and adapting to roll with the times. As of right now, the contemporary style is defined by curved lines and bold colors.

Below are some of the characteristics that can help when identifying this unique style:

• Mostly Sans Serif font, optional Serif headers
• May have effects
• Vibrant imagery, overlays and filters
• Vibrant colors, gradients, full screen colors, high contrast
• Straight/angled and geometric grid
• Shapes that include lines, rectangles, squares, triangles

While they are relatively the same, there are some differences between contemporary and modern design style. The biggest difference between the two styles is that modern is a strict interpretation of design that started in the 20th century. In contrast, contemporary is more fluid, often representing a sense of currency with less adherence to one particular style.

Below are some of our own examples of contemporary and modern design that include different shapes, angles, and more vibrant imagery and colors than other designs may incorporate.

Professional and Corporate Graphic Design

Although this style isn’t used quite as often as the other design styles, it is nonetheless an effective and important style. The Corporate design style is used mostly in formal or professional situations and, therefore, boasts a very straightforward, conservative look.

Corporate styles primarily utilize simplistic details to get the point across in a professional, formal tone. The elements of corporate style are great when combined with minimalism, a style that is also well known for simplicity, straightforwardness, and legibility.

A successful corporate style design boasts the following characteristics:

• System fonts only, Sans Serif, classic fonts, extra legible
• No drop shadows or effects
• Very few muted colors / simple color palette
• Standard, straightforward grid
• Traditional layouts with conventional header and page number placement
• Conservative, simple shapes

Below are a few of our own examples of corporate graphic design style. You can see how our designers implemented simple shapes, classic fonts, and bolder, less muted colors to meet the corporate style standard.

Elegant Design

When clients and designers want to inspire a sense of luxury in their audience or for their brand image, they use an elegant design style. This style is used often in fashion-related projects, as well as more classic ones. This design can incorporate a texture of sorts to help set a specific mood or tone, one that represents sophistication, elegance, and class. You may see this type of design style used by high-end hotels, luxury fashion, or anything that is upscale and invites the audience to indulge in extra comforts.

Below are the defining characteristics of elegant design style:

• A mix of Sans Serif fonts
• No effects
• Imagery that includes close-ups, subtle, focused on form
• Luxurious colors (gold, bronze, purple, pastels)
• Simple and classic grid
• Patterns, hard angles, borders, thin lines

Below you will see some of our designs that adhere to elegant design style. Our designers implemented luxury colors, such black, gold, and purple, as well as a few close-up images.

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Other Design Styles

Now that you have a good understanding of the four most popularly-used design styles, check out the many other styles that both designers and clients love!

Playful Graphic Design

It is very important that the designer and client understand who the target audience is with any given project. While playful, lighthearted designs can be fun for adults, depending on the project, they are also quite effective if the audience includes children or teenagers. Playful design style comes in many forms, including semi-realistic, realistic, animated, and artistic.

Below are some of the elements that define this amusing design style:

• Animated elements of people, animals, or objects
• Vibrant colors
• May include elements of fantasy

The primary goal of this type of style is to evoke a sense of fun and informality in the audience. This style combines great with the organic design style, which we will discuss in further detail next.

Below are some of our examples of the playful design style. You can see that each work makes use of bright colors, with elements of animation and fantasy that are appealing to both adults and children.

Organic and Natural Design

With such a massive health and fitness movement in the last decade, it makes sense that natural and organic elements have made their way into the world of design. Organic design is a holistic, nature-inspired style that integrates both human and natural elements.

When executed correctly, this type of design includes the following:

• Heavily nature-inspired
• Holistic design
• Smooth, rounded forms and shapes
• Lightweight constructions
• Softer shapes and flowing lines
• Asymmetrical
• Dynamic forms

It’s quite common to see lighter color schemes used in organic design style, as well as illustrations and even rustic, grainy textures.

In our own work below, you will notice many soft color schemes, as well as flowing, rounded typography and animated elements.

Illustrated Graphic Design

Illustrated design style is used to deliver a message or a concept almost entirely through illustration. This type of style combines very well with playful design style, as well as organic. It differs slightly from playful style in that it is completely illustrated in a rather hand-drawn appearance.

Below are the characteristics that help define this style:

• Often boasts a hand-drawn look
• Unique to different designers’ drawing techniques/styles

In our examples below, you can see how the designs illustrate different processes entirely through animated visuals and in a very lighthearted, playful tone.

Geometric Design

As its name suggests, geometric design style is heavily inspired by geometry and utilizes many straight lines, angles, and shapes. This style is extremely symmetrical and features many shapes throughout the entire design, specifically rectangles, squares, and triangles.

Here are some of the defining characteristics of this design style:

• Straight lines and angles
• Highly symmetrical
• Perfect curves

Geometric design style blends quite nicely with minimalist style, as well as professional and corporate. Check out some of our own designers’ examples of this visually-appealing design style:

Putting it All Together

There you have it: the different design styles and the elements that define each one.

It is essential that both the client’s and designer’s vision for design style aligns to help avoid issues and unnecessary confusion throughout the project. The type of relationship that a client and designer have can truly depend on the two seeing eye to eye when it comes to design style. We hope that this guide helps you to achieve this coordination with your client or designer so that you can enjoy a long-term, professional partnership that is beneficial to both parties!

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