2025 is here, and though it’s impossible to know exactly what to expect, we can always make some guesses and predictions of what’s to come for design and marketing. The question is: if we don’t know for sure what’s coming, why even try to predict? The reason for trying to figure out what will be trending in 2025 is to attempt (because everything is really just an attempt) to stay ahead of the curve. If we can stay ahead, or at least in pace, we’re able to make sure clients get deliverables that are relevant and can compete well.
Since we focus on marketing (there’s just so many things that go into marketing) and web design, we’re going to narrow down to a few topics. Let’s discuss social media, web design, and graphic design (again, such a huge topic, but we’ll touch on a few things here).
Social Media
Keywords
Instagram rolled out keyword search in 2023, so this isn’t really anything new to socials, it’s more the centralized role keywords will be taking across all social media platforms. What else is new is the abandonment of being able to follow hashtags on Instagram
According to Digital Information World, Instagram is removing the ability to follow hashtags as a way to reduce spam of posts using hashtags merely because they are trending. Instead, hashtags will be used solely for algorithm purposes, though keywords will be relied more heavily upon overall. Start thinking of your hashtags as keywords now and adjust them accordingly.
Use of AI
In the last couple of years AI has grown tremendously, with its abilities doubling exponentially it seems. When it comes to social media, we’ve already seen an increase in AI taking over algorithms, generating user feeds, and helping with targeted advertising. What is already changing, and will only continue, is AI generated content being used more and more. Whether this is by writing captions, or creating amazing pictures to share, things will start getting harder to identify which is AI and which isn’t.
Wow that got bleak! What does this mean? We need to make sure that we are creating content that AI still isn’t able to do. For instance, words in images are still not something able to be done effectively by AI, or for some reason hands, among other things. Let’s focus on continuing making content that is clearly still made from humans since there is still a huge audience who prefers this to AI.
Augmented Reality
This isn’t quite AI, but it also isn’t necessarily entirely separate. Augmented reality has also started hitting more mainstream socials by creating different filters able to be used for posting. In 2025, we’re predicting that AR will be hitting advertising in a big way and changing the way that influencers and businesses are able to create content. This means, we might need to start thinking in 3D instead of just 2D on socials. How can we turn posts into an experience instead of just something to look at? There’s still quite a ways to go for this one, but it’s not unheard of. Check out this article by Vishal Baurai on LinkedIn for more.
Web Design
Sustainable Web Sites
What does this even mean? A website that won’t crash and updates itself? Nope. We’re looking for ways to reduce energy use from web sites. Think of the servers being used to keep websites alive, as well as the screens that are showing them to you, and the wifi being used. All of this uses energy, and there are great ways to ensure that your website uses the least amount of energy possible. Dark mode reduces energy use from the screen, image optimization reduces download time, and using system fonts decreases the need to stream a new font to a device. For a more in depth look into this check out DesignModo.
Parallax Scrolling
Have you ever gone on a site, and as you were scrolling through, the background image started moving at a different speed than the rest of the page? That’s a form of parallax scrolling, and it’s hitting websites in a big way. Many website builder platforms already have ways to use parallax scrolling built right in, such as Wix, or have plug-ins you can add, like WordPress, to make your sites scroll in fun ways. For a fun website design we just made that uses parallax scrolling visit the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing and Economic Development Corporation’s website and check out the beauty that parallax can make. There are so many ways parallax scrolling can spruce up your website, learn more at Web FX’s article about modern web design.
Graphic Design
Gradients and Texture
Gradients have started to make a comeback in 2024 in the general graphic design space, but mostly in a linear way without going to bold. 2025 is bringing gradients to a freeform style, using contrasting colors, and throwing in some texture. A gradient alone isn’t enough anymore, now we want to see some grit and grain in there too. These small details make design more captivating, and PiktoChart has the proof to back it up.
Serif Typography
This one comes as somewhat of a surprise. Serif typography making a comeback is refreshing in a world that has been slowly reducing all typography design to minimalist sans serif fonts. Sans serif fonts are great for legibility, but just often lack the character a quirky serif font can provide. Digital Synopsis provides some nice examples of how serif fonts will be used in graphic design.
Bold Minimalism
How could these two words possible go together? Think of bold minimalism as making the design so minimalist, that someone says “now that’s bold”. That’s bold minimalism. Designs are being stripped down to a nicely crafted font with a unique color and call it a day. For some examples of this trend, visit Jukebox’s article about their prediction for graphic design trends.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, predictions are just that: predictions. They aren’t saying this is exactly what will happen, but knowing what could be trending and becoming mainstream again helps designers stay on top of what’s current and what’s about to be.
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