At the start of every year, design publications announce the upcoming annual trend forecast. In it, they predict the various aesthetic directions that will be taken that year. Many people follow these guidelines extremely closely so as to stay relevant; others cling to the principles that they’ve been using for their whole career and refuse to deviate.
Follow Your Intuition
What is the correct response? How closely should a designer adhere to these trends? Should they rethink their entire style, year after year, in order to stay current? Or should they stick to their own style to preserve their own identity?
The answer is not clear cut. In the end, it comes down to the intuition of each designer. However, I would argue that there is a gray area. I approach a design trend the same as I would a fashion trend – if it works for you, then great. If not, then you don’t need to wear it just because it’s in this month.
They’re More Like Guidelines Anyway
It is unwise to remain stagnant in an ever-evolving design landscape – especially when technology is advancing so rapidly. But it is also important to remember to stay true to yourself. If something doesn’t feel authentic to your style, you shouldn’t feel compelled to adhere to it. These trends come and go – but your identity and your style remain. This can change and evolve over time, but the core foundation should be constant.
For example, I consider my style to be elegant and minimal, but I still like to explore trends like adding texture and dimension. In some cases, I consider using trends as an opportunity to learn a new skill, like animation. For others, I merely loosely refer to for inspiration without directly following them.
But to quote the pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean, “they’re more like guidelines anyway.”