Illustration Trends 2024: The Unbreakable Influence of AI

Many graphic designers create various illustrations and are satisfied with their work and the creation process. However, pleasure alone is not enough, you need to look for innovations, and the best way to get acquainted with them is to follow trends. In this year 2024, as in other areas of design, AI dominates, but innovations can also be found.

Let's take a look at some of this year's key illustration trends and how you can apply them to your designs and projects. Some of these trends will not only be popular, but also ground-breaking as new advances and innovations emerge.

Let's go to the list below and we hope you will enjoy it:

AI Breakthrough Illustrations

Designers have different views on AI, some see it as a new technology and strive to build it, others are more subtle and somewhat supportive of it. But everyone agrees that without AI, the future would be murky, and that's why our illustration trends put this innovative technology first.

Now you can generate vectors with text, find exact font matches, create icons, get illustration variations, copy art styles and more. These new tools will save you a lot of time and increase your process of finding inspiration, experimenting with different concepts and different ideas.

3D Concepts

The concept of 3D in illustrations is not new, but it is becoming more and more innovative, so we invite you to use 3D in your designs. They can create very vibrant and subtle styles for which you can get inspiration in various spheres, even in fonts, packaging, books, videos and many more.

3D innovation is moving forward, not so fast, but surely. We can see it being used particularly passively in some designs. It can't be overloaded because that would be kitsch, so do your feasibility studies and find ways to use these illustrations in your designs and I think they will find their place.

Abstract and Colorful Styles

Abstract and extremely colorful illustrations full of energy and fantasy are what really drive customers or visitors. Do not doubt that your design does not need more colors, whether it is web design, postcard, book cover, packaging, everywhere you can express yourself in a special and colorful way. Don't miss them.

For years, abstract illustrations have been a powerful visual form that enhances storytelling. This year, we hope that this art trend will continue to grow, taking what it needs. If you need some accent in your design, then such illustrations may find their place in it.

Retro Craze

We all have some nostalgia for those classic and groovy illustrations full of vibrant colors and weird shapes. It came from our childhood and now we designers are very fond of those retro colors and style, so it takes a pretty high fourth place on our trends list. It seems that everyone has gone crazy with retro designs, which are abundant online.

We see these retro illustrations on everything from product packaging designs to websites and even branding. It seems to be increasingly popular among casual and lifestyle brands that also target a younger audience.

Geometric Influence

Discover yourself and your style in the geometric expanses, whose style is widely known and much loved by designers. It has certain specifics, it is strict lines and angular shapes, also you can add some colors and the design is done. Use geometric illustrations in web design, posters, flyers, packaging, advertisement and many more.

It is a very abstract and suitable stylistics. These illustrations lack verisimilitude and vitality. Everything that is created with this technology is digital and without any logic. However, this category fascinates many, because it is not necessary to breathe life into them, so the process is quite simple, but at the same time it requires experience. Can you see yourself in this style?

Cartoon and Comic Engagement

For creating fun and emotional illustrations, this trend is exactly what you want. This will allow you to go outside the boundaries and attitude, because the style does not require you to squeeze yourself into a place where there is no room for expansion. These illustrations are most suitable for children's and adult book illustrations, posters, birthday invitations, animations and many more.

While this isn't a new trend, we're sure to see more cartoon and comic book style illustrations this year. Because it is simply unique. Allow yourself to fantasize more and empathize with the characters you create so that your mood is reflected in them.

Line Art

Line art and illustrations in this style are very popular, so it is not for nothing that they are in a very high position on our trend list. If you have a little artistic sense and want to create something evocative, powerful, then grab the instruments and draw lines, maybe something interesting will come out?

This is probably the simplest way to illustrate. Line drawings have a special way of creating a minimalistic feel to any project. This helps create that subtle, fine art style look that you can't achieve with any other illustration style. That's why it will always be a trend you can count on.

Powerful Bold

Are you ready for a powerful wave that floods your senses when you want to create and do it boldly. This trend is really an opportunity to express yourself with feelings, to feel the whole process, when others will say that it touches even the most secret corner of the heart.

Don't be afraid to receive compliments, because they will be for brave work and experience. It's a trend we'd like to see more of this year. We're especially interested in how designers and artists will approach this experimental illustration style.

Final Thoughts

We simply suggest experimenting with each style, because it is an opportunity to express yourself in a different way. Illustrations are not easy to create, but they are very necessary as a part of the design engine. A lot is illustrated and it would be difficult without it, so don't be surprised if you keep getting new orders. We wish everyone good luck.