It’s fair to say that 2020 wasn’t the best year in recent memory for many people, both in terms of business and personal struggles. The large-scale changes that happened worldwide have contributed to companies taking fewer risks with their branding due to uncertainty.

With the uneasy feeling that most people have in the chaotic moment in time that we find ourselves in, brands must try to invoke a sense of positivity, understanding, and calm in their messages. 

In-your-face marketing tactics, eccentric fonts, and bold colors are sure to make a return at some point, but in 2021, it might be best to tone things down.

Your focus this year should be on authenticity, brand storytelling, and a more minimalist approach to design, as well as bringing back some classic design choices to invoke nostalgia.

Think of it as an opportunity to educate your audience on the value of your brand through storytelling, color choices, and authenticity. Gaining trust through transparency should be your highest priority. 

4 Biggest Branding Trends in 2021

Branding is an ever-changing field, and although we’re not huge fans of “trends” as a concept, the fact is that they can make a difference. Therefore, we got together with some folks from a Chicago web development company to discuss some of the most prominent branding trends in 2021. Check them out below!

1. Data Visualization

Data has infiltrated all aspects of our lives, and the branding landscape is no exception. However, we don’t just need to share data internally to improve our branding strategies; it can actually be a powerful tool in converting customers as well.

That said, raw data is unlikely to have much of an impact on your audience. If you want to see results, you’ll need to put it in a context that your prospects will find easy to understand and digest. Also, you need to make it visually appealing, as nobody is interested in looking at a bunch of numbers.

As you might have realized, this means data visualization has become an intrinsic part of any branding strategy. In keeping with what we discussed in the intro to this article, it’s best to keep things simple.

Users don’t want your marketing to feel like work. If you can create a breezy visualization of interesting data, though, you’re sure to draw people in and make some new customers.

2. Social Responsibility

So far, we mostly talked about design trends in branding, but although it is essential, design is not everything. 

Perhaps the most important brand trend in 2021 is social responsibility. If you know anything about branding, you know that brand values have always been essential, but today, customers seem to care more about your brand values than ever.

The pandemic is undoubtedly the thing most people will remember 2020 for, but lest we forget that it was also marked by a range of social justice issues and struggles. Consumers nowadays are more socially responsible than ever, and they are very interested in who they are doing business with.

As we mentioned earlier, authenticity should be a considerable part of your branding strategy in 2021. It will not be enough for you to simply state what you stand for on your website — you’ll need to provide evidence of continued actions that align with your words. 

Actions speak louder than words, and consumers are more aware of this than ever before.

A 2019 Stackla report states that 86% of customers find authenticity important when choosing which brands they will support, and we can assume that this percentage has only increased since then.

People are more likely to buy from brands whose cause they agree with and believe in, especially if they see the brand authentically fighting for said cause. 

Since the variety of products on offer is high in almost every niche, authentic action and social responsibility could be the things that make your brand stand out in 2021.

3. Minimalist Design

Minimalism has been one of the biggest brand design trends in the past few years. We’ve seen a steady shift towards minimalist aesthetics each year, and we expect it to continue in 2021. 

If you take a closer look, you’ll see minimalism everywhere, from landing pages and social posts to logos and newsletters. The trend is even prevalent offline, on branded merchandise and billboards.

With the rise of mobile marketing, Chicago web development companies, brand managers, and visual designers all agree that minimalism is here to stay. As more users access branded content on small screens, minimalism can only become more ubiquitous.

4. Accessibility and UX

We’re back to talking about design, but this time, it is less about the visuals and more about functionality. The focus on accessibility is closely linked to all the previous trends, particularly social responsibility and minimalist design, but things take a step further.

Ensuring that your branded content is accessible to most of the population is crucial in 2021, with more than 15% of the global population living with some form of disability. This stat shows us that the trend of accessibility is long overdue and is sure to have an impact for some time to come.

But how do you make your website or other branded content more accessible? 

Start by choosing clear and appropriate fonts with weights and lengths that guarantee maximum legibility. Also, ensure that the content can handle any scaling and adapts to remain appropriately positioned on any screen.

Make sure to create clear and descriptive alt text for all your images, and if possible, provide accessibility controls (such as color-blindness options), allowing easier access to all parts of your app or website.

Whatever you do, try to consider how people with disabilities can interact with your content. More often than not, this approach will make the content easier to navigate by everyone, improving the overall UX.

Wrapping Up

As you can see from the trends we outlined above, 2021 is a time of change. A solid visual design, story, and vision are no longer enough to run a successful branding strategy. Instead, you need to show that you understand the world that you’re operating in.

You can do this by showing solidarity and unity in your design choices, as well as making sure your user interface is as easy to use and accessible as possible. 

Finally, showing authenticity and social responsibility through your brand’s actions might be the most important branding trend in 2021.

Written by DesignCrowd on Tuesday, May 4, 2021

DesignCrowd is an online marketplace providing logo, website, print and graphic design services by providing access to freelance graphic designers and design studios around the world.