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May 2019

8 Expert Predictions for the Future of Drone Photography

8 Expert Predictions for the Future of Drone Photography 1920 1080 Daniel Perry

What does the future hold for drone photography? These 8 pro photographers share their expectations and hopes for the growing art form.

Drone photography is here to stay. Whether it’s in the real estate sector or the Instagram community, drone pilots continue to dominate the industry. In 2016, the Shutterstock Creative Trends Report indicated a huge uptick in searches for the word “drone,” and drone registrations in the United States alone broke 770,000 last year. The hashtag #drone on Instagram currently has well over 7 million posts. Other popular hashtags include #dronestagram, #dronefly, and #droneoftheday.

Drones have forever changed the landscape of aerial photography. The field has become more democratic; photographers no longer need to afford a helicopter to get a taste of the sky. Drones were also among the most popular holiday gifts this past season, appealing to professionals, hobbyists, and everyone in between. We asked eight drone pilots from the Shutterstock and Offset collections to predict the future of the genre.

The verdict? Drones will get better in terms of the technology, but it will be harder to fly as more policies and restrictions are imposed. Read on to learn why.

1. Piotr Krzeslak

“World governments see that the number of drones is increasing rapidly, and for this reason, they must control it carefully.”

2. Karolis Janulis

“In the near future, I think the gear will become even more reliable, and the quality will also increase.”

3. Alison Etcheverry

“I think that as the industry continues to grow and evolve, more drones will be used for artistic photography, commercial work, and other fields.”

4. Radu Bercan

“Although the sensors are not all that great right now, they could match the sensor of a DSLR in a few years.”

5. Dewald Kirsten

“Soon, we will be able to shoot long-exposure night shots at high ISO and get usable images from it.”

6. Amund Meier (invisiblepower)

“…I think that we will see better and better cameras with the option of using different lenses, along with better battery life for professional drones.”

7. Kevin Krautgartner

“In terms of drone technology, the next step will be making them smarter and stronger.”

8. Maxim Zabarovsky (mzabarovsky)

“Within five years, I believe, there will be a kind of revolution when it comes to flight time and drone batteries.”

What is your prediction for the future of drone photography?

By Feature Shoot

Web Design Trends 2019/20

Web Design Trends 2019/20 4705 3137 Daniel Perry

Web Designers, in fact designers et al, have an … anxious … relationship with the idea of trends. On one hand, following the crowd feels wrong — after all, isn’t creativity doing anything but what everyone else is doing? To this line of thinking, the only value in knowing what’s trendy is knowing what you’re pushing against. You can’t simply do the opposite of a trend, of course. But knowing what the trends are makes it easier to subtly comment on and/or critique them.

1. Serious logo redesigns

In 2018, we saw several highly visible brands turn from delightfully eccentric brand identities to more … ahem … expected … sans serifs. Or, as I like to put it: All brands identities eventually result in a Helvetica version.

With the world’s biggest, most familiar brands all boasting serif-less logos, it’s little wonder that a step in that direction is seen as the hallmark of a company attaining maturity. In that sense, this is a kind of meta-trend we expect to see over and over again, and 2019 is unlikely to be an exception.

2. Outlined type

There’s something elusive about this kind of half-there, half-gone text that immediately draws in and holds the eye, demanding that you follow the letterforms to their natural conclusion. Which makes it a pretty handy technique for some memorable branding.

In a world where chunky sans serifs dominate branding, a visually lighter letterform certainly does capture a feel of traditional — but different. Which in the end is what any new brand needs: a sense that it’s both revolutionary and trustworthy. 

3. More adventurous and vintage type

While logo design work may be continuing to trend toward homogeneity, we are seeing some more eccentric choices cropping up as well, such as Mailchimp’s adoption of the (in)famous Cooper Black typeface (of Tootsie Roll fame!) for its brand font. It seems that 2019 might be putting its quirkier, more nostalgic foot forward.

4. Inclusive design

Many lines have already been written about the importance of accessibility, but rebrand it as “Inclusive Design” and you’ve got a whole new unclaimed buzzword to write books and essays about! 

All kidding aside, thinking about the needs of a diverse set of users is never a bad thing, and if it takes a trendy concept to help us do it, I’ll take it. 

5. Design + Code

While we were all agonising over whether designers should learn to code, some of us quietly did just that — and used our newfound knowledge to develop better design tools. We’re seeing a new crop of design tools like Figma or Framer X that enable tighter integration with coding through APIs and plug-in systems.

6. Bold typography

For some reason, any list of design trends always has to include “bold typography.” Seeing as typography has been around since 1439, you can’t really go wrong with that one. (Well, except for that brief period back in 2013 when Apple decide everything should now be set in Helvetica Neue Ultra Light).

7. Different approaches to colour based on market position

In 2019, I expect to see more companies following the lead of other notable brands and pursuing softer and more approachable colour palettes.

In contrast, we’ll continue to see indie designers’ and makers’ companies carving out attention with bolder, more saturated, and opinionated colours. We’ll still see a heavy use of illustrations in an effort to humanise technology and more importantly, humanise the brand.

8. Mobile-first web design

Web design at the end of 2018 showed us an array of scroll-based animations and an inclusion of “timed animations” to help lead the eye down a marketing page. While this works well on the desktop breakpoint, we will see a more mobile-first approach to interactions in 2019. I’m looking forward to seeing how designers and developers bring facets of “desktop web design” into mobile-web design.

9. Too much motion

In Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Rosalind asks: “Can one desire too much of a good thing?”

Now, you’re probably wondering how we can possibly relate a pastoral comedy written in 1599 to 2019’s web design trends. Two words: motion design.

The trend towards animated and interactive elements is anything but new — and more importantly, it’s not going anywhere. Motion design can be a “good” thing in web design — when it helps users navigate sites.

The consequences of adding animations and interactions for the sake of visual flair, and not usability, can be far greater than simply distracting the user. In some cases, they can make it impossible, and even dangerous, for users to navigate your site. For example, any display that flickers, flashes, or blinks can trigger people with photosensitive epilepsy. While this design element certainly makes a site memorable, it can quickly become harmful if it’s not used correctly. 

10. The year users fight back

Ever since the launch of smartphones and the rise of social networks, we’ve been revealing in an all-new level of connectedness. The world’s knowledge is at our fingertips. We can “befriend” (that’s right, kids: there was already a verb for that) almost anyone, anywhere. We “enjoy” constantly refreshing “feeds” of “content” “tailored” “just for us.”

And we’re growing tired of it all. We’re fed up with the invasiveness. The misdirection and dishonesty. The high-flown rhetoric about connecting the world in the face of news about leaks, media manipulation, and (maybe?) rigged elections.

We’re realising there’s a monkey on our backs. And it lives in our pockets. And has always and forever only meant the best for us.

But that realisation has many of us “users” wondering: is the price of admission worth the return on investment? Has the transformation from mobile “phone” to pocket-sized supercomputer cost us more than it’s brought us?

And if that’s the case: how can we correct the imbalance? Can we have our cake and eat it too?

But you, reading this, can’t just answer these questions as a “user.” You’re also, probably, a maker too. So in 2019, it’s time (it’s past time) to ask yourself:

What can I do to put people back in control of their engagement, their usage, their lives?

Have you been using any of these styles in your own work?

By John Moore Williams

Logo Design Trends 2019

Logo Design Trends 2019 1920 1080 Daniel Perry

What makes a logo special? Do we judge its effectiveness based on utility? Is its value determined by how well-received it is? If you want your logo to feel remarkable and relevant, you need to keep an eye on how logo design trends are evolving.

Predicting which logo design trends will dominate the terrain ahead means appreciating what’s come before them. Now more than ever designers are willing to look at past trends while pushing the boundaries with new styles. In 2019, we’re seeing a fierce appreciation for color, storytelling and design-defying experimentation. The interesting new ways designers are elevating logo design by playing with familiar styles and clever use of color are going to make 2019 an electrifying year in logo design.

1. Variable logo design

Designers are working in an era where brands are hyper-aware of the fact that their logo will be viewed on a multiplicity of platforms. We covered a similar trend last year, but brands are no longer just concerned with how well a logo translates across platforms, they’re also asking how it can help them build a stronger personal connection with different groups of customers. How can my logo speak equally well to millennials and families? Enter, variable logos that adjust depending on which group you’re talking to.

In 2019, this trend admonishes any one-size-fits-all approach to logo design. Variable design individualizes the relationship between customer and client because these logos embrace the challenge of adaptability. Specialized iconography, dynamic typography and thoughtful customization help frame genuine connections to an audience’s specific needs.New age geometry

2. New Age geometry

Once certain trends become recognizable, we subconsciously limit their potential. Case in point: geometric design styles, which have fallen prey to a distinction for being overtly mathematical, cold and even authoritarian. Although it’s easy to define geometric logos as such, in 2019 there is an upward trend where designers are pushing that ceiling by deliberately pairing their creations with vibrant colors and friendlier compositions to offset its reputation.

3. Logos that trick the eye

The French term “trompe l’oeil” translates to “deceive the eye” and that’s exactly what this logo trend is all about. When you’re accustomed to cycling through ideas day in and day out, playing with visual tricks keeps your enthusiasm for logo design alive. This innovative practice that designers are turning to in order to reenergize their creative juices is also a trend that will dominate logo design in 2019: logo designs that play off tricking the eye—more explicitly, the art of perspective and distortion. Fragmented, warped or visually broken… it’s all good here.

4. Purposeful Colour

Storytelling through color is an inventive method for designers to help brands shape authentic relationships. It doesn’t take an expert in color theory to understand that a color like red evokes passion, vigor and desire. Where this trend can get complicated, however, is when a brand’s message relies heavily on color selection to express its identity. That make or break moment depends on whether the right palette is in play.

Picking the right colors helps brands communicate more effectively. Rather than using random colors simply to attract attention, in 2019 the meaning of logo color is paramount. We’re seeing logo designers focus more strongly on using color in a purposeful way, placing color more intentionally than ever and conveying meaning with each careful decision.Shift in minimalism.

5. Elevated negative space

Lindon Leader’s design for FedEx is arguably the world’s most celebrated negative space logo. The ingenious arrow hidden between the E and X is not only clever, it’s a logical representation of what the delivery service is known for—delivering packages!

But even without a history that includes FedEx, negative space is an engrossing design trend that designers are pushing to its limits in 2019. When you take something away from a design, you are, as a result, pushing that area into a more assertive role in your presentation. These designs are created best by those who are believers in dispensing with everything until the point is reached beyond which the design breaks down entirely. Logos created in those moments leverage negative space in voraciously dexterous ways and are elevating the category.Logos with pedigree.

6. Overlapping elements

This year we will see more creatives embrace the overlapping elements trend, where designers utilize opacity and stimulating shapes to construct eye-catching pictorial marks, wordmarks and more. This trend will also pull from other trends on this year’s list; expect to see overlapping designs making use of geometry, meaningful color, and negative space.

Have you been using any of these styles in your own work?

By Shelby Jordan

Graphic Design Trends 2019

Graphic Design Trends 2019 1920 1080 Daniel Perry

Staying on trend is pretty important in the graphic design world, Yes we feel that trends are nothing new, chances are everything has already been done before but they simply re-emerge every 20 to 30 years later into a modern contemporary style!

With so many cool trends evolving here are some Graphic Design Trends Predictions for 2019!

1. Motion design

There  will be a rise of motion design which will be used for communication in illustrations, logos, websites, UI/UX and social media marketing!

2. Isometric Design

Combining illustration with isometric type can create cool compositions. Expect to see more isometric illustrations with large typography!

3. 80’s and 90’s

80’s and 90’s inspired designs will continue to influence the design world. Expect more bright colours, geometric shapes and retro graphics!

4. Minimalist illustration

Expect to see more Minimalist Illustrations without facial features being used!

5. Curve edges

Move away from hard edges, instead designers will be drawn to use curve, soft edges being as image frames!

6. Bright colours

Experiment with bold and bright colour combinations! Pink colour will be very trendy!

7. Sliced images

This abstract style, when used sparingly can create cool, fun composition and bring an boring image to life!

8. Fluid soft edges

Expect more fluid soft edges used as bounding box!

9. Noisy textures

Using noisy textures will add depth to your artwork and will be popular in illustrations as it can be used to add shadow, highlight and depth!

10. Thick strokes

Expect to see Icons and illustrations using thick strokes! A great way to make your design stand out!

11. Geometric shapes

Geometric shapes are popular in graphic design and it will continue to be used in 2019!

12. Custom hand lettering

Digital & traditional handlettering are still very popular. As we move more digital, people are also drawn to traditional handlettering designs!

13. Mixed media design

Mobile apps such as Procreate makes it easy and faster to combine photos and illustrations together to create fun mixed- media compositions!

14. Gradients mesh

Gradient colouring have always been popular! we will see designers mixing meshes with gradients in 2019!

15. Paper Cutout

There has been a rise of digital paper cutouts style recently which will continue to be popular in 2019!

Have you been using any of these styles in your own work?

By Shumi Perhiniak

© 2023 Paperhat Creative

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