The Top Branding Trends For 2023
Branding trends change pretty consistently on a yearly basis. However, branding trends can last a couple of years, and are sometimes even emblematic of a decade. Having good branding is a fantastic way to kickstart your brand recognition campaign, and recognisable and attractive brand design is incredibly important when it comes to cultivating brand awareness. Making sure that your branding strategy is current and up to date will surely set you up for success and set you apart from the competition.
2022 was almost definitively the year of social media branding and interactive logos. However, what will 2023 bring for branding and how will it change branding techniques going forward this year? Here are all the predicted branding trends for 2023, based on what was most popular last year and what seems to be emerging within the branding design world.
Extreme Colouring
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Impactful colour combinations are predicted to be one of the most popular branding trends going into 2023. We’re seeing a lot of neon colours and colour combinations that seem to contrast very heavily considering the colour wheel. Clashing and contrasting tones to catch the consumer’s eye seems to be one of the more prominent branding design trends going forward this year. Brands are finding new ways to reach people and stick in their minds- and in the days of social media, companies need to stand out as much as possible. Bright, contrasting colours will be one of the best ways to attract consumer attention in 2023.
Anti-Design
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Breaking the rules of design seems to be a trend that is coming back into design strategies in 2023. The anti-design movement of the 1990s seems to be coming back with a vengeance this year, experimenting with brutalism and hard lines. Pushing the rules of design means that we could see some really creative works coming from brands in 2023. Mixing fonts, overlaid graphics and misplaced pixels that aim to confuse the viewing experience seem to be becoming more popular. Bold and busy designs seem to be a big trend, as a way to stand out from the other companies.
Eco/Sustainability
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Eco-branding is a movement that only becomes greater as the years go by. More brands than ever before are now incorporating eco-friendly branding into their company’s branding strategy. As the consumer seems to demand more sustainable companies, brands have to adapt with the times. Going into 2023, eco branding seems to evolve and become more of its own niche that many companies are seeming to replicate. It’s predicted that in 2023 it will move into a period of simple, monochrome colour palettes and futuristic imagery. This is quite the contrast to previous eco branding, which was iconic for its subtle earth tones. Stripping back the design and making it very clean, concise and minimal seems to be the biggest trend in eco branding going forward.
Statement Fonts
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The fonts used by companies seem to be becoming a more important aspect of the branding design process this year. Minimal, clean typography seems to be a massive trend in many company’s branding recently, and it seems to be working very well in regards to the consumer. However, some brands are going the other way and using quirky, zany fonts that really make a statement. This also seems to be working well for certain companies in certain niches. The way the font is arranged on the logo and packaging also seems to have a more placed importance in 2023. Bright colours and mismatched fonts seem to be one of the biggest ways brand designers are taking their branding in a different direction in 2023. Statement typography is definitely one of the best ways to make your company branding stand out in 2023.
Pop Culture Influences
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Companies are starting to embrace current pop culture as a major part of their branding going into 2023. As content creation and social media only intensifies as a major part of everyday life, brands are beginning to incorporate it as a major part of their branding. It is especially important nowadays for a company to embrace social media if its target market is Gen Z. Branding and design that reflects what people are consuming will be one of the best ways to reach people and create social media buzz this year, and many companies will start to closely incorporate it into their daily lives.
Nostalgia Train
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Many companies are following the nostalgia trend in society, social media and TV/Film and embracing past eras and historical trends as part of their branding. Creating a brand that takes someone back to a certain moment in history is cultivating a lot of success for many businesses. The nostalgia could be from as recent as the early noughties to as far back as the 1920s, however many people are embracing the mid 20th Century. Everything from the 1950s to the 1980s seems to be the most popular. By drawing on influences from the past, it can make the consumer feel as if they already know the brand. As consumers seek comfort and familiarity in nostalgia, it could act as a great branding strategy for companies in 2023.
Futurism
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It seems that branding in 2023 will either be on one side or the other – looking to the past, or looking at the future. Interestingly, despite the craze for nostalgia, futurism as a branding design strategy is also predicted to be very popular in 2023. Look out for images, fonts and design strategies that evoke a sense of the future, with a clear mission statement of the brand bringing a sense of the future and evolution. Evoking a sense of looking to the future in the consumer could work out to be a very successful tactic, as it conveys a sense of innovation and change.
Doing More With Less
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Making a bigger impact by using fewer elements also seems to be a big predicted trend for many companies going into 2023. However, this trend shouldn’t be confused with minimalism as people are still keen on using bright colours. Rather, flat graphic design and large clear fonts. By doing more by using less, brands can communicate a streamlined, efficient image which can be very attractive to certain potential customers.
Mission – Statement Branding
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Putting a brand’s mission statement at the core of their branding design is one of the most popular growing trends as we begin 2023. It’s predicted that this will only grow in prevalence amongst companies as the year goes on. As consumers are becoming more discerning with the brands they buy from, companies have to prove they actually care about social causes, and one way to convey this image is through mission statement branding. Embracing the brand mission (which could be sustainability, diversity, equality) as part of the branding design itself could be one of the most popular themes in 2023’s social climate. Setting up initiatives and aims clearly as part of the brand could be very popular when it comes to the new socially conscious consumer.
Mascots Are Back
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Mascots seem to be something that is relegated to sports teams and children’s brands in 2023- however it is predicted that all of that will change. Brand mascots are predicted to make a huge comeback. Using mascots that have a human, relatable personality can be a great branding strategy particularly when it comes to social media marketing. TikTok is proof of how using mascots for a brand’s content can be a great way to stay in the minds of the consumer. A mascot can really add a new layer to your company and expand on its personality.
Humor/Satire
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Consumers are wanting brands to be more relatable in 2023 more than ever before. Incorporating elements of comedy into your branding design and advertising seems to be one of the biggest trends going forward this year. Humour and satire is a great way to build a sense of connection between the brand and the consumer, and can create brand loyalty. This can also work really well in tandem with a good social media marketing strategy.
The Human Effect – Human Voice, Human Sketching
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Building on this concept of branding design having a relatable touch, it is predicted that many brands will move in a more human direction in regards to their branding strategy. This can look like many things, such as a human voice in terms of the copy, to a ‘handwriting’ style font. In 2023, the consumer is looking for authenticity and connection, and putting a ‘human’ touch to the branding design is a great way to communicate that. Experts from a Design Agency Sheffield based have made the connection between including handcrafted, human elements and conveying the image of an unpretentious, friendly company. Sketched illustrations and making the product look artisanal and handcrafted is a great way to endear your brand in the minds of the target market. Cultivating a grass-roots, approachable image for your company can really work in a brand’s favour.
If you’re thinking about starting a company in 2023, or even doing a rebrand of an already existing business, keep these trends in mind to make sure that your branding remains current and fresh.
