Since color is the key to making your design relevant and appealing to the audience, staying up to date on the modern color trends is way more important than you think. The color trends for 2021 are amping to be a drastic response to a lot of trends that were slated to define the previous year.
The colors trending this year are more calming and soothing. Instead of neon and crazy contrasts, the modern trend is softer and feels like that they are picked for humans and not for computers.
Are you new to the design arena and are not sure about what color trend to follow? Keep reading to find out the modern color trends to get a headstart on your project.
-
Gradient colors
Long gone are the days when designers hesitated to use multi-color schemes in their designs. The mindset has changed now and using color palettes with vivid color schemes is highly encouraged.
The gradient colors now stand for something meaningful than just choosing random colors that don’t make any sense. These colors have now become a popular choice among designers, especially when it comes to icon designs. Lots of famous brands are now choosing this color scheme such as Instagram, Mozilla Firefox, and many more.
However, keep in mind that the gradient color scheme goes well with website designs and app interfaces only. You cannot adopt this color trend for products since it will look over the top.
-
Pastel colors
Pastel colors are the new trend since several big brands such as Dropbox and Bootstrap have adopted this and are being appreciated. The reason pastel color is growing in popularity is none other than the calming effect it has.
The basic colors still exist but are presented in washed-out or dusted shades which make them appealing to the naked eye.
The serenity of pastels is indescribable and these are becoming the colors associated with self-care. Moreover, soft pastel hues look great when they are mixed. The most popular options to go for are millennial pink, baby blue, lavender, light peach, creamy mint, azure, and whimsey yellow. These pastel tones are splashed everywhere and generally found in various designer collections.
-
Duotone colors
The duotone color trend is not new and has been around us for many decades. However, it has recently gained hype and is gaining popularity in poster designs. Earlier it was used for music and DJ posters but now this trend has paved its way to posters and brand flyers as well.
Duotone colors usually blend simplicity with boldness and thus look more pleasing to the eyes. These tones are used to create the rich tonal reproduction of black-and-white photography. Despite its limited color scheme, it can have hundreds of incarnations ranging from eclectic and understated.
This trend has seen a resurgence in popularity in many ways that have more to do with aesthetic boldness and less to do with cost-cutting measures.
-
Retro neon colors
Amidst the soothing and relaxing colors, the retro hues are all set to make a strong comeback. The glowing neon colors with a mix of gradients look fantabulously appealing and have been gaining momentum in the logo designs.
Unlike pastel colors and duotone, the retro neon color trend has an audience of its own since it doesn’t sync with all brandings and logo designs. This color palette goes well with technology and gaming and delivers more futuristic designs.
-
Faded vintage colors
Many designers prefer using effects that remind them of the vintage period, such as classic images, faded and washed-up colors, etc. These vintage-themed color designs are gaining massive fame these days, especially for label designs.
From clothing labels to coffee packaging, these are everywhere and look stunning and attractive. The major reason behind their popularity is that they look spectacular when used on paper bags and cardboard.
This theme is influenced by other media forms of old times such as TV and magazines of that pre-internet era. These are the combination of artistic typography, classic shapes, and the faded colors that were popular in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
-
Dark colors
Have you seen a dark mode update on your smartphones and Windows? To keep up with this interface, every app is turning to the dark mode practice. However, designers are way too creative with this trend and have taken it to another level by adding a color pop.
Since a variety of dark colors are available in the palette, it doesn’t always have to be black and white. While soft pastel colors give a calming effect, these dark colors make your website bold and eye-catching.
Moreover, this scheme is employed for those apps that are designed for heavy night-time use to avoid eye strain.
-
Monochrome plus one
Monochrome palettes are not a new trend and we have come across the same a lot in the last year but here is a twist. In 2020, monochrome designs relied on using tons of shades of the same color to create a visual intrigue; however, in 2021, designers prefer to drop a single contrast color into grayscale designs to produce the same effect.
The addition of one contrasting color can take the overall design to the world of colors without making it too colorful. Monochrome plus one is a modern color trend to keep things subtle while being excessive at the same time.
Conclusion
Think harmony, no dissonance – that is the 2021 color trend in the nutshell. Whether you are redesigning the current look of your website or launching the new one, use the above-mentioned color trends to give your brand a modern touch. If you are looking to start a new design project and wondering about the color palette and templates? Opt for the InVideo App and unlock the list of readymade templates that use each color trend.
