Coming out of a year like no other, much of us aspire to find new sources of inspiration and fresh perspectives– in book-making and beyond. As artists, authors, and designers review the changing times, a new age of imaginative ideas is currently striking the style world. Here’s a sneak peek of the creative trends and book cover designs that will specify 2021.
2021 Visual Themes
We see four visual aesthetic appeals standing out this year, which provide a creative action to the odd and special times we reside in. Some artists will lean into wild, unconventional, and disorienting styles, while others will embrace a more optimistic, energetic, and reassuring vision.
SURREALISM
There were many parts of 2020 that didn’t feel real and begged the question: Is this really happening? So, surrealism is going to be one of the leading style styles in 2021. There will be great deals of dream-like circumstances and visuals typical in surrealist art– unusual juxtapositions, psychedelic objects, deconstructed shapes, and jarring angles of cubism. The state of mind in the space (and on bookshelves) will be simply outside truth, where the imagination cuts loose.
ROMANTICISM
When times are difficult, it’s only natural to yearn for more picturesque landscapes and pastoral scenes. The spirit of romanticism in art is nothing brand-new to artists and poets, but this time around the creative state of mind will be identified by quiet simpleness. Instead of the ornate, luxurious stylings of the Victorian age (swirling scripts and ornamental fleur de lys), it will be more focused on very little, yet serene beauty (dreamy backgrounds and elegant lines). This vibe is everything about comfort, strength, and connection.
MAXIMALISM
The year 2020 turned up the volume in all locations of life– and creatives can’t shake that sensation. We got to know every inch of our homes in brilliant information, sometimes yielding stunning discoveries. One popular theme for 2021 will be: more is more. Image dynamic wallpaper patterns come to life. Prepare yourself for immersive illustrations and closeup views. This maximalist pattern spans modern and historical ages of art and design, so it’s not surprising the aesthetic is back. Who doesn’t like a zoom impact?
FUTURISTIC
The literary scene is no stranger to futuristic landscapes and out-of-this-world images in science fiction, dream, and thriller categories. Now more than ever, those technological tropes and wild images are resonating in the style world– and in our daily lives. We move through days filled with gadgets and pixelated images, calling to mind alternate realities. For some, the current imaginative mood is filled with adventure, curiosity, and innovation, with an edge of excitement.
Creative Trends in 2021
2021 Book Cover Design Trends
Watch out for these design elements, color trends, and typography designs that will be hitting bookshelves in the months ahead.
01 Bold Patterns & Prints
One technique to attention-grabbing covers: go big and strong. These books decline to blend in since they boast all-over prints and patterns in vibrant shades. And yes, the design fills every square inch of the front and back cover. Dots? Check. Stripes? Examine. Abstract styles and geometric shapes? Inspect. When you discover a pleasing pattern you like, often you have to go all in.
02 Natural World
Getting outside and finding quiet moments in nature has ended up being more meaningful than ever after spending months at home. In 2021, creatives and designers will be looking for methods to honor our deep connection to the natural world, and its motivating plants and animals. Schedule covers will try to record that sensory experience in photography, paintings, or illustrations. Think lavish greens and natural color combinations with dynamic gardens, trees, and animals.
03 Hidden Letters
All of us crave a little secret, specifically when it concerns discovering a brand-new book. Designers may be lured to interrupt, unknown, and even conceal parts of letters in the book title to develop extra thriller. Adding a blur result to the typography likewise recommends that not everything in this story is as it seems. No surprise this cover style is already popular in the sci-fi and thriller genres.
04 Lo-Fi Graphics
Today, the creative world is riding a powerful wave of fond memories. So do not be surprised if you see book covers boasting pop art, pixelated images, and sticker label art– the kind of lo-fi style components that call back to the early software and tech visuals of the nineties and aughts. Look for checkers, grids, tiles, animation graphics, and computer-style font styles that all provide a classic feel. Combining analog “old-fashioned” components of design with digital “future” mediums is all the rage, and now it’s trending on book covers.
Schedule Cover Design: Creative Trends in 2021
05 Oversized Fonts
If you have something to say, state it loud. That’s the style technique for books with large or distorted typography on the cover. There could be giant lettering in part of the title that shrieks, LOOK AT ME. Other ways it could play out: slanted or stretched-out text effects that catch the eye or even appear difficult to read. Some letters may be too huge for the design frame– actually pressing the borders of the book cover.
06 Artistic Sketches
While the looks of book covers have long revolved around pairing crisp typography with high-design graphics and perfect photography, a brand-new technique is taking shape. We’re seeing cover art and illustrations with a more handdrawn feel, like pencil drawings you ‘d find on the pages of a sketchbook. The images range from scribbly ink to smooth watercolor impacts, however they all prefer raw, natural lines over the stark, refined designs of the tech world.
07 Collage & Organized Clutter
Everybody understands the experience of having multiple tabs open on a computer. Beginning in 2021, some designers will be bringing that digital effect to book covers. It might look like timeless collage, with cutout images pieced together in surprising ways. Or you may see images and text stacked on top of each other, creating partially hidden layers. Aesthetically, it creates tension and intrigue, showing there can be approach to the madness.
08 Vibrant Color Combos
Say goodbye to peaceful color schemes and ombre patterns of pastels that efficiently blend into much deeper tones. Another brand-new trend in book design that’s bound to stand out this year: bold contrasts and unanticipated color pairings. Creatives are leaning into saturated spectrums and vibrant shades on book covers, a formula designed to lighten up things up and enhance anybody’s state of mind (which is precisely what we need these days).
