There are always exciting new looks, old styles making comebacks and fresh takes on things. If you're going to be creative, you need to look around and see what inspires you. These are a few trends and styles that have caught my eye over recent weeks...
Factory white they call it. Plain old white. Not apple white or Devonshire Cream. White. It's back in its rightful place as one of the great colours.
Oversize patterns are big. Literally. But not full patterns. Corners. Pieces. Hints of something much larger than you're seeing but too big to fit. Like a teaser. Something blown up to give it more significance.
Brushwork inspired by the artists of Asia has a certain fluidity to it that is incredibly expressive. Even a simple black and white stroke can have such beauty.This combination of minimalism and emotion in very powerful.
I get the feeling that Victoriana is going to make a comeback - it's all to do with the resurgence of clutter and eclectic tastes, of travelling and bringing back bric-a-brac. Of valuing souvenirs and being 'worldly'. Is this going to be a new age of interest and inquisitiveness?
Collage is cool. And it's making another comeback. A bonafide artform in the sixties and seventies, it has gone somewhat out of fashion but is tipped for a renaissance. Now where are the scissors and the glue?
There is so much wonderful clipart available now that is royalty free. It's just up to your imagination what to do with it. I particularly love the old botanical pieces which look fantastic when they're blown up and coloured.
The return of the graphic novel? Comics have always had a place in the dark corners of graphic design. Hey, they influenced so much of the pop art movement. Now they're darker, cooler and more individual than ever, but let's not demean the retro styles that are a cult all their own.
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