Your visual guide to design styles
Your visual guide to design styles
One of the easiest ways to have a better client-designer working relationship is to align the project's design style.
We've prepared a visual design style guide as handy reference for both designers and customers.
Minimalist, grunge or abstract? There are so many design styles out there, where do you even start?
Below we have compiled 15 design styles and their stunning examples.
We encourage you to consider complementing different styles to play off each other. For example, you get a playful design from combining flat and illustrated; or you get a luxurious logo from combining vintage and masculine.
Designers: use this guide to help you define your design style better and be more discoverable by potential clients.
Customers: use this guide to help you find the design that best describes your brand.
3D
by Akira X3
by Asael Varas
by Jeff Purnawan
by Akira X3
by ludibes
by 3dRadiance
by Biserka ☣
The three-dimensional artwork gives the opposite illusion of a flat design. It is characterized by the illusion of volume and mass, therefore looking like it occupies space. 3D design is commonly used to create skeuomorphic designs, the idea of creating something to resemble a real-life object.
Characteristics
Illusion of depth / volume
Employs lighting effect
Employs shades of one color
Combines well with:
Abstract, fun and playful, grunge, illustrated, masculine
Keywords
Perspective, skeuomorphism, shadow, video games, app design
Abstract
by Kelly Norman
by Mithum
by Giyan
by akdcreative
by cecece
by EM180
Abstract is the style of creating a piece of art that is independent from the way it looks in the real world. An abstract design style is achieved by a combined composition of colors and shapes usually based on the individual interpretation of the designer, the client or both.
Characteristics
Ambiguous representation of an object / concept
Invites individual interpretation
Combines well with:
3D, clean and minimalist, fun and playful, geometric, organic and natural, professional / corporate
Keywords
Colorful, artistic, logo design, illustration
Clean and minimalist
by ludibes
by bo_rad
by amio
by Fe Melo
by Nativ
by Mithum
by redcyan
by YaseenArt
by BjankaB
Minimalism is a style or technique that is characterized by spareness and simplicity. It is the opposite to lavish and highly-decorative styles and leaving its most basic form to communicate the message.
Characteristics
Uses small number of colors
May be achieved by using fluid or straight lines (line art)
The opposite of abstract
Combines well with:
Abstract, feminine, flat, geometric, professional/ corporate, luxurious
Keywords
Simple, line art, negative space, flat design
Conceptual art
by Jeff Purnawan
by MWart
by miridi
by XZEQUTEWORX™
by pmo
Conceptual art is a sub-category of illustration, and is a metaphorical depiction of a visual idea. Consider it as the fictional section of illustration, as it doesn't necessarily feature likeness to the real object it models after.
Characteristics
May contain some elements of reality
Features designer's own interpretation of the object it models after
Combines well with:
All styles
Keywords
Illustration, drawing, abstract
Feminine
by ananana14
by Sign.Yra
by S A V
by L1graphics
by elenor
by Creative Duet
by MWart
by katerina k.
by cabinet
The opposite of masculine design, feminine style is usually characterized by details that stereotypically attract female attention such as soft color palettes, florals and cursive writing.
Characteristics
May employ cursive, fluid fonts
May incorporate pastel colors and/or shades of red (eg. pink, purple, orange)
May feature a woman's face, flowers and fashion components (eg. lipstick, shoes)
Combines well with:
Clean and minimalist, flat, illustrated, luxurious, organic and natural, typographic
Keywords
Flower, cosmetic, pastel, fashion, love, beauty
Flat
by thisisremedy
by velinsi
by sumit226
by ludibes
by GRKN_DESIGN
by Terry Bogard
This style could be considered as a subcategory of the minimalist look: it employs minimal use of colors and shading for a visually-pleasing aesthetic.
Characteristics
Uses small number of colors
No realistic shadow effect
Combines well with:
Clean and minimalist, feminine, geometric, luxurious, typographic, vintage / retro
Keywords
Clean, infographic, minimalist, line art, illustration, app design
Fun and playful
by mashka
by Angstrom Alliance
by Sava Stoic
by GangmaZ
by Chupavi
by elenor
by shon_m
by Googa
by Dudeowl
A design style that inspires fun and usually gives off an informal, rather than rigid, impression. Commonly used to create cartoons, it can be non-realistic or semi-realistic artistic style of drawing.
Characteristics
May feature caricaturized person / animal
Colorful
May contain elements of fantasy
Combines well with:
3D, abstract, illustrated, organic and natural, typographic, vintage / retro
Keywords
Humor, mascot design, character design, kids, caricature, cartoon, animal
Geometric
by shaka88
by moondust
by Dragona99
by --Hero
by arosto
by Milakat
Derived from the idea of geometry, this style is characterized by heavy use of straight lines and shapes. The typical geometric design can comprise of rectangles, squares and triangles.
Characteristics
Incorporates straight lines
Features symmetry
Combines well with:
Abstract, clean and minimalist, flat, professional / corporate
Keywords
Minimal, tech, simple, internet, flat
Illustrated
by BATHI
by - Z -
by Lucadia
by WantedPowers
by DSKY
by MWart
by ultrastjarna
by Dusan Klepic
by McSeaman Co.
The illustration style is derived from the interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process.
There are plenty of subcategories under illustration, among them conceptual art and photorealism, which are also explained on this page.
Characteristics
Generally has 'raw', hand-drawn look
Look dependant on designers' drawing style
Combines well with:
3D, feminine, fun and playful, grunge, masculine, organic and natural, typographic, vintage / retro
Keywords
T-shirt design, sketch, drawing, tattoo, art
Luxurious
by Yokaona
by Mad pepper
by trinitiff
by duwi.sleman
by dguiraom
by Brace
The luxurious design style evokes the idea of indulging in extra comforts or pleasures additional to the necessary standard of well-being. The use of rich colors such as gold helps achieve this idea of luxury.
Characteristics
Often uses the colors black, gold and bronze
Achieves the idea the brand is impactful on its own by employing simple, minimalist designs
Uses either old-style fonts or simple and modern fonts
Combines well with:
Clean and minimalist, feminine, flat, masculine, vintage / retro
Keywords
Elegant, sophisticated, fashion, understated
Organic and natural
by Martis Lupus
by Project 4
by AZ_ART
by phongling
by Martis Lupus
by Dilyana H.
by *Alexandra*
by lamadesign
by LizYee
Organic design is a style which takes the flowing natural forms of a reality and characterized by continuous lines and dynamic curves. Organic style can also feel rustic by adding weathered and texturized effects.
Characteristics
Generally incorporates natural elements like leaves, flowers and fresh produce
May be combined with illustrated look for the raw, organic look
Combines well with:
Abstract, feminine, fun and playful, illustrated, typographic, vintage / retro
Keywords
Nature, rustic, handmade, illustration
Photorealism
by BATHI
Photorealism is a form of illustration where the designer closely matches it to the original image or photo as much as possible.
Characteristics
Features refined details to emulate the original image as much as possible
Usually achieved by, but not limited to, pencil sketches
Combines well with:
3D, feminine, grunge, masculine, organic, vintage
Keywords
Drawing, illustration, sketch, tattoo, art
Professional / corporate
by shaka88
by CreativeKing™
by galinka
by Bikelindo V. Rouco
by Melwyn3
by TRYBYK
The professional design style is usually characterized by muted colors, and minimal details to represent conservative ideas. This style is typically employed by organizations who want to make formal impressions on their target audience.
Characteristics
Employs straight, classic font types
Generally incorporates simple shapes or objects
May invoke formal impressions with use of negative space and line art
Combines well with:
Abstract, clean and minimalist, geometric, masculine
Keywords
Business, formal, minimal, classic, simple
Typographic
by gingko
by TWENTYEIGHTS
by sheva™
The typographic style utilizes the modification of fonts. It is the design of the written words to evoke response in its target audience. For logo, fonts need to be uniquely modified.
Characteristics
Font style is generally the focus of the design
Typographic design may incorporate objects, but the text usually conveys the main message
Combines well with:
Feminine, flat, fun and playful, grunge, illustrated, organic and natural, vintage / retro
Keywords
Font, illustration, artistic
Vintage / retro
by ultrastjarna
by GOOSEBUMPS
by Project 4
by UndoRedo
Vintage or retro (short for "retrospective") is a style that is derivative of trends from the recent past. Some popular vintage styles include Victoriana (inspired by decorative styles of the Victorian era), steam punk (an ode to the industrial revolution of the late 19th century) and Bauhaus (the minimalist style movement between the 1920s and the 1930s).
Characteristics
May incorporate rustic, nostalgic elements to invoke the past
May use illustrated ornate ribbons and wreaths reminiscent of the 19th century
May incorporate visual clues such as old letterpress, hand-drawn typefaces and elaborate decorative arts
Combines well with:
Flat, fun and playful, grunge, illustrated, luxurious, masculine, organic and natural, typographic
Keywords
Rustic, T-shirt design, drawing, illustration, logo design
Your visual guide to design styles
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