2022 is shaping up to be an absolutely fascinating year for design trends in signage. From current events to major shifts in the way most companies do business to changing aesthetic tastes, the competing factors that contribute to signage trends are especially complex this year and are bound to lead to some noteworthy design trends. These trends are not only visually pleasing and can be adapted to suit the aesthetic of any individual business well, but they’re pulling in a positive response overall. If you’re planning to add new signs to your business in 2022 or you’re planning to refresh your existing signage, these trends will be great for you to keep in mind!

Nostalgia and Vintage Influences

A yearning for the past is a standard and well-recognized theme in design preferences, but for the year 2022 you can expect to see it in full force. The past few years have been complicated and scary for everyone, and it’s a pretty common response to search for a little escapism in remembrances of a simpler time. In the coming months you’ll be seeing lots of trends towards vintage and “retro” influences in some form or another, whether it’s the flashiness and bright colors of the 80s, the classic neon of the 60s, or even just simply embellished fonts  with a clean, old-fashioned look to them. For signage options that invoke the past, you can’t go wrong with our expertly crafted neon signs.

Gradients

If you’ve got a really beautiful and well-planned color scheme for your signs, there’s no better way to showcase it than with gradients. They’re incredibly versatile and very eye-catching, and can be used in subtle or bold ways depending on the size of the area you choose to make a gradient and how much of a focal point the area is. The best gradients use two or three colors that are either complementary or monochromatic (read our blog here to learn more about color theory in signs) and they feel fresh, modern, and unique when used well in signage!

Symmetry and Simple Geometry

Right now, people are looking for simplicity and calmness more than anything else, and if you can craft your business’s signs in such a way that you convey that feeling, you’ll be on the right track. Put an emphasis on clean lines, simple geometric shapes, and symmetrical designs and then just sit back and enjoy the positive response you get. An especially good place to emphasize this simplicity is with indoor signs like wall graphics and decals.

Minimalism

This trend ties into the simple geometry idea, but leans a little bit more into the “less is more” theory of sign design. A sign with simple shapes can still be very busy, and a major idea when designing any sign in the year 2022 will be to try and reduce “visual clutter” as much as you possibly can. Try to get your message across with as few design elements as possible– limit your color scheme, keep your text at a minimum, and try to focus on one emotion you’re trying to evoke or one brand attribute you’re trying to communicate with your sign. You can still get a sign to make an impact by choosing a more minimalist design, even specialty signs that might sit outside your business and get seen a lot by foot and street traffic.

Natural Influences

When you think of minimalist design, your mind might immediately go to plain text and a color scheme that’s only shades of gray, but there’s so much more to it than that! Something that might benefit your designs is to take influence from nature wherever you can. This is especially powerful in terms of your color choices– warm and comforting shades of browns and yellows and cool, simple shades of green and blue all reflect environmental cues that can convey a sense of peace, wellbeing, and harmony. You can use nature images as well– stylized birds or leaves are always classic choices that are easily recognizable. Unique carved signs are great ways to combine beautiful colors with unique shapes!

If you keep these trends for 2022 in mind, you’ll be sure to design beautiful signs this year that will wow your customers for years to come. For more information about planning a signage project of your own, contact us here and we will help you get started!