San Jose, CA—Adobe released its 2024 Adobe Creative Trends Report. It showcases the trending visual styles and themes that are set to scale in demand and make a creative impact throughout 2024.
Moreover, for the seventh consecutive year, the report examines emerging creative styles, cultural themes, consumer patterns, technology advancements and stock industry data globally. The goal is to identify four design trends and aesthetics that will dominate digital content and influence photography, videography, social media content and blogs. In 2024 they are Calming Rhythms, Wonder and Joy, Dynamic Dimensions as well as the New Nostalgia. 
Adobe believes today’s times are defined by disruption and rapid demand for content and creativity. Consumers are turning to technology to bring their creativity and ideas to life in new ways. Additionally, with transformative technology like generative AI, anyone, regardless of skill level, can create designs and bring their ideas to life.
Consumers’ desire to experiment, play as well as reimagine how creativity comes to life is reflected throughout this year’s 2024 Adobe Creative Trends Report. The trends bring together 2D and 3D worlds in both fantastical AI-generated visuals and simple images that create a sense of wonder.
“As we head into a new year, the creative landscape mirrors our disruptive, rapidly changing world,” said Brenda Milis, principal of Consumer and Creative Insights at Adobe. “This year’s creative trends are especially indicative of how both creators and consumers are craving visuals that inspire and reflect the endless possibilities of the imagination.”
Four 2024 Adobe Creative Trends
Calming Rhythms
With mental and emotional health now a global priority, soothing and rhythmic visuals have a calming effect. Furthermore, they are now used by a growing number of brands and companies in workplaces, retail spaces, outdoor installations, social platforms and apps. Calming Rhythms visuals vary from simple abstract and repetitive backgrounds to slowly shifting and moving forms. They are also often accompanied by relaxing sounds and music.
This trend is often associated with ASMR content, which features 912.6 billion views on TikTok with #asmr. It also typically includes relaxing visuals paired with sonic elements, supporting the pursuit of finding relief and balance.
Wonder and Joy
Consumers are responding to visuals that inspire a sense of awe, joy and enchantment as a coping mechanism. Wonder and Joy spans all types of brand messaging and experiences. It ranges from simple pleasures, including being a ‘kidult,’ to luxury travel and experiences as well as AI-generated imaginative environments. 
According to the 2022 Happiness Report, 80% of people said they are prioritizing health to make them happy. What’s more, 79% are focusing on personal connections, and 53% are interested in experiences to gain happiness.
Dynamic Dimensions
Thanks to the multiverse and the continued rise of gaming, VR and AR, it is common for multiple asset types and dimensions to inhabit a world in motion together. Dynamic Dimensions is inspired by elements that blend and create an impactful visual experience. Further, 2D and 3D elements merge through video, music and illustrations. 
According to the Adobe Creative Trends Report, in 2024, young people’s attitudes toward vulnerability will evolve, as they normalize emotional express and mental health issues both on and offline.
The New Nostalgia
What began as a fascination with ’90s and aughts styles, design and technology has grown into a deep dive into all eras. This trend reenvisions and reinterprets vintage lifestyles and settings with creative license, particularly with AI-generated hyper-realistic renderings of past periods. The New Nostalgia trend also mixes the consumer appreciation for vintage style with a contemporary interpretation and flair. 
With 50% of gen Z in the US, UK, Canada and Australia wanting to disconnect from their phones, they are turning to cost-friendly relics and hobbies of the past. Notably, this includes early digital point-and-shoot camera photography that makes them feel more connected and less detached from the real world.
To identify trends growing in commercial relevance and consumer engagement, Adobe harnessed the expertise of its Creative Cloud communities to identify the biggest creative trends on the horizon for 2024. Further, Adobe developed the report through extensive research using internal and external data. In addition, Adobe Stock conducts interviews across all sectors to identify industry and brand-specific visual needs that support evolving trend findings.
Find out more about the 2024 Adobe Creative Trends here.
