Micro trends: Graphic design aesthetics

3: Bauhaus inspired

Simple, strong, graphic pattern typifies this trend direction, inspired by the purism of the Bauhaus aesthetic and its emphasis on straight edges and smooth, angular forms. Bold, playschool-style triangles, circles and hexagons suggest a cohesive and clean brand message. Block shapes replace linear patterning, suggesting clarity and authority in tone of voice. A clean, simple colour palette in which black acts as an important accent bouncing off bright, saturated primary red, turquoise and yellow, makes for a youth-inspired combination.

As seen in the work of Ryan Atkinson, the layering and segmentation of shapes to form abstract typography heralds a more sophisticated take on the recent Nu Rave typographic trends, fusing elements of 80s graphic design with Bauhaus Modernism. With similar reference to a love of 80s and 90s design, Polish design studio Peak21 has developed a trademark confident graphic style based around the deconstruction of bold, geometric shapes, resulting in the creation of minimalist, reductionist and clean-yet-expressive graphic communication.