Sage Design Group | Creative Solutions to Grow Your Business™ TYPES AND STYLES OF GRAPHIC DESIGN Graphic design is a skill and practice that uses visual elements to communicate ideas or convey messages. Gaining some insight into what graphic designers do will help make working with these strange creatures less nerve-wracking. As a graphic designer that got her career started when Adobe first came out with products like Photoshop and Illustrator in the 90s and now being in Silicon Valley during COVID-19 while the tech industry is restructuring its work culture, it can be overwhelming. There is also a certain aspect of social responsibility that creators should adhere to. Graphic designers use their talent as an art from to problem solving through the use of images, typography, and styles. The main types of graphic design are visual identity, marketing and advertising, publication, packaging, user interface, 3D and motion graphics, environmental design, and illustration. Read more at https://sagedesigngroup.biz/types-and-styles-of-graphic-design/ Sage Design Group | Creative Solutions to Grow Your Business™ Types and Styles of Graphic Design by Annette C. Sage https://sagedesigngroup.biz

1. Types and Styles of Graphic Design
Graphic design style is a combination of different shapes, colors, typography, form, lines, and curves
that work in harmony to accomplish your design goals.

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3. Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an ornamental style that is
characterized by use of long organic lines and is an
international art style that is often used in architecture,
interior design, jewelry, glass, posters, illustration, etc.
Art Nouveau was popular in Europe and the United
States between 1890 and 1910.
Intricate illustrative style
Bold, heavy weighted outlines
Hand drawn and colored
Use of natural forms
Use of a natural color and tonal palette
Regularly features female personas

4. Art Deco
Art Deco can be characterized as a sleek geometric
style that uses rich colors, bold geometry, and
decadent detailed work that brings an element of
glamour and luxury using symmetry and exuberant
shapes. Art Deco originated in France in the mid-to-
late 1910s and became popular in the United States
and Europe during the 1930s and is often found in
architecture.
Bold geometric shapes
Use of vertical and motion lines
Capitalized typefaces
High contrast in colors
Flat (in terms of depth)

5. Noir
Noir is the French label for the “black film” genre that
peaked in the 1944-1955 period. Its origins are the
detective novels of Dashiell Hammett 1929-34.
Hard, un-diffused look of tabloid newspapers
Night scenes with low-key lighting and cluttered,
claustrophobic dark interiors
Depictions of bleak fatalistic overtones of despair
and madness
Heightened expressionistic scenes with elements
that are distorted, nightmarish, grotesque, and
exaggerated

6. American Kitsch
“Kitsch” is a German word meaning “in bad taste” and
is used to describe artwork that is vulgar, tasteless,
pretentious, and lack of sophistication. American Kitsch
was popular in the United States in the 1950s but rarely
found in art history books or taught in design schools.
Contemporary designers still have a deep affection for
this style of design.
Contrasting imagery and fonts
Cartoon-like illustrative images
Bold, vibrant colors
People in dramatic poses
Aerodynamic shapes

7. Swiss/International
International style is a typographic design style also
known as “Swiss” style that emerged in Russia, the
Netherlands, and Germany in the 1920s and was
further developed by Switzerland in the 1950s.
Consistent use of negative space
Saturated, matte color palettes
Very ‘clean’ and simple
Sans serif fonts favored
Asymmetrical layouts

8. Psychedelic
Psychedelic art dominated the art culture in the 1960s
when psychedelic drugs became popular in Western
culture, particularly the United States and Britain. Music
and album covers from the 60s summarizes the era’s
popularity.
Influenced by the psychedelic drug culture
Intense, clashing colors
Type and image use influenced by Art Nouveau
Hand-drawn type generally illegible and hard to read
Abstracted curvaceous forms and design elements

9. Punk
Punk was part of the Postmodernist’s movement that
rebelled against the rules of the Swiss movement and
neutral sans serif typography in the 1970s. Design
choices were made from lack of planning or
knowledge of design and made use of collages, had
drawings, stencils, rubber stamping, Xerox copying,
and offset printing.
Low quality, photocopier printed images
Grainy and matt screen printing effects
Found and collaged type
Predominantly photographic imagery
High contrast, bold colors
Overall rough, textured aesthetic

10. Minimalist
Minimalist design is the most basic stripped down form
of design and is meant to be calming and bring the
mind to just the basics. Minimalism is absent of colors,
shapes and textures to make important content stand
out as focal point.
No depth of field
Minimalist design space
Neutral tones and secondary colors
Linear design elements
Use of negative space

11. 3-Dimensional
3D Modeling is an art form and process of using
mathematical equations to make graphics come to life
in three dimensions – height, width, and depth. 3D
modeling was developed in the 1960s by the creator of
Sketchpad, Ivan Sutherland.
Illusion of live-like depth and volume
Employs various lighting effects
Shadow and depth indications often utilize one
color, with tonal variations

12. Abstract
Abstract design is usually absent of reality and uses the
visual language of form, shape, line, and color to
create visual designs independent from references of
the real world.
Ambiguous representation of an object / concept
Independent from the way it looks in real life
Invites individual interpretation

13. Conceptual
Conceptual design is an early stage of the design
phase where designs are refined and plan,
specifications and estimates are created.
Metaphorical depiction of a visual idea
May contain some elements of reality
Features designer’s own interpretation of the
object it models after

14. Feminine
Feminine design uses shapes and details that are
appealing to women. Think curves, delicate detailing,
wavy lines, soft color palettes, florals, and cursive writing.
Feminine design is the opposite of Masculine design
which tends to have flat raw forms.
May employ cursive, fluid fonts
May incorporate pastel colors and/or shades of red
(pink, purple, orange)
May feature a woman’s face, flowers and fashion
components (lipstick, shoes)

15. Playful
Playful, like the name says, playful design is intended to
make things fun by using playful, cartoonish, and colorful
elements in the design. Playful design is often used in
children’s books and video games.
Cartoonish and inspires fun
May feature caricaturized person / animal
Colorful
May contain elements of fantasy

16. Geometric
Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, lines, and other
shapes combine to create intricate designs and patterns
to form beautiful geometric designs.
Heavy use of geometric shapes
Incorporates straight lines
Features symmetry

17. Illustration
Illustration is an art form that interprets things
pictorially or visually to clarify or demonstrate
something.
Visual explanation of a text, concept or process
Generally has ‘raw’, hand-drawn look
Look dependent on designers’ drawing style

18. Luxury
Luxury design is an expression of self in style that may
involve pieces or components of their own personalities
that are decoratively elaborate with details that are small
and subtle.
Evokes the idea of indulging in extra comforts or
pleasures
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

19. Masculine
Masculine design is all about clean lines, sharp edges,
and darker and neutral colors as opposed to the curves
and colors of more feminine styles.
Stereotypically appealing to men
Simple lines, monochromatic theme (black and
white) and “rugged” texture
May employ hard-edged, thick-stroke fonts
May incorporate rugged and gritty images
May feature blue or darker colors

20. Organic & Natural
Organic design is a style of design which takes as its
starting point organic, flowing natural forms.
Flowing natural forms of a reality
Generally incorporates natural elements like leaves,
flowers and fresh produce
May be combined with illustrated look for the raw,
organic look

21. Photorealism
Photorealism is a genre of art that encompasses
painting, drawing and other graphic media, in which an
artist studies a photograph and then attempts to
reproduce the image as realistically as possible in
another medium.
Features refined details to emulate the original
image as much as possible
Usually achieved by, but not limited to, pencil
sketches

22. Corporate
Corporate design is the design of a company’s brand
image and includes all of a company’s visual aspects and
design elements, reaching from logos to social media
assets and stationery.
Muted colors, and minimal details
Employs straight, classic font types
Incorporates simple shapes or objects
May invoke formal impressions with use of negative
space and line art
Formal impressions on their target audience

23. Typographic
Corporate design is the design of a company’s brand
image and includes all of a company’s visual aspects and
design elements, reaching from logos to social media
assets and stationery.
Muted colors, and minimal details
Employs straight, classic font types
Incorporates simple shapes or objects
May invoke formal impressions with use of negative
space and line art
Formal impressions on their target audience

24. Avant-Garde
The avant-garde (/ˌævɒ̃ˈɡɑːrd/; In French: [avɑ̃ɡaʁd]
‘advance guard’ or ‘vanguard’, literally ‘fore-guard’) is a
person or work that is experimental, radical, or
unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society. It is
frequently characterized by aesthetic innovation and
initial unacceptability.

25. Vintage/Retro
Retro or Vintage style is imitative or consciously
derivative of lifestyles, trends, or art forms from the
historical past, including in music, modes, fashions, or
attitudes. In popular nostalgia culture it is typically 20-30
years before the current one.
Retrospective style that is derivative of trends from
the recent past
Inspired by the decorative styles of the Victorian era
(Steam Punk, Industrial, Bauhaus)
Incorporates 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

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Our VISION: Sage Design Group wants to be the go-to-place for ideas that help CREATE, INSPIRE and GROW
profitable businesses through meaningful human connections. We strive to foster results oriented communication
campaigns to enhance our client's image, improve their sales and maximize their ROI.
Our STORY: Sage Design Group is an advertising agency founded by Art Director and Marketing Expert Annette C.
Sage, who has over 20 years of experience in the industry. Its advertising philosophy takes the traditional marketing
funnel and integrates advocacy to keep up with today's interconnected economy.
Our GOALS: Sage Design Group's goal is to create positive awareness of your company - locally, regionally or in
the worldwide marketplace. We work to enhance profitability and grow your customer base. Sage Design Group
can assist you in creating a brand identity that will give you a competitive edge and open doors to greater business
opportunities.

27. Contact Us
Email: info@sagedesigngroup.biz
Mobile: +1 (424) 279-3474
Phone: +1 (628) 899-7123
Web: https://sagedesigngroup.biz

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