- Instagram-esque images were a top visual theme of the year. With the popularity of retro cameras and mobile apps, searches for filtered images soared 661% in 2013, with no signs of abating.
January 21, 2014 – Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK), a leading global provider of commercial digital imagery, has published its third annual global design trends infographic. In the 2014 edition, Shutterstock uses data from over 350 million all-time image downloads to reveal recent and emerging visual trends from around the world.
As the volume leader in stock image downloads, Shutterstock licenses 3 images every second from a collection of over 30 million photos, illustrations, vectors and video clips to businesses and visual communicators. Some of the trends outlined in the graphic include:
- No two countries design alike. From pastel colors in China to vibrant textures in the Netherlands, unique themes around the world continue to emerge.
- Flat, minimalist design elements replace skeuomorphism. Led by changes in app and software design, downloads of flat design elements increased by 200% over the past year.
- Instagram-esque images were a top visual theme of the year. With the popularity of retro cameras and mobile apps, searches for filtered images soared 661% in 2013, with no signs of abating.
- Search terms with the largest year-on-year growth include “Gatsby”, “3D printing” and “BYOD” (“bring your own device”), with each rising 625%, 583% and 407% respectively
- Video is an increasingly popular medium for visual storytellers and access to new image-capture technology such as 4K is growing. Popular video content topics include education, 3D renderings, transportation and cityscapes.
