A Guide to Graphic Design Styles + 8 Examples

Using a consistent graphic design style across platforms helps build a recognizable brand, express identity, and set you apart from your competitors.

Imagine it’s the first day of school and you want to make an unforgettable impression. What do you do? You head to the mall to pick out the perfect outfit, of course. A stylish ensemble was one of the best ways to show your classmates who you were and how you’d changed over the summer. 

Design sends a message. By developing a signature look, you’re expressing your identity and cultivating a reputation. This approach worked in seventh grade, and it works for ecommerce businesses today too. Instead of skinny jeans and a favorite band t-shirt, brands use graphic design styles to show off their personality, appeal to their target audience, and stand out from competitors.

Learn about how brands use graphic design to communicate and discover eight iconic examples of graphic design style.

What is a graphic design style?

A graphic design style is a visual aesthetic defined and expressed by a combination of design elements like color selections, fonts, image treatments, and other compositional choices.

These styles are broad aesthetic choices that you can use to develop your unique brand identity. Minimalism, brutalism, art nouveau, and pop art are just a few of the options to consider. Choosing one of these artistic approaches means you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Instead of spearheading a brand-new artistic movement, you can focus more on cultivating the ideal color palette or nailing your logo design.

How do brands use graphic design styles?

Brands use graphic design styles to shape their visual identity and communicate their brand image across various platforms and mediums. A cohesive aesthetic is essential for marketing materials, advertisements, social media posts, printed mailers, and web design. Sticking to your brand style guide and using consistent design elements across platforms helps build a recognizable brand, express identity, and set you apart from your competitors.

Consider the kitchenware brand Caraway. Kaleel Munroe, VP of brand and creative, describes the company’s unique style as “clean and clear.” All of its core design elements support this goal. Caraway works with “a mix of modern typefaces” with clean, sharp lines to create a sense of ease and simplicity. These elements combine with an “earthy and grounded” color palette and straightforward, representative imagery.

As Kaleel tells Shopify, “We produce content in kitchens that feel familiar to our core consumer, with a touch of enough aspiration of what theirs can ultimately look like with Caraway.” Rather than constructing an elaborate fantasy, Caraway uses relatable imagery to show how the products might actually look in a customer’s home.

8 graphic design styles

1. Art nouveau
2. Pop art
3. Corporate
4. Psychedelic
5. Grunge
6. Minimalism
7. Organic
8. Flat

Graphic designs can be bold, bright, and shocking, or subtle and romantic. There’s a vast range of visual identities to choose from, and new graphic design styles are constantly emerging while classic styles evolve. Graphic design trends can change in response to things like cultural shifts, technology advancements, and social movements. Learn about different graphic design styles that might be a good fit for your brand:

1. Art nouveau

This style originated in England in the late 19th century and gained popularity in the early 20th century. This aesthetic movement influenced architecture, interior design, and the visual arts. Art nouveau is all about ornamental text, detailed decorative elements like borders, botanical imagery, and muted colors reminiscent of stained glass.

Art nouveau is distinct from the art deco style. While art nouveau uses flowing, irregular lines, art deco makes its mark with straight lines, sharp angles, and geometric shapes.

• Fonts. Fonts are ornamental with serifs and flourishes. 

• Colors. Art nouveau designs often incorporate muted jewel-toned colors like amber and emerald green. 

• Imagery. Natural elements and botanical illustrations are prevailing themes. Birds, vines, flowers, and leaves are all common images. 

• Composition. Art nouveau designs often use asymmetrical layouts for an organic feel.

Imagine your brand draped in botanical elegance, with fonts that dance and colors that shimmer. It’s not just a logo, it’s a story told in every flourish—perfect for brands that crave a touch of timeless magic. An ecommerce company specializing in handmade, artisanal soaps could use the art nouveau style for its packaging and website.

2. Pop art

Pop art evolved in the US in the 1950s and ’60s. This style draws inspiration from mid-century popular culture, including comic books, television, and advertising. Pop art often incorporates humor or satire. Designs use bright, bold colors, thick outlines, and dotted or lined textural patterns.

• Fonts. Pop art uses bold fonts. Typography is often blocky with thick outlines.

• Colors. Pop art designs use vibrant colors—primary hues like red, blue, and yellow are popular. 

• Imagery. These designs frequently incorporate balloon and bubble graphics reminiscent of comic book speech bubbles. Images use a graphic style and two-dimensional cartoon aesthetic. 

• Composition. Designs often use repeated or overlapping images. Overlaid halftone patterns and shaded textures are common. 

Pop art is a visual shout, a celebration of the everyday turned extraordinary. Picture your products bathed in primary colors, speech bubbles bursting with personality, and a playful wink to mid-century cool. If your brand has a sense of humor and a love for the bold, pop art is your megaphone. For example, a company selling novelty t-shirts or retro-inspired accessories would be a natural fit for this style.

3. Corporate

The corporate design style is simple and professional. This no-nonsense aesthetic is often employed by modern tech companies. Corporate design prioritizes clarity and visual communication. It uses clear visual hierarchy and logical grid-like compositions to present information in an organized, digestible manner.

• Fonts. Corporate style uses simple, sans serif typefaces. Brands typically use one or two font styles across all touchpoints.

• Colors. Because color palettes are limited, corporate designs often use neutral colors for backgrounds and fonts and one or two bright colors for graphics.

• Imagery. Simple vector icons, realistic photographs, and geometric shapes are all common design features.

• Composition. Corporate style often uses logical, organized composition to structure information.

Clean lines, crisp fonts, and a sense of unshakable professionalism—that’s the corporate aesthetic. It’s the visual equivalent of a perfectly tailored suit, projecting confidence and clarity. Think of it as your brand’s handshake: firm, reliable, and to the point. It would be ideal for a brand that prioritizes brand trust and efficiency. 

4. Psychedelic

The psychedelic design style became popular in the 1960s in the US. This graphic design trend was associated with hippie culture and music. Psychedelic designs were featured on several band posters and album covers from the era, such as the iconic cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Axis: Bold as Love. This style is characterized by wavy textures, melting and distorted shapes, vibrant colors, and an overall lava lamp-like appearance.

• Fonts. Lettering is wavy and bubbly or thick and hand-drawn. 

• Colors. Psychedelic design uses intense purples, blues, greens, and pinks, often with a glowing or gradient effect.

• Imagery. Imagery is often surreal or kaleidoscopic. Illustrations may appear wavy or distorted.

• Composition. Design elements may melt or flow together. The overall compositional effect is fluid and relaxed.

This graphic design style is for brands that dare to be different, embrace the unconventional, and want to leave a lasting, mind-bending impression. An online store selling vintage clothing or music-inspired merchandise would be a perfect fit for this type of aesthetic. The vibrant colors and distorted imagery create a retro, counter-culture feel.

5. Grunge

The grunge design style has roots in the alternative music scene of the 1990s. It’s associated with rebellion, defiance, and a rejection of social norms. Grunge designs pair gritty, faded textures with dark, shadowy colors. They reject neat, ordered structures in favor of a cut-and-paste, DIY aesthetic.

• Fonts. Grunge fonts are often uneven and distressed. Letter size and position can vary within the same word for a handmade, DIY effect.

• Colors. Grunge color palettes are dark and moody. Faded black and muted colors like grey are common choices.

• Imagery. Grainy, high-contrast, or black-and-white photographs are common. 

• Composition. Grunge designs favor a collage aesthetic with scattered and overlapping graphic elements. 

A streetwear brand or a company selling skateboards or punk-inspired apparel could use grunge design in its marketing. The distressed textures and dark colors convey a rebellious and edgy aesthetic, which could help appeal to a younger demographic.

6. Minimalism

The minimalist design style emphasizes clarity and simplicity. Minimalist designs reject the serifs and hand-drawn elements used in decorative styles, instead striving to present essential information in a clear, concise fashion. Clean lines, simple shapes, and a general “less is more” philosophy define the minimalist style:

• Fonts. Bold typography and sans-serif fonts are common features in minimalist designs.

• Colors. Minimalist design uses color sparingly. Compositions are often based on a neutral palette and use a single accent color for emphasis.

• Imagery. Designs limit decorative elements and avoid shading or other details. Compositions use simple shapes and often focus on a single, simple image.

• Composition. The composition is simple and logical, focusing on symmetry and straight lines. Minimalist designs often use white space or negative space, leaving large portions of the design area untouched. 

Less is more, and in minimalism, that’s a superpower. It’s the art of stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the essential. It’s for brands that value simplicity, clarity, and a sense of understated elegance. A luxury brand selling high-end furniture or a company focusing on sustainable and eco-friendly products could utilize minimalism well, highlighting the sophisticated simplicity of its products.

7. Organic

The organic design style is characterized by natural motifs, soft shapes, and earthy colors. Designs use hand-drawn elements and loose, flowing organization to create a relaxed, natural appearance. The overall feeling is soft and nurturing. 

• Fonts. Organic style lettering is soft and rounded or irregular.

• Colors. Designs use muted earthy colors like brown, green, tan, and clay red.

• Imagery. Illustrations of natural elements like flowers and botanicals are common. Photographs are often treated with soft filters that give the effect of warm light. 

• Composition. Organic design uses relaxed compositions. Images may overlap but don’t appear cluttered. 

An ecommerce business selling natural skin care products or handcrafted jewelry could fit hand in glove with this style. The earthy tones and natural imagery would reinforce the brand’s connection to nature and create a sense of warmth and authenticity. Earthy tones, hand-drawn whimsy, and a touch of nature’s embrace—that’s the organic aesthetic. It’s a visual hug, a reminder of the beauty in imperfection.

8. Flat

Flat design style is popular in web design. It is characterized by two-dimensional illustrations, bold colors, and simple geometric shapes. Flat design incorporates elements of minimalism and Swiss-style graphic design but is typically more colorful and has slightly softer, rounded graphics.

• Fonts. Flat design uses sans-serif fonts for legibility or clarity. 

• Colors. High-contrast bright colors are popular in flat style.

• Imagery. Flat design uses basic shapes and simple icons. Images are drawn without shading or drop shadows to create a two-dimensional appearance. Shapes and colors may be repeated. 

• Composition. This functional design style uses ordered, grid-like or hierarchical compositions. 

For brands that value user-friendliness, accessibility, and a modern, tech-savvy vibe, look no further than flat design. A company that sells digital services could do a lot with flat design. The clean lines and bright colors create a modern and user-friendly interface, while the simple icons illustrate features and functionality.

Graphic design styles FAQ

What are the core elements of any graphic design style?

The core components of graphic design style are color palette, typography, imagery, and composition. These visual elements work together to shape the overall look and feel of the design. Textures, shapes, and animated elements can also influence graphic design style.

What factors influence a graphic design style?

Factors like target audience, brand personality, industry trends, and mission can all affect a company’s choice of graphic design style. Brands work to find a style that expresses their product’s unique value proposition and visually distinguishes them from competitors.

How do I choose a graphic design style for my brand?

To find the right graphic design style, start by reflecting on your target audience and evaluating your unique selling point. Research your competitors and consider how design could help set your company apart. Aim to select a style that appeals to your chosen user demographic and reflects your brand identity. For example, a DIY birthday cake kit company focused on making baking easier and aimed at a Gen Z audience might choose a trendy color palette and minimalist design that evokes simplicity.