Shutterstock outdid themselves with this year’s superb 2020 Creative Trends Report. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I’ve been tracking their visual trends since 2015 and every year has been spot on. This year, however, they’ve taken it to another level.

This data-led report predicts image, video and music styles that will dominate marketing campaigns, advertising creative and video projects throughout the year

Shutterstock hosts over 300 million images, and 16 million video clips, which are utilized in a range of ways across the web by marketers, artists, advertisers and more. ​

And big thanks to Social Media Today for getting this on my radar. And I agree with them 100% when they say:

“Given Shutterstock’s popularity, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more indicative measure of coming visual shifts”.

Scroll down for a recap

Note: If visual design is your thing, go directly to their trend report. Link here.

The Roaring 2020’s: Art Deco, Linear Geometic, 1920’s

Occulture: Astrology, Occult, Magic Illustration

Full Bloom: Live Walls, Multicolored Flowers, Flower Letters

Cannabiz: Hemp products are getting new attention as marijuana matures

Minimalist Black:

Wild Life: Wild Journey, Outdoor Adventure, Camping

Chinese Ink Painting: modern artists are turning to calligraphy

Game On: Note the interest in running!

Protest Art: Protest typography, Equality Symbol, Sustainability Icon

Local Trends

Bottom Line.

As I mentioned at the outset, Shutterstock’s reports are always insightful but this year’s is especially noteworthy. It also highlights and ties together many of the new decade trends many of us have written about recently.

Shutterstock’s “Major Trends” are universal with applications across the board from product and packaging, to fashion and interior design.

My money, however, is on “Rising Trends,” “Protest Art”, and “Local.”

What do you all think?