Over the past three days, the HOW magazine team pored through nearly 3,000 entries in our latest Promotion Design Competition. It gave us a micro-level look at design trends throughout the U.S. and in a few well-represented European countries (Croatian design rocks). The majority of work was solid -- nicely designed, appropriate for the message, with decent production values. But about 125 entries really stood out for conceptual excellence, stellar design and top-notch production. (Stay tuned for HOW's September/October issue for a look at those top projects, or peek at past design competition winners here.)

In the meantime, here's a list of the trends we spotted among the entries:

Hot
Wood-grain paper (like Gmund’s Savanna line)
Vintage imagery, found materials and influences (like these)
Screen printing (especially for projects other than posters)
Gritty, realistic photography
Instead of sending tchotchkes to clients, making a donation in their name and sending a thoughtful and well-designed token of that donation
Cloth shopping bags with your logo or message

On the way out
Tiny patterns (though we still love them)
Brown/blue or brown/chartreuse color palettes
Buttons
Greeting cards and wrapping paper as client gifts

Not
Customizing a Viewmaster with slides of your portfolio
Making your staff pose for a goofy holiday photo
Desktop calendars packaged in a CD case
Coasters
T-shirts with your logo or message

Posted by Bryn