Collage design is a beautiful form of art that defies any rules. It offers endless possibilities and allows you to create a new world on a page or a screen by adding various elements. It’s no wonder that collage continues to be a popular and evolving form of contemporary design.
The 2023 collage trend is all about confidence, expression, and abstraction. You’ll see less vintage imagery and more of an “anything goes” attitude, with playful mark-making, abstract photography clippings, and plenty of textures. This trend reflects our modern culture, where we’re becoming more resourceful due to climate and economic realities.
Collage art brief
Collage art has a fascinating history, and it’s not just about sticking photos and paper onto a surface. It’s a complex and versatile form of art that has evolved over time. Today, new collage trends are being used in graphic design to create stunning visuals that capture the essence of our times.
Collage has been a game-changer in the world of art, revolutionizing modern art as part of the early 20th century Cubism movement. The term “collage” was coined by Picasso and Braque from the French verb coller, meaning to glue. Since then, many artists and movements have used collage, including Matisse’s legendary cutout series and Jon Savage’s British punk aesthetic. And the best part? Collage never went away; it remains an essential and relevant art form in contemporary art.
Paper collage
The original form of collage art is paper collage, also known as analog collage. Whether you’re cutting images out of old books or working like Matisse, cutting shapes out of painted paper, paper collage is the prototypical form of collage. And guess what? It’s trending now more than ever. The raw paper shreds that come with paper collage are in clear contrast to the seamless, tidy look that design software can achieve. It feels authentic because creating this kind of art requires the creator to work with their hands, physically tearing paper and arranging it just so.
Designers have their limitations with paper collage in that they can only compose with the materials they can find. But this limitation only adds to the charm of paper collage. The challenge of working with what you have and turning it into something beautiful is what makes paper collage so special. So, if you’re looking for a way to tap into your artistic side, give paper collage a try. You might be surprised at what you can create with just a few pieces of paper and a pair of scissors.
Versatility
Collage art is a dynamic and versatile form of expression that has captured the imagination of artists for generations. It involves taking different materials, such as paper, photographs, and even found objects, and combining them to create a unique and visually striking piece of art.
One of the great things about collage is that it can drive creativity by pushing the designer to find unconventional ways to express their ideas. This might involve combining disparate images to create something entirely new, like fusing bird wings with a bus for a fresh take on an airplane, or using different colors to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
Digital Collage Revolution
Digital collage is a more modern take on this art form, using software like Photoshop to layer multiple photos and illustrations and manipulate source material to create something entirely new. While digital collage lacks the tactile quality of its paper counterpart, it often produces a sharper and more contemporary aesthetic.
One artist who has mastered the art of digital collage is Leif Podhajsky, renowned for his atmospheric and psychedelic album covers for bands like Tame Impala, The Horrors, and Young Magic.
Ultimately, the key to successful collage art is to mix materials and be creative. While there may be no hard and fast rules to follow, the possibilities for this form of expression are endless, limited only by the artist’s imagination.
Collage in Commercial Design
Collage art is all around us, and the more you understand it, the more you’ll notice its prevalence in your daily life. From captivating book covers to eye-catching packaging designs, and even mesmerizing album covers, collage art is everywhere you look.
When it comes to book cover design, collage is an excellent choice because of its versatility in illustrating a book’s content and themes. Using ripped paper to create a book cover design can be seen as daring, as many readers consider tearing book pages as sacrilegious. However, this bold approach elicits a visceral and attention-grabbing response.
Today’s paper collage trend sees designers confidently embracing the rips in paper and the shadows they cast, creating unique book covers that stand out in a bookstore. Additionally, the expressive and artsy nature of playful paper collage makes it an ideal choice for editorial illustrations and magazine covers.
Collage design is a versatile and eye-catching style that can be used in various industries. For instance, it’s a perfect choice for editorial illustrations because the layered elements create a sense of depth and bring the images to life. You can find collage illustrations in fashion magazines, newspapers, and blogs.
Layers and Colors
With color blocking, psychedelic layering, and colorful paper cutouts, collage designs can capture readers’ attention and encourage them to pause and read the article. The dynamic movement created by the collage can make the article even more engaging.
Collage design is also a great option for brand design. Its artsy nature can communicate to consumers that the product is unique and designed with care. This kind of packaging stands out to people who value luxury quality goods, especially those that are handcrafted in small batches. Brands can use playful paper-cut characters, organic paper textures, vintage imagery, and contrasting images to create intriguing combinations and differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Records industries
Another industry that has embraced collage design is music artwork. With the resurgence of vinyl sales, many musicians have turned to collage art for their album covers and promotional materials. The dynamic and eclectic nature of collage design can perfectly capture the essence of their music and attract fans.
In summary, collage design is a versatile and engaging style that can be used in various industries to create eye-catching and unique designs. Its layered elements, dynamic movement, and eclectic nature make it a perfect choice for editorial illustrations, brand design, and music artwork.
When it comes to records, album artwork is often just as important as the music itself. Much like book covers, editorial design, and brand logos, collage art is a favored technique for designers to make album artwork stand out and attract audiences. Both analog and digital collage work well with alternative music genres, as they can visually represent the music on the album.
Conclusion
Collage design often has a psychedelic feel to it, as contrasting photographic elements create an otherworldly atmosphere that’s difficult to describe. Using collage art in your design is a great way to make your work stand out and show viewers that you’ve put in the effort to create something truly unique. Unlike mass-produced designs, collage art is a joyful, expressive, and freeing form of art that allows for endless possibilities.
Collage art has been a popular form of contemporary design since the early 20th century, and it continues to be recognized and respected today. While it may come and go in design trends, collage design will always be a timeless and remarkable form of art. If you want to make your brand stand out and offer something truly one-of-a-kind, consider using a unique collage design.
