Gen Z, a generation born between 1997 and 2012 is characterized by its digital savviness, desire for authenticity, and appreciation for bold aesthetics. With these characteristics, we can already find several ideas that piqued their interest and combine these Gen Z design trends into the marketing strategy.
To resonate with Gen Z, brands must embrace their unique aesthetic sensibilities. Let’s find out what kind of designs define this generation!
Feeding the eyes with bold, saturated, and sometimes unconventional color palettes, combined with unique and quirky typography is an effective way. These elements resonate with their expressive nature and also help your design stand out from the “safe color” of other brands.
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The polished, perfect look is out, and raw, unfiltered content is in. Gen Z prefers a relatable design that feels real. Think genuine, casual, and behind-the-scene visuals rather than a sleek and dapper look. For example, use real people rather than studio photos. But still, depends on your brand’s value and story.
Based on Gen Z’s mobile-first approach to content, optimizing interactive and rewarding design is a must. This includes creating a responsive layout for a seamless experience across platforms and offering rewarding side quests that lead to continuous engagement.
From Y2K aesthetics to 70s, 80s, and 90s visuals, retro design is the depiction of Gen Z design trends. Making a high-quality nostalgic visual like retro tech, halftone effects, vintage imagery, and pixelated fonts can tap into their emotional connections to these eras.
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Gen Z embraces organized chaos, that’s why bold and unique designs are rising. But, simplicity should not be overlooked. Designs should be cluttered with concise messages, catering to Gen Z’s short attention span. And now we have bold minimalistic designs.
After understanding their expression, let’s try to incorporate these design trends with Gen Z’s values and behaviors. Here’s how to align your marketing strategy with the Gen Z preferences.
Gen Z spends significant screen time on visual-focused platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. To effectively target them, incorporate Gen Z graphic design trends on these apps. Learning about visual hooks is also effective to stop their scrolling.
As part of the authenticity aspect, encourage Gen Z to create and share their experience featuring your products or services. Showing off their UGC on your platform builds relatability and community trust.
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Gen Z values storytelling, especially when it’s in reach and relatable. Use snippets of captivating visuals and tell your story to better communicate the brand’s journey and values, and even put some customer testimonials. You can also touch their nostalgic memories to add emotional connection.
Gen Z trusts influencers who represent their values. Make sure you already follow the Gen Z design trends for your marketing, because the influencer might be Gen Z too. If you can attract the influencer, they will bring their followers. Your design can be the base of their content, so it is essential.
If you opt for making your own content, then use quick, eye-catching visuals in short videos, carousels, and bite-sized infographics. Pair with trendy fonts, maximalist layout, and quirky illustrations along with your voice-over.
Gen Z is conscious of social issues and highly values diversity. Your marketing strategies should include inclusivity. Thoughtfully integrate diverse representation that authentically highlights how individuals from varied backgrounds beautifully interact with the product.
One successful case study using this format is Hainz’s “Absolutely Heinz” campaign. They use real-life scenarios to build trust, a catchy slogan, and encourage user-generated content using #AbsolutelyHeinz. The campaign also utilizes AI-generated visuals and keeps track of their content relevancy.
From this study, we take the importance of tailoring marketing strategies specifically to Gen Z behavior. By doing so, your brand can connect in a meaningful way ultimately boosting brand recognition and loyalty.
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To successfully connect with Gen Z, businesses must evolve beyond traditional marketing. Understanding and incorporating the trends to create a strategy that resonates with your brands’ value and captures their attention.
But remember, visuals alone aren’t enough. Your VO tone, caption, and interactive campaign are also accounted for. The key is creating a relevant, authentic, and impactful experience for your audience.
