2023 Project Review: Designers' Opinions / ITech content

Contents:

Art directors and designers share their favorite projects of 2023, highlighting their unique features and significance. These projects are memorable not only for their original ideas but also for their professional solutions that can be useful in your own practice. It's important to study the techniques and methods used to gain inspiration and adapt them to your own work. Learn about the trends and approaches that have become popular this year and how they can improve your design.

Of course, I'm happy to help you with text editing. Please provide the source text you wish to revise.

• Ksyusha Zaitseva — about Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama.
• Vladimir Bolshakov — about Burberry, Too Much To Watch, and Yandex Market.
• Seryozha Podkovyrkin — about MTS, Threads*, and VK Testers.
• Vasily Podyadchikov — about HKW Berlin and Dekmantel.

Graphic designer, calligrapher, and letterer, as well as a curator at Skillbox. Passionate about contemporary calligraphy and list-making, he specializes in developing unique visual solutions, combining traditional techniques with modern trends. His deep knowledge of graphic design and calligraphy allows him to create harmonious and attractive works.

This year, renowned fashion houses have actively participated in the fashion arena. One example was the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and artist Yayoi Kusama, who attracted public attention with her bright and memorable designs. This partnership not only emphasized the brand's uniqueness but also expanded the horizons of fashion's perception as an art form. The use of Kusama's signature elements, such as dotted patterns, added originality to the collection and made it desirable for many fashion connoisseurs.

The brand aims to attract the attention of a new target audience, focusing on young people, while maintaining the loyalty of existing customers. This requires a thoughtful approach to marketing strategies and communications to effectively engage with different consumer segments.

The collaboration project with avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama showcases her unique painting style. Its distinctive patterns seamlessly blend with traditional Louis Vuitton brand elements. In addition, the collection uses bright and expressive colors, which are a hallmark of Kusama's work, giving the products a special expressiveness and individuality.

The Louis Vuitton brand did not skimp on resources to promote its new collections, By organizing a large-scale collaboration, they opened a store in Paris featuring the artist's striking figure, and also launched pop-up stores featuring familiar pieces from the collection. Short, trending videos are actively published on social media, increasing reach and audience engagement. This strategy allows Louis Vuitton to strengthen its position in the market and attract the attention of a new target audience.

Head of Design at Lamoda is a key position responsible for the creation and implementation of the brand's design strategy. The specialist in this position manages the design team, oversees the process of developing visual content and ensures that the design complies with corporate standards. A successful Head of Design at Lamoda must possess deep knowledge of fashion design, as well as project and team management skills. It's crucial that this specialist be able to analyze user needs and translate them into effective design solutions that highlight the brand's uniqueness and enhance the user experience. Working at Lamoda offers excellent opportunities for professional growth and the implementation of creative ideas in the dynamic e-commerce industry.

Creative director changes at a fashion house always generate a lot of interest. In 2023, Burberry updated its visual style, bringing back the knight symbol and giving the brand a more daring look. A vibrant blue color scheme, flash photography, and an emphasis on dynamism underscore the concept of a new normal. The key is to be yourself and not try to appear stylish or fashionable. This approach reflects the modern desire for sincerity and individuality in the world of fashion.

The corporate style of the event is aimed at illustrating the influence of visual and content noise on the perception of information. The slogan "Too Much To Watch" reflects modern trends and creates a powerful visual and communicative effect. It is important for designers to develop typography skills, as it is one of the most effective tools in our profession. Correct use of typographic elements can significantly improve perception and interaction with the audience, making content more attractive and memorable.

Teams capable of implementing projects at a high level are an excellent example of professionalism within companies. This project demonstrates a harmonious identity and careful elaboration of all elements of the corporate style, including merch and illustrations. This testifies to the high quality of work and attention to detail, which play a key role in the successful implementation of a brand.

The trend for a careful approach to photography is becoming increasingly relevant. In recent years, many agencies have actively used stock photo sites, and professional photo shoots were considered something out of the ordinary. Today, this practice is becoming standard. High-quality and unique images play a vital role in creating engaging content, which helps generate interest in brands and their products. A professional photo shoot allows you to stand out from the competition and create a unique visual style, which is especially important in a saturated market.

What upsets me in this case is that the brand has chosen a more aggressive and straightforward approach on billboards and in the app. This style could alienate some of the audience and negatively impact the company's image. It's important to remember that successful communication with clients requires subtlety and a strategic approach, not blatant aggression.

A Lead Designer at Maryco Studio is responsible for creating and coordinating visual concepts, ensuring high-quality design and compliance with modern trends. They play a key role in developing unique and attractive solutions for clients, combining creativity with functionality. An important task of a Lead Designer is to manage the team, ensure effective communication between project participants, and monitor deadlines. A professional in this field must have deep knowledge of graphic design, UX/UI, and modern tools. Maryco Studio is proud of its team, which creates innovative projects that can distinguish clients' businesses in the market.

In modern design, the importance of concept is often ignored in favor of attractive images. Many strive to present exclusively beautiful visual elements, disregarding their origin and context. It is important to understand how these images were created, why this particular visualization was chosen, and what design decisions the team made. Without this context, the design loses its depth and meaning, making it less effective in communicating with the audience.

As someone responsible for design at all stages of development, I sometimes feel frustrated. However, I understand why this happens: many people, without the full context, can have negative opinions about a project. Explaining all the nuances and details to them after negative feedback has surfaced can be quite difficult.

This year, we've witnessed some striking design solutions, among which the new MTS design system stands out. She abandoned the traditional egg and introduced a scalable quadrilateral, which became a symbol of the modern approach to visual style.

The project has significant potential, but some communication issues arise. For example, the use of explicit 3D visualization evokes associations with Russian fintech, a sector in which MTS is not a leader. This could impact brand perception and its competitiveness in this field. It is necessary to rethink the approach to visual content so that it better reflects the uniqueness and innovation of the company, and also helps strengthen its position in the fintech market.

Questions regarding the concept, especially in the context of using modern trends in communications, such as 3D graphics, interactive buttons, and bento layouts require special attention. On the one hand, these elements can effectively enhance interaction with the audience, creating a vivid and memorable experience. On the other hand, excessive or inappropriate use of such trends can lead to rapid obsolescence and a decrease in user interest. It is important to find a balance between innovation and functionality to ensure sustainable and attractive interaction with the target audience.

Another project, owned by Meta, is a Twitter analogue. It existed for about a month before it ceased to exist. The design of this project is not innovative for social networks, but its thoughtful approach to the product and the conceptual ideas proposed by the corporation stand out. The project's logo is also noteworthy: Meta modified the "dog" symbol. (@), creating a unique visual style.

In our studio, we developed a successful design system for the VKontakte beta testing platform VK Testers. This case demonstrates the high effectiveness of the concept and its implementation, which allows us to improve the user experience and increase the attractiveness of the platform. The creation of such a design system has become an important step in the development of VK Testers, ensuring the uniformity of interfaces and convenience for users.

We integrated the concepts of bugs, glitches and refractions recorded on the platform. We visually adapted these ideas taking into account the context of the platform's target audience and the specifics of its operation.

As a result, we created a comprehensive, scalable, and functional design system based on the unique code of VK products. Pixel art and graphics have become important elements of this system, emphasizing the individuality and expressiveness of the design.

Co-founder of VOSK studio, specializing in the development of unique content and creative solutions for business. Our team combines experience and expertise to offer high-quality services in design, marketing, and digital technologies. We strive to create effective strategies that help our clients achieve their goals and stand out in a competitive market.

The identity project for the HKW Berlin institute attracts attention with its expressiveness, sincerity, and diversity. The metaphor of exchange, interaction, and transformation is effectively conveyed through visual elements. Particularly impressive is the fresh approach to a popular visual technique, which allows us to stand out among similar projects. Particular attention should be paid to the font, which harmoniously complements and reveals the essence of the identity, creating a unique style and atmosphere of the institute.

Dekmantel is a renowned electronic music festival located in Amsterdam. The festival's generative, vibrant identity vividly reflects its unique character. A consistent and recognizable visual style is created through carefully selected typography and fonts, which are sometimes transformed into dynamic graphics. The skillful use of form and color effectively conveys the energy and atmosphere of the festival, making it a memorable event for fans of electronic music.

Learn more about design by subscribing to our Telegram channel. Here you will find the latest news, useful tips and inspiration for your creativity. Don't miss the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest trends in the world of design!

Check out the latest trends in design. Learn about the latest trends that shape visual style and influence brand perception. Keep up with changes in the design world to stay ahead of the competition and implement modern solutions in your projects. Update your knowledge and get inspired by fresh ideas to create unique and attractive design work.

• UX/UI Trends: What Will 2023 Be Remembered
• Illustration Trends: What Will 2023 Be Remembered
• 10 Graphic Design Trends for 2024
• 15 Interior Trends for 2024
• Industrial Design Trends for 2024
• 9 Typography Trends for 2024

According to a court decision, the activities of Meta Platforms Inc. in providing Facebook and Instagram social networking services in the Russian Federation are recognized as prohibited. The reason for this was accusations of extremist activity.