Jehane's Key Trends - Part 1

The first of my three key trends for 2020 is GENTLE SENTIMENT

‘In a gentle way, you can shake the world’ (Mahatma Gandhi).

Every year, for the last few years, I have been invited to contribute to an article about Trends in industry magazine Progressive Greetings. The feature is always dedicated to identifying three key trends for the year and how social & cultural factors influence design trends. 

This year I am extending these thoughts into a mini-series of newsletters and blog posts.

GENTLE SENTIMENT

“If you want to go far, go together” Katherine Quinn

Our relationships with each other during these difficult times are ever more important. Kindness and empathy are key. The use of words will continue to be popular and connect audiences young and old.

I’ve been discussing this trend with my artists and our feeling is that in 2020 the emphasis will be on a gentler use of words.

Given the challenges we are facing, it will be more popular to use phrases which incorporate references to kindness or be words which we might say quietly to ourselves. As my artist Lee Foster-Wilson has noted; people will react better to quotes that are softly encouraging and accepting rather than ones which are strongly motivational.

Here are a selection of illustrations by my artists which reflect gentle sentiments.

Contact Jehane to license or commission artwork.

Arguably the biggest influence on art and design in 2020 will be the ongoing importance of our relationship with nature; our concerns around sustainability and climate change. With the Tokyo Olympics we will undoubtedly see an increase in licensees publishing Japanese-inspired design. Tate will celebrate our introspection and search for change with a major new exhibition by JMW Turner. 2020 is the year that Turner will appear on the new £20 bank note.

Keep an eye out for my second key trend - coming next week!

Jehane x

© Lee Foster-Wilson