The line art trend is conquering the graphic
design world—one line at a time. It’s simple yet clever. A “line” is one of the
basic elements of design and arguably the most important. As famed Bauhaus
artist Paul Klee famously stated, a drawing is simply “An active line on a
walk, moving freely.” This can mean anything from a simple straight pencil line
across a page to a complex and abstract pen sketch. (teespring grandma shirt)
So what exactly is line art? All examples of
line art have a few characteristics in common: clean lines and no shading, with
bold lines that contrast starkly against their background. In contemporary
uses, usually these designs are not highly detailed or realistic and instead
rely on the viewers knowledge of the object being represented. In that way,
line art is a great way to harness the popularity of minimalism while still
communicating a strong message, blending both text and image into a unified
whole.
How to use line art
With minimalism and flat design still
dominating the trends, line art is everywhere—sitting on top of splash photos
in web design, creating memorable logos for new businesses, and combining into
complex patterns used on tons of eye-catching product labels. Keep reading to
see some of our favorite new examples and learn how to harness the power of a
good line art design for your next project.
1. Line art logos
The most popular arena for line art is
undoubtedly logos. Brands use line art logos to feel current and on-trend.
These logos work equally well in color or in black and white. Animals and
objects from everyday life personalize the company and make the logo feel more
fun and approachable. When done well, like the one for Roam, the simple line
art makes the logo mark and type feel like one cohesive whole. When choosing a
font for your line art logo, it’s important to make sure the weight of the
lines in the type and in the drawing are roughly the same weight, like the logo
for Moose.
A strong line art logo design can work
beautifully without text, as well. If you viewed saw the logo for Greentex, for
example, you might just see a windmill. With a second glance you notice the
tiny yarn trail and that the windmill’s blades are actually knitting needles!
While you might not understand why, the logo draws you in and makes you want to
know more about the brand—all accomplished with very few lines. While many
logos are monochromatic, others add color to make their logos pop off the page
or screen. (teespring grandma shirt)
2. Line art patterns
These days, it’s impossible to walk through a
store without seeing a serious amount of line art in the form of patterns. They
are on everything from throw pillows and tupperwares to t-shirts and phone
cases. Whether for an adult or juvenile audience, these patterns are a great
way to inject a little fun into any composition. Another kind of line art
pattern that’s a whole lot more mature—like in the business card branding
above—is a tiled version of a simple logo, which even when muted gives a nice
depth to a design.
3. Line art in web design
Web designers were some of the earliest
adopters of the line art trend. Websites and apps need to deliver information
and guide their users through an interface at myriad sizes and screen
definitions. In order to do that most efficiently, many designers embrace
icons. Think about how a little magnifying glass in the corner of a site has
come to universally mean “Search” or a little gear means “Settings.”
Now line art designs decorate pages across the
web. They’re used to bring an extra pop to a splash page design or guide a user
through a scrolling multi-part site with ease. They are especially strong for
information organization including infographics and other areas where you need
to illustrate a process in an approachable, friendly way.
4. Line art in invitations and other printed
products
Here’s one of the most touching ways line art
can tell a story: invitations! Whether for a wedding, birthday or corporate
event, an invitation offers a particular design challenge. It’s a small space
with a lot of important information to communicate. Designers have taken to
using line art to both capture the aesthetic of the hosts and the event, while
keeping the pertinent details like time and date clear and legible, like in the
festival inspired design for Luke and Anna’s nuptials. (teespring grandma shirt)
6. Line art packaging design
A really interesting way line art is being used
these days is in product packaging. Consumers can be tempted to buy a new
product that they maybe haven’t heard of before if they like the packaging it
comes in.
Coffeecup design by exsenz for Ani’s Coffee
With new wineries pushing the boundaries of
what is acceptable on a label, products of all kinds are embracing the custom
illustrated trend. While one can’t imagine more different products that chia
seeds and vape liquid, designers like Mila Katagarova craft on-trend line art
labels that would make both products stand out from their competitors on a
shelf.
Line up for the line art trend
Leonardo da Vinci once wrote, “Simplicity is
the ultimate sophistication.” While many designs call for complexity, often
times the simplicity of a line drawing will deliver the intended message
efficiently and with the most power. If you want your next design to
communicate complex ideas and narratives in a passing glance, consider a line
art design. You won’t regret it!
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