{"id":19953,"date":"2019-04-25T16:20:21","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T16:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graphicmama.com\/blog\/?p=19953"},"modified":"2022-07-07T07:49:03","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T07:49:03","slug":"top-character-design-trends-for-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/graphicmama.com\/blog\/top-character-design-trends-for-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Character Design Trends for 2019: Bold & Impressive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interested to learn the top character design trends for 2019? In this article, we’ve researched and identified the trendiest character design styles for 2019.<\/p>\n

Character designers, striving for uniqueness and diversity, keep inventing all kinds of new character design styles inspired by anything and everything. While some trends occurred naturally with the ever-growing potential of the latest graphic\u00a0and illustration software on the market, others were born from the\u00a0avant-garde thinking of modern artists, and thirds arose from the needs of the business and marketing world.<\/p>\n

Do you want to check more character illustration styles that will inspire you for sure? Check out The Best Character Illustration Examples [Mega Inspiration]<\/a><\/p>\n

All of these factors led to the formation of several top character design trends which have established as the most popular and wanted right now<\/strong>. Curious to learn what they are? Top character design trends for 2019 are:
\n1. Simplified real 3D style: the doll effect<\/a>
\n2. Flat geometric style: back to the basics<\/a>
\n3. Oversimplified character style: no facial features<\/a>
\n4. Doodle character style: thick outlining<\/a>
\n5. Outline, flat, and patterns: combo style<\/a>
\n6. Artistic character style: texture and pattern-rich designs<\/a>
\n7. Overexaggerated features: playing with proportions<\/a>
\n8. Realistic & detailed: an evergreen trend inspired by real-life<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Simplified Real 3D: The doll effect<\/h2>\n

One of the most popular character design trends nowadays is the ultra-real 3D. Characters that look like real-life dolls with smooth shapes and glossy surfaces imitating real-life materials<\/strong> are very trendy for video ads, explainer videos, digital campaigns, and more.\u00a0Created with\u00a03D software<\/strong>, it almost feels like you can reach your hand and touch these ultra-realistic characters.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"3d

Design:\u00a0Est\u00fadio \u00cdcone<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

\n\t\t\n
\"character

Design:\u00a0BUDA tv<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"3d

Design:\u00a0Giulia Marchetti<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

\n\t\t\n
\"3d

Design:\u00a0Nikopicto .<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

The style is easily applicable to any kind of object and allows you to easily turn it into an eye-catchy character. Simply add hands and legs and you are all set! You don’t even have to think about expressions but focus on body posture and gestures, instead.<\/p>\n

\"objects

Design:\u00a0BUDA tv<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

By playing with colors, gradients, lightings, and shadowing, a powerful 2D software can also be used to recreate the effect of 3D<\/strong> doll character style. Characters imitating the real 3D style can be used on all kinds of projects and the files are quite lighter. However, if you aim for a 3D character who rotates at 360 degrees, 2D software won’t do the trick. Here are several examples of characters imitating the real 3D effect.<\/p>\n\t\t

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\"3d

Design: GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"3d

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"3d

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Flat Geometric Shapes: Back to the basics<\/h2>\n

In the last several decades, character design\u00a0has become more and more detailed with time. Contrary to this tendency and as a natural sequence of the flat graphic design boom, fully flat characters (no gradients or patterns) made of simple geometric shapes has become one of the steadiest character design trends in the latest years.<\/p>\n

\"flat

Design:\u00a0JONES & CO<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Such character designs look simple, conceptual, and don’t steal the spotlight. By simplifying the body features into basic shapes, this style of characters is suitable for almost any kind of digital and web projects. They are especially popular for explainer videos and presentations where the focus is on the information instead, and the characters are just supportive figures.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"flat

Design:\u00a0JONES & CO<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0ILLO Studio<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Flat geometric style can be very simple or a little bit more detailed<\/strong> boosted with secondary colors and additional strokes but still keeping it simple. The valuable feature about this style is that the characters are still readable enough even when presented in smaller sizes. This quality makes this style of the most famous character design trends today.<\/p>\n\t\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Oversimplification: No facial features<\/h2>\n

Oversimplified cartoon characters emerged as a response to the very popular minimalist trend<\/strong> which until recently, was basically every other design on the web. Now, the minimalism in web design seems to be replaced with other\u00a0fancier trends but this is not the case regarding character design trends.<\/p>\n\t\t

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\"oversimplified

Design:\u00a0Nata Schepy<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0T&T Tutorials<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Fully flat solid color characters won’t take the attention away with eyes staring at you. They are powerful in conveying ideas and concepts with body postures and gestures without distracting the viewer with the character design itself. This makes this style very popular for presentations, web designs, marketing campaigns, and more.<\/p>\n

\"oversimplified

Design:\u00a0Squarefish Studio<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. The “Doodle” craze: Thick outline characters<\/h2>\n

What is known as “doodling”, is a modern lineart style which is very popular today. By using a marker, artists create rich\u00a0compositions\u00a0with simplified cartoony characters interacting with the environment and many other illustration details. The process is called doodling and the artwork is created gradually<\/strong> from one part of the canvas to another.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"doodling

Design:\u00a0Wayne Loyola<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"doodling

Design:\u00a0Wayne Loyola<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

The popular doodling inspired the creation of character design in the same style. The “doodle” characters are very simplistic characters with recognizable thick outlining. They look cartoony and don’t include much detail.<\/p>\n\t\t

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\"doodle

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"doodle

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"doodle

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Outline + Flat + Patterns: A hit mixture<\/h2>\n

When it comes to character design trends, designers are always looking for new looks striving to find new ways to impress… with simplicity. What a better way to do it than combining several simple styles into one<\/strong> character design? This is the case with the harmonious mixture of outline style with flat elements, and flat patterns.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"outline

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"outline

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"outline

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

The character design shapes of this successful style mixture can vary from pleasant character design based on simple geometric shapes to uncanny and extravagant character design looks with weird body proportions.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"outline

Design:\u00a0Fernando Molina<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"flat

Design:\u00a0ANIMWOOD<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

The designs get even more simplified<\/strong> when the color in the composition are minimized to one (excluding the black and white). In such character designs, some elements (the outline) appear transparent and define the body features by contrasting with the solid color elements.<\/p>\n

\"outline

Design:\u00a0Anna Isaeva<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. Texture and pattern-rich designs: Going to the art side<\/h2>\n

Character design is certainly great at being functional at conveying concepts and supporting marketing messages. Let’s not forget that character design is also a field to unravel a designer’s artistic potential.<\/p>\n

A flat character design illustrated with patterns and textures introduces a more artistic side of character design. Such a style is very popular among\u00a0editorial designs,\u00a0book illustrations, as well as a visual identity style for more artistic brands.<\/p>\n

\"editorial

Design:\u00a0Meel Tamphanon<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Such type of character design is not necessarily focused on facial expressions, nor aiming for realism in body features. In fact, very often such character designs are based on simplistic basic shapes.<\/p>\n

However, the distinctive details that make this style artistic and unique, are born from the imagination of the illustrator and puts these character designs at a position between character design and art<\/strong>. This is a style which is very popular for editorial design.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"character

Design:\u00a0Benjamin Flouw<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"character

Design:\u00a0Benjamin Flouw<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

\"male

Design:\u00a0Anna Lomakina<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Overexaggerated features: A new level of experimentation<\/h2>\n

Creating\u00a0disproportionate characters<\/strong> isn’t anything new to character design. In fact, disproportionate body features with exaggerated elements have been the trump card character designers use to make a character look funny<\/strong>. A big nose, big ears, bulky arms combined with tiny legs… All of these illustrative tactics have been applied to character designs for many years and still trendy today.<\/p>\n

\"funny

Design:\u00a0Josep Sol\u00e9<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t

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\"disproportionate

Design:\u00a0\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"disproportionate

Design:\u00a0\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Lately, we are seeing a tendency of making character designs look uncanny and bizarre rather than funny<\/strong>. Weirdly proportioned body features such as small heads and big limbs are one of the newest character design trends.<\/p>\n

\"disproportionate

Design:\u00a0ANIMWOOD<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t

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\"disproportionate

Design:\u00a0Nata Schepy<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"disproportionate

Design: Soren Selleslagh<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Illustrators often choose to combine this trend with the popular flat+outline+pattern styles combo in order to create ultra modern character design looks. Such designs are popular for brand visual identities, website designs, editorial designs, and more.<\/p>\n

\"disproportionate

Design:\u00a0ANIMWOOD<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

8. Realistic: The evergreen trend inspired by real-life<\/h2>\n

Character design based on real-life never goes out of style. The long-standing aim for achieving more detailed looks<\/strong> makes this trend one of the evergreen ones.<\/p>\n\t\t

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\"realistic

Design:\u00a0Isaac Jadraque<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"realistic

Design:\u00a0Limetown Studios<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Soft shapes, colors, gradients, and\u00a0textures that look natural are inherent to this style. Such illustrations are used very often for children book illustrations and movies, as well as brand mascots in the world of business.\u00a0The character style makes it easy for the viewer to relate to the personage because its appearance imitates real life.<\/p>\n

\"beaver

Design:\u00a0Esther Diana<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

When illustrating in this style, character designers obey the rules of the surrounding real-life world in terms of lights, shadows, volumes, details, proportions, and even colors.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\n\t
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\"elephant

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"girl

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t

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\"boy

Design:\u00a0GraphicMama<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n

Top Character Design Trends for 2019 [Infographic]<\/h3>\n

For those of you who’d like to see a quick recap of the character design trends for 2019, check out this cute infographic.\u00a0You will find all trends inside with just a few highlights for each.<\/p>\n

\"character<\/a>

Click on the image to view the Character Design Trends 2019 Infographic<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Character Design Trends for 2019 [Video]<\/h3>\n

We like character design trends 2019 so much, so we thought: Why wouldn\u2019t we make a video out of it? Plus, a video is easier to share if you\u2019d like to spread the word.
\nThis short video summarizes all trends with a few bullet points for each and a little animation to jazz up each character. Check it out.<\/p>\n