Easter is coming. It’s arguably the most important holiday in the Christian calendar and, for many people, the only time of year you can find them in a church. Knowing that, churches should plan ahead to clearly communicate the joy of the Easter season—not only in the ways they teach and write about the Gospel message, but also through the design that helps people understand more holistically. Need some church Easter design inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Here are the top seven design trends churches should pay attention to for the Easter season.
In general, design is moving away from the minimalism that dominated the scene for the past decade. “I bet you haven’t thought about how a deadly virus affects interior design trends,” says Fendi Wang in an article titled Is minimalism dead? More is now more. At its start, minimalism was a much needed break from the clutter that preceded it. Whether in graphic design, interior design, or people’s entire lifestyle, minimalism showed people the value of simplicity. There was a newfound joy and contentment in realizing, “I don’t need more things.” But, public health responses to COVID-19 made the simplicity and cleanness—particularly in public spaces—feel scarce and cold. Wang says, “Now, after more than a decade of pared-down spaces and white-walled rooms, people are going in the opposite direction and filling their rooms with more of what matters to them and brings them joy—perhaps overcompensating for a year of sacrifice. Minimalism is out, and maximalism (or simply just filling your home with what you love) is in.” The same can be said for church Easter design. As you head into the spring season and think through how to communicate the joy of the Easter season, design that ditches strict minimalism and nods toward the warmth and authenticity of the past will help people to more fully grasp and feel the joy of the Easter season.
Color is in. But the question remains—which ones? Get ready for bold, dynamic, and even moody colors. Over the past few years, pastels have been a large part of trending design, as a compromise between happy hues and strict minimalism in the aftermath of two long years of a global pandemic. As the winter of strict minimalism thaws even more, strong colors are coming back in full swing as a way to emphasize joy. Specifically for church Easter design, implementing bold colors is one way to visually move from a Lenten season of fasting, sorrow, and longing to an Easter season of joyful celebration of new life. In 2021, we helped Athens Church develop meaningful design for the Easter season. Check out our case study to see how the use of color and gradients brought even more meaning to the Easter season.
Out of all the design trends in 2022 and 2023, a nod to nostalgia might be the theme that ties them all together. For years, design has pushed artistic boundaries. But now, people are taking a step back. The trend isn’t unique to graphic design. People now want vintage—whether they’re shopping for second-hand clothes, repurposing their grandmother’s quilt, or leaning into graphic design that feels both classic and cozy. As people cope with harsh realities from the past few years, they’re looking for reminders of positive experiences from the past. In the coming year, expect even more bubble letters, vintage furniture, and thrifted denim.
Shapes are a basic element of any composition. (Want to learn more about the basics? Check out our first blog post on Design for Non-Designers for a quick overview.) Shapes can help us either replicate or uniquely recreate things that we experience in our everyday lives. While in the past precise geometric shapes reflected the importance of technology, progress, and man made goods, design is returning to nature with organic shapes, objects, and type. Organic design feels a sense of movement as it ditches the restraint of previous design trends.
In the past, visuals and illustrations took the lead in design. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? While visual content is still essential, new design trends don’t pose words and pictures opposites. Instead they’re brought together through bold and big statement typography. Igor Ovsyannykov from Creative Market says, “Think of fonts more than accessories. They’re more like the actual outfit: they can dress up any design and change the mood right away.”
We love stock photographs just as much as the next person, but let’s be real—the next person doesn’t like them either. (Bonus: For a good laugh, try searching #Badstockphotosofmyjob) Why don’t we like them? They feel stiff, formal, unnatural, and—most of all—fake. If you’ve been around Anna Montgomery & Co at all, you’ve probably heard us talk about trust. That’s because starting with trust is the first step in any good brand. Trust isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation of any relationship and that won’t change over time. But, the ways that brands can build trust through their photos can shift over time. In the past, the formality of professional photos built credibility, but, while professionalism is still important, there’s been a major shift toward authenticity—especially when it comes to your photos. Kelsie Rimmer from Envato puts it this way: “Authenticity is essential for brands that want to connect with customers online—and many businesses use low-fi and handcrafted designs and honest, thought-provoking content to build trust.”
We’ll be up front with you—cool design alone won’t cut it anymore. Sure, there are lots of options for cheap, trendy graphics—especially targeted toward churches and other limited-budget organizations—but as people crave authenticity more and more, the need for meaningful design will only keep growing. What does this look like for churches thinking through Easter? Whether working with a designer or doing their own design, churches should start with their objective and their audience, not their design. How can you clearly communicate the message of Easter in a way that is unique to the people in your congregation?
While none of these trends are exhaustive or set in stone, we hope this post gives your church insight into what’s going on in the world of design and inspiration for planning for Easter 2023. But keep in mind, the best design isn’t necessarily just following what’s currently trending. While it can be helpful to understand the context that you’re creating in, your ultimate goal is to connect with people. Getting hung up on church Easter design? We’ve got you covered. Drop us a line—we’d love to connect!
