Emerging Trends in Ad Creative Design 2024

Performance and Ad creative design continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and it’s staying ahead of the curve that keeps our jobs very interesting. For brands looking to capture the attention of their audiences and maximise their advertising performance, it’s well worth spending a little time getting to know what’s hot, and what’s bringing in results. The last thing you want is to spend a ton of money on performance creative, only to find out that it’s sooooo last year… 

Enough waffling from us, here are some trends that we’ve spotted, and are worth keeping in mind for your upcoming creative work.

1. Hyper-Personalisation

Personalisation has been a buzzword for some time, but now more than ever, we’ve seen hyper-personalisation become a key trend. Leveraging data analytics, brands can create highly customised ad experiences tailored to individual user preferences, behaviours, and demographics. We’re not talking about simply adding a user’s name to an ad; we’re talking about crafting unique messages and visuals that resonate on a personal level, driving higher engagement and conversion rates.

2. Interactive and Immersive Experiences

Interactive ads that engage users in a two-way conversation are becoming increasingly popular. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are making it easier for brands to create immersive ad experiences that captivate audiences. From virtual try-ons to interactive storytelling, these technologies allow users to engage with brands in a more meaningful and memorable way.

3. Minimalist Design with Bold Statements

Minimalism continues to be a strong design trend, but in 2024, it will be paired with bold, impactful statements. Clean, simple designs that use whitespace effectively can make bold messages stand out, capturing attention quickly. This approach is particularly effective in digital ad spaces where users are bombarded with information and have limited attention spans. Check out the Surreal Meta Ad creative below, a picture perfect example of straight to the point creative.

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4. Short-Form Video Content

The popularity of short-form video content shows no signs of slowing down. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have demonstrated the power of brief, engaging videos in capturing audience attention. We’re expecting to see more and more brands jumping on this and leveraging short-form video for their ad campaigns (If they aren’t already), focusing on concise, visually appealing, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Just simple, straight to the point, creative.

6. Nostalgia Marketing

Nostalgia continues to be a powerful tool in advertising. When executed well, brands can tap into the emotional pull of nostalgia by incorporating retro design elements and references to past decades. This trend resonates particularly well with Millennials and Gen Z, who often seek comfort in the familiar aesthetics and cultural touchstones of their youth.

7. Real-Time Marketing

With the rise of social media and the 24/7 news cycle, real-time marketing is becoming increasingly important. Brands are creating ad creatives that respond to current events and trending topics, making their marketing efforts more timely and relevant. This approach requires agility and a keen sense of the cultural zeitgeist.

A classic example of this is the ultra successful Oreo campaign - "You Can Still Dunk in the Dark". During the 2013 Super Bowl blackout, Oreo quickly capitalised on the event with a tweet that read, "Power out? No problem. You can still dunk in the dark." While this event happened in the US, it set a global standard for real-time marketing and was widely discussed across the world as a benchmark for timely and clever brand communication.

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8. Authenticity and Transparency

Finally, authenticity and transparency will always be crucial in any form of marketing. Consumers are increasingly sceptical of overly polished and insincere advertising. Brands that can convey genuine messages and show transparency in their operations and values will build greater trust with their audiences.

Our final word of advice? Embrace these trends, don’t try to resist them, because you’ll be the ones left in the dust, trust us.

Needing a wee push to get the creative juices flowing? Or simply want to pass over the baton, say hey at hello@trendygrandad.com, and we’ll be delighted to talk about all things performance creative. 

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