Digital signage is transforming public communication and changing the landscape of out of home advertising and marketing. The technology of LED screens is evolving all the time and it looks set to develop further in 2024, along with graphic design trends. Here are some of the new technologies and trends to look out for next year.
Massive scale LED screens
One of the biggest digital signage stories of the year was the Las Vegas Sphere. This is the giant dome-shaped venue in the Nevada city that is the talk of the town. It is completely covered with two-way curved LED screens that can broadcast 360-degree advertising images, having a huge impact on the passing audiences.
This has enabled the venue to attract the biggest global brands such as Coca-Cola and Meta, and it is able to charge up to $650k a week in fees. The 160,000 sq ft screens stretch from floor to ceiling and are highly visible from the outside, as well as providing an exciting immersive experience inside.
The Sphere has inevitably attracted a lot of attention in Las Vegas as well as online and in the press. There is already talk of similar domes being constructed in other locations including South Korea, Dubai and London so watch this space.
Greater integration with AI
Artificial intelligence tools have started to infiltrate the digital landscape in a major way over the past couple of years, and expect to see this trend continue and expand throughout the next year. This may be through the use of interactive holograms that can respond to individual requests, or through content and layout that is entirely designed by AI.
Immersive experiences
When we are out and about in physical commercial environments, we now expect a hybrid experience that brings an element of online conveniences to us. This can be provided through virtual and augmented reality experiences such as 3D billboards, holograms, and even LED screens that can incorporate sensory experiences such as smell.
Retro design styles
As we hurtle ever-faster into a dizzying array of new technologies, there will be a retro trend in design styles that will act as a natural counterbalance to the pace of change. Screen content will feature old-fashioned typography and classic magazine layouts that will bring a touch of nostalgia to cutting edge technology.
Expect to see more use of elegant serif fonts (visual characters with small tails at ends), rather than sans serif fonts that are commonplace for screens. However, this trend needs to be treated with caution because serif fonts can be more difficult to read on screen.
Hand drawn elements
Another reaction to the impersonal nature of technology will be more organic and hand drawn designs that show the freer and more spontaneous side of the design process.