It’s Nice That’s annual ‘Review of the Year’ highlights 2024’s top 25 graphic design stories, spanning rebrands, typographic debates, and nostalgic visual trends. The roundup features projects from studios like Collins, Studio Frith, and Little Troop, as well as commentary on industry issues such as unpaid pitching and the use of mockups. The article reflects a year defined by retro aesthetics, thoughtful branding, and critical reflection on design culture.
Liz Gorny’s opinion piece for It’s Nice That explores the creative industry’s obsession with obscure references and archival research. Through examples like Special Offer’s Brat campaign and Collins’ rebrand for Bose, the article questions whether referencing history inherently improves design work or simply signals cultural capital. Designer Brent David Freaney argues for the value of research and the right to protect one’s reference library while cautioning against overreliance on nostalgia.
