The top 2018 print trends reveal how tangible advertisements, campaigns, magazines and other forms of printed content are rapidly evolving to keep ahead of the times.
Advertisers and brands are challenging the static nature of print with personalization and interactive experiences, as exemplified by print ads that double as functional pregnancy tests and magazines that connect to virtual reality try-on experiences with the help of a companion app.
Over the last year, prevalent digital media brands—that generally do not need to rely on printed advertisements or other traditional forms of advertising—turned to created publications in various niches. While 'Grow by Facebook' is now shared as a quarterly magazine, HelloGiggles Magazine offers a new place for a young target audience to discover more content from a trusted source in a novel way.
To access more print trends for the year ahead, check out our 2019 Trend Report.
Top 55 Print Trends in 2018
From Life-Saving Print Ads to Personalized Magazine Covers:
Laura McQuarrie — Jan 26, 2019 — Pop Culture
54
Lengthy Advertising Imagery
Versache Promotes Inclusive Fashion with the 'Longest-Ever' Ad Image
53
Day-Relevant Advertising Campaigns
Mcdonald's Graphic Print Ads Celebrate Moving Day in Québec
52
Minimalist Fast Food Ads
This McDonald's Campaign Highlights the Restaurant's Hours of Operation
51
Creativity-Celebrating Campaigns
Post-it's Clever Advertisement Honors the Artistic Spirit
50
Vintage Fast Food Ads
McDonald's Celebrates Its Iconic Burger with a Retro Twist by TBWA\Paris
49
Beautiful Japanese Comic Campaigns
DOZO Tea Has a Playful Identity Thanks to Gerhard Human & DOERS
48
Brand Logo Mashup Marketing
Quickteller Debuts Its Global Mall with a Entertaining Print Campaign
47
Arty Cinematic Travel Posters
The Big Domain's Latest Imitative Strongly Inspires Wanderlust
46
Colorfully Dynamic Urban Lookbooks
Tobias Faisst Takes Striking Visuals for Ucon Acrobatics
45
Haunting Ecological Campaigns
Greenpeace Canada Calls Attention to the Implication of Plastic Use
44
Furniture-Inspired Chocolate Advertisements
IKEA's Promotion for Its Dark Chocolate is Clever
43
Collaborative Streetwear Newspapers
Supreme and the New York Post Made a Limited-Edition Newspaper
42
Artistically Expressive Footwear
The Y/Project x UGG is Teased with a Renaissance Campaign
41
Hyper-Realistic Movie Campaigns
Cream Electric Art Uses CGI for IMAX's Print & Motion Campaign
40
Boldly Elegant Burger Branding
Daniel Freytag & Craig Anderson's Minimalist Design is Ultra-Sleek
39
Women's Cannabis Platforms
Latitude Was Created to Share Real Stories of Women's Cannabis Use
38
Summer-Ready Ice Cream Ads
McDonald's Boasts a Creative and Summery Vibe for Its Frozen Desserts
37
Chic Cyberpunk Magazine Editorials
UNDERCOVER's SS19 Collection is Spotlighted in PRODISM's Issue
36
Celebrity-Driven Fashion Magazines
Vogue's September 2018 Issue Will Be Directed by Beyoncé
35
Royal-Referencing Chair Ads
This IKEA Chair Ad Plays on Harry and Meghan's Recent Wedding
34
Surreal Hair-Inspired Photography
Infringe's Artistic Hair Editorial Embraces the Value of Beauty
33
Inclusive Human Rights Campaigns
Amnesty International Advocates for a LGBTQ-Friendly FIFA Cup
32
Old-School Beauty Campaigns
This Marc Jacobs Beauty Campaign Takes Cues from Auntie Mame
31
Life-Saving Print Ads
This Ad Hopes to Combat Carbon Monoxide-Related Deaths
30
Social Media Business Magazines
'Grow by Facebook' is a New Magazine That is Printed Quarterly
29
Mistake-Encouraging Fast Food Jobs
McDonald's McMistakes Encourages Young People to Apply
28
Mock Influencer Fashion Campaigns
The Juicy Couture Fall 2018 Ads are Styled as Sponsored Posts
27
Simply Elegant Brand Identities
Anagrama Studio Uses Ziploc Bags for Peruvian Flake's Image
26
Cute Reimagined Disney Characters
The Disney Princess Comic Book Aesthetic is Ultra-Adorable
25
Lenticular Printing Packaging
Lenticular Printing gives a Second Wind to Fun Packaging
24
Business Travel Magazines
National Geographic and The Wall Street Journal Created 'Far & Away'
23
Uplifting Website Magazines
HelloGiggles Magazine is a Tangible Version of the Online Community
22
Dad Joke Ad Campaigns
These Humorous PSAs Highlight the Importance of a Father's Involvement
21
Exploratory Creative Festival Identities
The Scwein Gehabt! Event Has a Whimsical & Pinkish Image
20
Print Magazine Clothing Collections
Places+Faces Created a Magazine Merchandise Collection
19
Revolutionary Fashion Magazine Covers
Vogue Arabia's Cover Boldly Celebrates the Female Body
18
Personalized Modern Cookbooks
This New York Times Cookbook Was Created Personally By Readers
17
Coffee Culture Magazines
'Pour Over' is a Magazine from Plant-Based Drink Brand Califia Farms
16
Thought-Provoking Ecology Campaigns
Greenpeace's Latest Preservation Initiative is Human-Centered
15
Functional Pregnancy Test Ads
IKEA Debuted a New Ad That Doubles as a Pregnancy Test
14
Zodiac-Inspired Promotional Posters
Emilee Petersmark's Zodiac Illustrations are Goddess-Themed
13
Weirdly Cheeky Branding Identities
A Group of Collectives Oversee the Visual Identity of BABOON
12
Virtual Magazine Makeup Try-Ons
Cosmopolitan Magazine Now Offers a Try-On Feature for Beauty Looks
11
Crowdsourced Ad Campaigns
J.W. Anderson is Reaching Out to the Public to Create a Campaign
10
Traceable Packaging Tags
Applied DNA Sciences' Molecular Ink Tags Boost Trust with Transparency
9
Edgy Dual-Colored Promotions
The Latin American Design Festival is Highlighted by Color & Type
8
Wage Gap Magazines
Maclean’s Magazine is Asking Men to Pay More for Its Latest Issue
7
Dirt-Activated Storybooks
OMO's 'Book of Dirt' Encourages Kids to Get Outside and Get Messy
6
Personalized Magazine Covers
ELLE's Custom Magazine Prioritizes Customer Engagement
5
Analog Discount Codes
ASOS and Boursorama Banque Teamed Up for a Youth-Targeted Print Campaign
4
Recycled Automotive Catalogs
BMW Created a "Fully Sustainable Car Catalog" for Its i3 Model
3
Deceitfully Negative Advertising
KFC Announces New Fries with an Unconventional Advertising Method
2
Political Teen Summits
The Teen Vogue Summit: Turn Up is Set to Empower Teens Seeking Change
1
Ride Share Print Magazines
Uber Launched Uber Momentum to Connect with Its Drivers
Related Ideas
Story-Inspired Interactive Campaigns
The Converse Campaign Encourages People to Claim Their Chucks
Clever Hilarious Photography Series
Arthur Mebius Infuses His Work with a Subtle Sense of Humor
Humorous Fast Food Commercials
KFC Tags Apple in This Incredibly Relevant Video on Twitter
Day-Relevant Advertising Campaigns
Mcdonald's Graphic Print Ads Celebrate Moving Day in Québec
Minimalist Fast Food Ads
This McDonald's Campaign Highlights the Restaurant's Hours of Operation
Dystopian Americana Fashion Editorials
CALVIN KLEIN 205W39NYC's Lookbook is Artistically Relevant
Gen Z-Targeting Makeup Brands
Marta Veludo & Another Studio Produce a Whimsical Brand Identity
Millennial-Inspired Media Re-Brands
Heineken Releases Its New Millennial-Inspired Brand Strategy
Boundary-Pushing Publicity Stunts
Björn Borg Shows Strong LGBTQ+ Support at the FIFA World Cup
Rave-Inspired Luxe Menswear
The Versace Spring/Summer 2019 Menswear Collection is Eclectic
Pastel Flat-Design Package Iterations
Beloved Pocky Sticks Enjoy a New Design-forward Packaging
Spooky Fast Food Sweepstakes'
McDonald's Has a New Halloween-Themed Game Called Trick. Treat. Win!
Cinematically Themed Fashion Lookbooks
Bodega Highlights UNDERCOVER 2001: Space Odyssey Tribute
Cinematographic Style Tribe Collections
UNDERCOVER Creates Eight Stylish Gangs for Its SS19 Line
Spacesuit-Inspired Down Jackets
UNDERCOVER's Astronaut Jacket is Packed with Space References
Haunting Ecological Campaigns
Greenpeace Canada Calls Attention to the Implication of Plastic Use
Recyclable Straw-Free Cup Lids
This New Starbucks Strawless Lid will Help the Brand Ditch Straws
Pop Culture-Inspired Streetwear
UNDERCOVER Drops THE SEVENTH SENSE Collection for SS19
Hyper-Realistic Movie Campaigns
Cream Electric Art Uses CGI for IMAX's Print & Motion Campaign
Recreated Iconic Marketing Campaigns
Kith Treats Enlists Celebrities for a New Got Milk? Campaign
Graphic Design-Inspired Keychains
These Adobe Keychains by Yu Xin are Hilariously Relatable
Plastic Waste Fashion Collections
Botter's Line of Plastic Waste Fashion Fights the Plastic Crisis
Colorful Design-Driven Music Banners
Design Agency Touch Pays Tributes to Iconic Performances
Vibrant Ultra-Fuzzy Sandals
The UGG Fluff Yeah Sandals Arrive in Four Bright Colorways
Luxe Fast-Food Pop-Ups
The McDonald's Butler Experience Will Offer a Lavish Take on Fast-Food
Surreal Ice Cream Photography
Ben Denzer's Instagram Account Portrays Melting Desserts and Books
Temperature-Reducing Festival Solutions
Alex Shtanuk Wants to Cover Burning Man 2018 in a Blanket
Artful Chunky Footwear Editorials
BLENDS Creatively Calls Attention to PUMA's Chunky Shoes
Inclusive Ultra-Chromatic Fashion Editorials
The Daily Paper's Colorful Photoshoot Promotes Unity
Summer-Ready Ice Cream Ads
McDonald's Boasts a Creative and Summery Vibe for Its Frozen Desserts
Fast Food-Themed Soccer Cleats
Theheymann Studios' Mcdonald's-Inspired Custom Cleats are a Tribute
Donut Personalization Stations
The Krispy Kreme Customized Donut Machine is in Birmingham
Rescue-Themed Advertising Campaigns
Shutterstock Services are Sharply Displayed in a Trio of Ads
Ultra-Technical Winter Sportswear
adidas Snowboarding Debuts Its Sleek & Functional Winter 18 Line
Video Game-Inspired Cookbooks
The Fallout Cookbook Turns Apocalyptic Food into Culinary Treats
Prehistoric Cafe Menus
Japan's Jurassic World Cafe Celebrates the New Film
Celebrity-Driven Fashion Magazines
Vogue's September 2018 Issue Will Be Directed by Beyoncé
Eco-Conscious Athletic Hoodies
Parley for the Oceans and adidas Rework the Iconic Z.N.E. Hoodie
Plastic Straw Fabrications
Katalin Huszár's not justuseless Project Creates Fabric From Old Straws
Straw-Eliminating Initiatives
KFC Hong Kong and Macau Will Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
Stunning Papercraft Comic Books
Maëlle Doliveux Explores Her Whimsical Style with Short Stories
Inaugural Comfort-Focused Menswear
Lolë Launches Its First-Ever Men's Activewear Collection
Gamified Cooking Books
Jenn Sandercock's Cookbook Boasts Highly Engaging Edible Games
Retrofit Autonomous Vehicles
The Siemens Mustang Will Compete at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Mistake-Encouraging Fast Food Jobs
McDonald's McMistakes Encourages Young People to Apply
Honest Hawaiian Shirt Prints
The Parley for the Oceans x Adolfo Correa Collab Builds On Pollution
Cute Reimagined Disney Characters
The Disney Princess Comic Book Aesthetic is Ultra-Adorable
Renewed Detergent-Free Hair Washes
Hairstory's 'New Wash' Comes in Two New Variations
Canadian Cannabis Marketplaces
Lift & Co. Provides Customized and Accessible Information to Users
Spicy Chicken Waffle Burgers
KFC's 'Zinger' is Made with Maple Syrup, Mayo and Chicken Bacon
Playful Boyish Fashion Capsules
Loewe's Parisian Presentation of Its SS19 is Whimsical & Colorful
Marijuana Magazine-Honoring Apparel
Wacko Maria's High Times Apparel Celebrates the Publication
Celebrity-Headed Fashion Campaigns
The New Calvin Klein Campaign Taps into the Kardashian Clan
Eco-Friendly Drinking Straws
Garrett Paper Inc. Advocates for Sustainability with the Bio Straw
Lifetime Fast Food Promotions
The McDonald's McGold Card will Be Awarded to One Lucky Person
Fast Food Delivery Giveaways
McDonald's is Giving Out Free Swag on McDelivery Day
Playfully Colorful Blankets
Sancal & Egle Zvirblyte Collaborate on a Range of Quirky Products
Charitable Elephant Ice Sculptures
Amarula and WildlifeDirect Team Up for World Elephant Day
Personalized Hair Color Pop-Ups
My. Haircare's 'Made For Me' Hair Pop-Up Emphasizes Customization
Honey-Coated Chicken Tenders
KFC's Hot Honey Fried Chicken is Now Available in the Form of Tenders
Artistic Maximalist Decor
IKEA's FÖREMÅL Shares the "Rough and Burlesque" Works of Per B Sundberg
Memory-Improving Fonts
Sans Forgetica Adds Obstructions to Better Text Retention in Readers
Cannabis-Friendly Festival Experiences
Highland Events Offers a Unique "Legal Cannabis Experience"
Collaborative Princess Footwear
TOMS' Disney Cinderella Collection Features a Classic Princess
Peach-Scented Vinyl Soundtracks
The 'Call Me By Your Name' Soundtrack is Being Shared at Harvest
Football-Informed Doll-Styled Lookbooks
The New FC Real Bristol by SOPHNET. Collection is Sporty
Thought-Provoking Ecology Campaigns
Greenpeace's Latest Preservation Initiative is Human-Centered
All-Natural CBD Candies
Lord Jones CBD Gumdrops Use Natural European Fruit Essence
Paper Fast Food Straws
UK McDonald's Straws Will Be Swapped for Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Zodiac-Inspired Promotional Posters
Emilee Petersmark's Zodiac Illustrations are Goddess-Themed
Plastic-Free Grocery Bags
Iceland is Aiming to Reduce Plastic Waste with Paper Grocery Bags
Whimsical Handcrafted Pillows
IKEA's Artisan Series is Made in Collaboration with Refugees
Cult-Favorite All-Day Breakfast Offerings
The KFC Breakfast Will Boast Tasty Chicken & Waffles
Cannabis Oil-Infused Beers
The Cloud 9 Brewing 'High Flyer' Beer was Created with CBD Ultra
Community-Empowering Comic Book Covers
STATE Bags Raises Awareness with Black Women Comics
Martian Flag Concepts
Seven Designers Share Their Vision at IKEA's Space10 in Copenhagen
Rideshare Scooter Partnerships
Uber Has Partnered with Lime Bikes to Offer Scooter Rentals
Traveler-Connecting Selfie Campaigns
Absolut & JCDecaux Singapore Launch an Interactive Initiative
Culturally Diverse Food Offerings
McDonald's is Extending Its 'Flavors from Abroad' to Florida
Consolidated Scuba Diving Platforms
The 'Planet Deepblu' Platform Offers Enhanced Booking Services
Plastic Five-Ton Whale Sculptures
STUDIOKCA Embarks on an Ambitious Project with Ocean Plastic
Playful Family-Centric Campaigns
Cobb Studio Boasts an Exceptionally Positive Campaign for Hyundai
Logo-Fusing Sporty Fashion
Fendi Mania Celebrates Fashion Labels Fendi and FILA
Decadent Baked Pumpkin Pies
McDonald's Baked Pumpkin Pie is Back for a Limited-Time
Treatment-Specific Cookbooks
The Chemo Kitchen Cookbook Was Designed for Cancer Patients
Luxury Cultural Charity Capsules
Beyoncé and Balmain Join To Assist The United Negro College Fund
Wanderlust-Targeting Interactive Microsites
Hawaii Tourism Authority Uses a Multi-Media Approach
Candy Bar-Infused Ice Creams
McDonald's Fans are Sure to Go Nuts Over the New Snickers McFlurry
Portion-Controlled Ice Creams
McDonald's UK Has Launched a Smaller-Sized Mini McFlurry
Sparkling Cannabis Beverages
Mood33 is an Infused Tonic Containing 10mg of THC Per 12-Ounce Bottle
Rapper-Featured Cover Shoots
Nicki Minaj is the Focus of Vogue Arabia's September Issue
Branded Bacon Strips
Heinz Created Edible Ads to Promote Its Newest Ketchup Product in Brazil
Disney Princess Baking Sets
Disney Eats is Now Selling an Adorable Princess-Themed Baking Set
Internationally Inspired Corporate Menus
McDonald’s is Offering International Menu Items at Its HQ
Authentic Cultural Fashion Campaigns
Bihor Couture is a Brand That Celebrates Romanian Fashion
Lilac-Colored Soft Serve
McDonald's Hong Kong is Selling Purple Ice Cream in Oreo Cones
Fast Food-Branded Cat Climbers
KFC's Publicity Stunt is Feline-Friendly and Incredibly Adorable
Allergy-Specific Recipe Books
#AllergicToEverything Offers Dishes for People with Allergies
Meme-Inspired Minor League Logos
The Staten Island Pizza Rats will Play Five Games This Season
Bold LGBTQ-Supporting Publicity Stunts
Coca-Cola Celebrates Pride with That 'Coke is a Fanta'
Baby Naming Stunts
A New KFC Publicity Stunt Will Offer Parents Money For Their Baby's Name
Saucy Rib Sandwiches
Subway is Selling a New BBQ Rib Sandwich at Select Locations
Muffin Top QSR Snacks
The McDonald's Muffin Toppers are Crunchy and Crispy
Stereotype-Opposing VR Airline Tours
Scoot Breaks the Relation Between Low-Cost & Low Expectations
AI Shopping Assistant Apps
'Uniqlo ID' is Powered by Google Assistant & Machine Learning Tech
Baked Lattice Pie Snacks
The New McDonald's Baked Apple Pie Boasts an Improved Recipe
Mediterranean Pizza Restaurants
Bizza Approaches Italian Delicacy with a Mediterranean Twist
Meditative Fast Food Ads
KFC Partners with Mother London for Soothing and Tasty Imagery
Ocean Protection Running Events
adidas' Run for the Oceans Fights Marine Plastic Pollution
Luxurious Flying Car Concepts
Aston Martin's Volante Vision Features a VTOL Design
Meme-Inspired Animated Campaign Ads
Nike Channels Famous Football Player Ronaldo in Playful Ads
Culturally Inclusive Campaign Ads
Pantene Debuts a New Commercial, Featuring Malaysian Singer Yuna
Electric Vehicle Pilot Projects
The Uber Electric Car Project Incentives Electric Vehicle Usage
Single-Serve Instant Rice Meals
The Pot Rice Meals are Ideal for Enjoyment Out of the House
Prideful Vibrant Tram Designs
Västtrafik Celebrates Euro Pride with Bold and Colorful Streetcars
Artificial Preservative-Free QSR Foods
McDonald’s USA Removed Unwanted Ingredients from Burgers
Recreated Concert Apparel
The Beyoncé x Balmain Collab Offers Ready-to-Wear Coachella Looks
Drag Queen Houseware Campaigns
IKEA Canada Created a Pride Month Campaign with Toronto Drag Queens
Chocolate Hazelnut-Drizzled French Fries
KFC Adds a Sweet Twist to Its French Fries Recipe
Salted Caramel Hand Pies
McDonald's Salted Caramel & Chocolate Pie is a Sweet and Salty Treat
Low-Fare Ridesharing Options
A New Uber Low-Fare Option is Being Tested Internally
Text-Only Queer Dating Platforms
'Personals' is Based on Lesbian Magazines of the 80s and 90s
Continuous Background Checks
Continuous Uber Background Checks Ensure Higher Levels of Saftey
Singer-Designed Outerwear
Ms. Lauryn Hill Designs the Woolrich American Soul Since 1830 Campaign