# Tagging The Language of the Graffiti Artist By Lisa Lehane | Published 2005-12-27 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tagging-the-language-of-the-graffiti-artist References: [en.wikipedia.org](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti) "Taggers sometimes select tags, like screennames, to reflect some personal qualities, but often a tag is chosen for how the word sounds when spoken aloud or how the letters sit with each other when written; usually referred to as how the tag "flows". The letters in a word can make doing [pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1664-x-andre-saraiva) very difficult if the shapes of the letters don't sit next to each other in a visually pleasing way. Also some tags are humourous plays on common expressions, such as: Page3, 2Shae, 2Cold, In1 and many others. Tags can also contain subtle and often cryptic messages or in some cases the writer's initials or other letters become a part of the tag. The current year is often put up next to tags as well; the bomber Tox, from London, never writes just Tox; it is always Tox03, Tox04, etc. In some cases, "[writers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/image-tagger)" dedicate or create tags or graffiti in memory of a deceased friend, for example, "DIVA Peekrevs R.I.P. JTL '99". Tags are usually between 3 to 5 letters long to make the process of doing them illegally faster, but can be any length at all." - Wikipedia ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 80% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Graffiti](https://www.trendhunter.com/graffiti) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Personalized Tag Selection:** An opportunity for brands to innovate by allowing customers to choose personalized tags that reflect their personal qualities and preferences for a more immersive and engaging experience. - **Visually Pleasing Tags:** A potential disruption in the graffiti industry by creating innovative tools and techniques that allow artists to easily create visually pleasing tags with letters that sit next to each other in a visually pleasing way. - **Cryptic Message Tags:** An opportunity for graffiti artists to explore creating cryptic message tags that contain hidden meanings or messages, providing a new level of intrigue and storytelling in their work. ### Who This Affects Most - **Branding and Marketing:** Brands can leverage personalized tag selection to enhance their branding and marketing efforts, allowing customers to engage with their brand in a unique and creative way. - **Art and Design:** The art and design industry can embrace visually pleasing tags as a disruptive innovation to enhance urban art and graffiti, creating visually captivating and aesthetically pleasing works. - **Technology and Software:** Innovative technology and software solutions can be developed to assist graffiti artists in creating cryptic message tags, opening up new possibilities for storytelling and artistic expression. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Enigmatic Graffiti Incidents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/enigmatic-graffiti.md) - [Cheeky Luggage Tags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playful-luggage-tags.md) - [Gen Z-Targeted Social Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-branding-app.md) - [Digital Graffiti NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/graffiti-wall-collection.md) - [Customizable Kids Stationery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taggeez.md) - [Display-Equipped Item Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phototag.md) - [Graffiti Artist-Collab Streetwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ja-one-xtc.md) - [Evolved Vibrant Graffiti Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jan-kalb.md) - [Storage-Focused Dynamic Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tagi.md)