September 23, 2024
Grabbing attention in a split second is crucial in the social world, brands are constantly searching for fresh and innovative ways to make their content stand out. A trend that has been around for ages, but is now gaining momentum is using abstract shapes as revealing masks for visual content.
Abstract shape masks involve overlaying a variety of non-representational shapes (such as circles, triangles, and organic forms) on top of images or videos, which then reveal or hide parts of the underlying content. Many brands have adopted this trend and made it their own replacing the abstract shapes with a silhouette of their log of shapes that are already part of their brand identity. The result is a dynamic visual experience where content is unveiled in unexpected ways, capturing the viewer’s attention and creating a sense of curiosity. Several companies have successfully adopted this trend, incorporating abstract shape masks into their social media strategy and overall brand identity.
Why Shapes Work
The use of abstract shapes as revealing masks taps into several psychological principles that make content more engaging:
Curiosity: When content is partially obscured or revealed gradually, it piques the viewer’s curiosity. This encourages the audience to spend more time interacting with the content, increasing engagement rates.
Visual Hierarchy: Abstract shapes can help direct the viewer’s attention to specific areas of the content, emphasizing key messages or focal points. This ensures that the most important aspects of the visual are not overlooked.
Memorability: The unexpected nature of abstract shapes and the way they reveal content can make the visual more memorable. When viewers encounter something out of the ordinary, it tends to stick in their minds longer.
How to do it
If you’re looking to integrate this trend into your brand identity, here are a few steps to get started:
Define Your Shapes: Start by identifying the types of abstract shapes that resonate with your brand’s personality. For a tech brand, geometric shapes like hexagons or circuits might be fitting, while an eco-friendly brand might opt for organic, flowing shapes that evoke nature.
Consistency Is Key: Ensure that the shapes and styles you choose are consistent across all platforms and types of content. This will help reinforce your brand identity and make your visuals easily recognizable.
Experiment with Layering: Play around with different ways to layer these shapes over your content. You can use them to gradually reveal product images, highlight key text, or create transitions between different scenes in a video.
Combine with Animation: To make your content even more dynamic, consider adding simple animations to your abstract shapes. For example, shapes could expand, rotate, or dissolve to reveal the underlying content. This adds layers of interactivity and can make your posts stand out in crowded social feeds.
Test and Adapt: As with any trend, it’s important to test how well it resonates with your audience. Pay attention to engagement metrics and feedback and be prepared to adapt your approach based on what works best for your brand.
The trend of using abstract shapes as revealing masks in social media visuals offers a fresh and captivating way to enhance your brand’s online presence. Whether you’re looking to refresh your social media strategy or completely revamp your visual branding, give us a call and we can work together to help you be versatile and create content that truly stands out.