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(Perceived) 360º Views
I caught an old repeat of the Cosby Show the other day, and what really struck me was the way it was shot. The Huxtable home is always shot from the same angle; it's like sitting in the audience and watching a play. In fact, I could probably sketch a blueprint of the layout right now! Now think about The Office. As many times as I've seen it, if I'd been dropped in the middle of the office I would be lost. Where is Michael Scott's office in relation to the break room? I have no idea. Fluidity in camera angles is a big trend, one I would attribute to reality television.
Handheld Cameras
Speaking of reality TV, handheld cameras (as opposed to those fixed on a tripod) are another huge trend. Done well, a handheld camera makes video dynamic. Done poorly, it's a shaky distraction and can look amateurish Shooting off a tripod is always safer, but if you love the handheld look I say go with it but also shoot a backup version on a tripod.
Clean Graphics with Bold Colors
The current design trend is actually simple and clean. Backgrounds are solid, sometimes with a slight gradient and color is bold. Graphic elements are spare, flat and 2D as opposed to 3D. Think about the "Very Funny" promos on TBS. Bright colors, white fonts. Simple, simple, simple.
Sans-Serif Fonts
Serifs are the little strokes at the tips of letters in some fonts. Sans-serif fonts don't have these little strokes and are therefore simpler. Times New Roman is a serif font and Arial is sans-serif.
Music that Stays in the Background
I can't remember the last time I heard an actual jingle, can you? Nowadays, music more or less stays in the background. Cuts are simple without a lot of changes. I'm not sure how long this trend will last-- after all, a catchy jingle is a great marketing ploy!
These trends are simply guidelines, not a one size fits all solution. Depending on your industry and your particular company, your needs may be different. Stick with a style that best represents who you are.
