After last year, communities worldwide needed to stop, take a breath, and recharge. From our vantage point we saw this need expressed through the stock content and campaign visuals surrounding us. In 2021, we noticed an increase in down-to-earth, relatable visual content as creatives tapped into a mainstream appetite for visual storytelling that reflects real-life moments and human connection. This meant a rise in popularity of inclusive stock photos, illustrations, and videos, featuring people from different cultures, ethnicities, body types, genders, and abilities. We also saw sparks of magic and uplifting color used in surprising ways.