The paper aims to explore the development direction of color expression in graphic design in the new era, and then effectively improve the quality of works, so as to obtain the most widely recognized works. The paper firstly analyzes the characteristics and importance of color elements in graphic design, and then combines with several examples to summarize the development trend of color expression such as simplification, humanization and traditionalism. Color is an indispensable element in graphic design. In recent years, with the changes of the times and social development, the methods and styles of color expression are more abundant. Only by studying and predicting the development trend, can the designers really keep pace with the times and create excellent works which are popular with the contemporary people and showing a distinctive personalized style.