When designing a website, the goal is to provide high quality, informative content which is displayed in a manner that is both user-friendly and aesthetically interesting. The web design trends outlined below incorporate ways to highlight content as well as engage and entertain users with the aim of converting them into clients.
Up to Date Website Design Construction
Mobile First vs Responsive
Mobile first design takes into consideration the reduced screen size and maximises the space provided to deliver information clearly. This tends to have a very positive affect on the quality of content as only core content can be displayed in such a limited space.
Responsive design is the reverse of mobile first design. A desktop version is constructed using CSS media queries so the layout, including fonts and images, automatically adjust to fit different size devices.
With more internet users using smaller mobile devices, it makes sense to design a website that will cater for these. The recent mobile-friendly algorithm released by Google has also guaranteed that mobile and responsive design websites will continue to stay as web design trends for the foreseeable future.
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI)
Simply, UX means ‘user experience’ and refers to how users act and react on the internet. UI is ‘interface design’ and refers to the layout; things such as buttons, icons, images etc. Together they form a crucial part of web design and have had a significant effect on how websites are now being designed.
Popular Visual Web Design Trends
With all the UX and UI research conducted it has become apparent that there is a definite trend in how users act on the internet. Thus, web designs are following these patterns and therefore the internet has become more streamlined and user-friendly. The flip side is that websites are starting to look very similar, so now web designers are exploring new ways to distinguish themselves in the crowded market.
Combine this with the advancement of screen resolution and the answer is visual. Leading web design trends are embracing the visual elements and creating bold, colourful, fun and emotive designs. Below are some of the most popular visual elements.
- Illustrations
- Typography
- Photography
- Animations
- Video
- Drop Shadows
Innovative Website Layouts and Effects
The push towards visual has brought about new techniques to organise and highlight content and add extra dimensions to websites.
Card Layout
A card display layout is a technique where content is organised and displayed in a form that resembles a playing card. Content is organised into easily recognisable groups which can then be swiped to reveal the underneath card/information.
Creative Scrolling and Parallax
Scrolling has become a visual tool which can be used in different ways other than the traditional up and down the page, for example, to pause or play a video.
A popular new form of scrolling is called Parallax, which creates a 3D effect by playing with the speed of the background versus the foreground. A common use is when a product’s descriptive text remains on the screen while the user can scroll through different images of the product.
Asymmetrical and Fragmented Layouts
Web designers are now utilising new layout formats such as overlayed boxes, text and images, and asymmetrical shapes to highlight essential information.
Conclusion
Web designers are continually coming up with new and inventive ways to present content for users in an aesthetically pleasing and engaging format. Inventive visual elements are the core of the above trends, and the future will no doubt see more innovative approaches to distinguish websites in an ever-increasing congested market.
We at F1RST pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest web design trends so we can advise and implement techniques to set your business above other Coffs Coast Businesses and beyond. We work in conjunction with our clients to design SEO friendly websites that are contemporary, aesthetic and competitive and we offer Website Management Plans to ensure the continued success of your site.
