Published On: December 21, 2020
The design of your website will have a dramatic effect on the way your visitors view your company. Web design impacts the first impression as well as any following interactions — if there are any.
An improperly designed website can give a new visitor all the motivation they need to go back to their search results and find one of your competitors instead.
So how do you ensure your website draws your visitors deeper into your content? What can you do to provide the most value to your visitors?
Web design — like anything else — has evolved over time. The trends from ten years ago don’t apply anymore. People’s habits change. Available technology continues to advance.
These factors impact how people view your website and the information contained within it. So how do you stay on top of the most recent changes? What is 2021 going to look like for web design?
Here are 6 web design trends you can expect to see in 2021:
1. Increased Focus on Responsiveness
Responsive web design refers to the website’s ability to adapt to varying screen sizes. This has been an increasingly important factor over the last few years, and this trend is going to continue.
Your website needs to look just as good on a cell phone as it does on a laptop. And these two designs are not likely to be the same.
Wider screens allow for longer lines of text and larger images. But these factors simply won’t work on the smaller screens of smartphones or even tablets.
Your website needs to be able to adjust to these varying screen sizes. One popular way of doing this is to design the website for mobile devices, and then alter it to fit larger screens.
2. Minimalistic Design
Blank space is your friend. It makes it easier to read text. It helps draw your visitor’s attention to important information. And from a user’s standpoint, it just makes the website feel better.
Gone are the days of loading your website with as much information as possible. This was done with the goal of attracting the attention of search engines, but this is no longer the case.
You want your website to offer all of the applicable information in a way that makes it easier for visitors. They don’t want to have to sort through an abundance of text, images, and graphics in order to get the answers they need.
Expect more websites offering less in the way of content in 2021.
Artificial intelligence is making great strides in just about every industry. Web design is no different.
We’ve all seen chatbots on a website before. They can be extremely helpful to get quick answers to common questions. However, this technology has gotten a lot better lately and will continue to improve into the new year.
Expect to see more integration of artificial intelligence in 2021. User experience is rooted in the idea that it must be easy for users to get the information they need. Well-designed and programmed chatbots are a quick way to accomplish this without sacrificing design elements.
4. Micro Animations and Interactions
Small details can make a big difference. And even something that seems very simple can actually have a noticeable impact on the way someone experiences your website. It’s these small details that give your website life and originality — the things that set your website apart from the competition.
Micro animations refer to functional animations that accompany useful elements of web design like buttons and links. For instance, imagine a button that changes color as you scroll over it. It’s a small and simple design tactic, but it draws the users attention.
Micro interactions also add to the user’s experience of your website. Drop down menus are an example of a micro interaction that engages your user.
These elements are an effective way to interest your visitors and will be a great asset in 2021.
5. Accessibility
Everyone should be able to use your website. And accessibility is aimed at achieving just that.
Website accessibility refers to the ease of which a person with a disability can use your website.
This can be accomplished with the help of many tactics and programs. For instance, consider adding subtitles to any videos included on your website. The ability to utilize speech recognition software is also a great asset for your website.
These measures will be necessary in 2021 as inclusivity continues to become an even greater consideration.
6. Embracing Dark Themes
Many popular apps and websites allow their users to dampen the colors and enter what’s often called “night mode.” These darker themes are easier on the user’s eyes and are often more calming.
This idea stretches into web design. The blank space on a page doesn’t need to be white. Using darker tones — usually black — as the dominant background color makes other design elements stand out. It creates a slick look that feels more elegant for the visitor.
2021 is going to include a series of evolutions and changes to the world of web design. Staying on top of emerging trends ensures you are getting the most from your website.
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