Technology changes fast, and website design trends are no different. Design elements and website features that were once modern and innovative may have become tired in recent years. The last thing you want as people arrive at your site is to lose conversion because your website looks outdated or ignores critical web standards.There will always be aspects of web design that are never going away – user-friendly navigation, data security, and fast load times should just be a given on your website. However, you can keep your site at the forefront of design and search engines by adding some of these innovative website features and elements.
We have put together a list of 6 web design trends we expect to see well into 2021. We hope this list not only inspires you but makes you approach the web in a more inclusive and accessible way. Here are some web design trends that will also help make 2021 a bit brighter.
1. Minimalism
A design trend that refuses to quit, minimalism has become the bread and butter of the work of web designers over the last decade. But what is minimalist web design? Less a visual style and more a design principle, minimalist design is based around using only the essential elements – such as basic shapes, clean text, limited colour palettes and space – to create something simple, functional and memorable. While typically associated with monochrome and white space, minimalism isn’t just black and white.Colourful minimalism is on the rise in both graphic and web design, featuring block colours& bold backgrounds, simple sans-serif fonts and minimalist typefaces, as well as minimal design elements to create a simple yet stunning website design.
2. Dark Mode
Dark mode web designs serve a couple of different functions. On the practical end, they help reduce eye strain and extend your device’s battery life, more extensively on devices with OLED displays, a concern for many as we are spending more and more time looking at screens.
Dark mode easily creates an ultra-modern look for your website while giving you the ability to highlight other design elements just by darkening the elements that surround it.More designers are embracing the dark mode aesthetic, with black providing the perfect dark backdrop to make design elements pop from the screen.
3. Preference-based Designs
Web development has made great strides in offering more personalized experiences. This can be anything from including a toggle between dark/light mode and other ways of changing a site’s appearance and navigation to offering content custom-tailored to one’s taste like the custom playlists generated by Spotify.
New design practices and algorithms are making the internet less of a passive user experience and more user-centred. The future will bring even more of a focus on meeting the needs, wants, and tastes. Custom content created for users returning to your website for a second or third time can increase conversion.
4.Parallax Animations & Transitions
Parallax scroll effects have been a trend in website design for years, and in 2021 we hope to see more subtle and creative explorations of what can be accomplished with parallax. The Parallax effect is the separation of page elements into foreground and background extremes, which creates an awesome effect. The depth created through the use of foreground and background also has the added benefit of immersion, transforming the computer screen into something closer to a theatre stage. As users navigate the web page, they are drawn into its convincing performance as if by magic.
5. Micro-Animations
As you might have guessed from the name, micro animations are small animations. But in this case, small doesn’t mean insignificant. Micro animations are extremely helpful when it comes to guiding users through their interactions with your website. They can also add an element of playfulness to your site. Micro animations have been popular for a few years, but in 2021, it’ll be about using them organically. Micro-interactions are small animations that offer subtle feedback to users. We are all used to seeing a link change colours when a user hovers over it. One of the latest web design trends for e-commerce sites is using micro animations to enhance user experience and give shoppers a taste of their products.
6. Inclusivity & Accessibility
Website functionality has always been a key aspect of web design. Inclusivity and accessibility are more than a trend, but an increased focus on inclusivity and accessibility has created a growing need for web design to factor in the needs of people with disabilities, and make websites accessible and functional for all. Having a site that every visitor can navigate and interact with is more than just part of good customer service and providing an excellent experience. It can increase conversion, boost your SEO, and help you reach a bigger audience. Luckily, accessible web design is adopted by more brands and businesses which are having a functional, accessible and user-friendly website that any visitor can easily navigate is now essential for providing an effective online experience.
