Website Design Trends
The only thing about the internet that doesn’t change is that it never stops changing. As a business, you must continuously stay on top of all the trends and tech in the digital world. A website is and has always been the digital ‘face’ of a company, and year after year, your site will benefit from a freshening up, if not a facelift. In other words, you need to implement the latest trends and strategies to keep your users interested.
1. The glitch to grab attention.
Yes, you read correctly. We said glitch. Hear us out: technology has come so far that nowadays, pictures are crystal clear, lines are impeccably drawn, and any little mistake sticks out like a sore thumb. See what we’re getting at? Designers are learning to focus on the power of imperfection, using small glitches to draw the user to specific areas or words. The user experience will still be otherwise flawless, but nothing catches a customer’s eye more than designing something unexpected or out of the ordinary.
2. Micro-interactions that get users involved.
These features aren’t exactly new, but they will evolve. Micro-interactions have proven to make the user feel more involved in a website. Just as customers are more likely to communicate with a live person who interacts, they are more likely to engage in a site that reacts to their presence. Micro-interactions can be fun animations or illustrations worked into the website design or as simple as a box or section changing color when visitors scroll over it. Any action can cause a reaction on a website.
3. The return to our natural habitat.
Organic, non-GMO, all-natural — these attributes draw us to all our favorite products at the store. We have flocked to naturally exposed rock, hardwood and natural wood accents, and plants in our homes for decades. So why would website design be any different? People are comforted by natural tones, patterns, and pictures. If we can express the same comforting, natural “feeling” in web design, it will automatically make any user experience more pleasing.
4. A custom experience is critical.
No matter how hard we pretend, every human is concerned mostly with one thing: time. We all have busy lives, places to go, and things to do. We visit websites looking for a solution to a problem, an answer to a question, or some information to benefit our existence. If the website could identify this need faster and lead us where we want to go in as few steps as possible, it would create a better experience. It makes it easier for a user to find what they want fast.
5. Video, video, and more video.
Did we mention video? Be honest: you would much rather watch a short video clip than read an article, right? Even this article would be more entertaining if it were a video showing you an example of every topic we have covered. People like entertainment and videos are just that. Whether it’s a fast-motion video backdrop or an entire live video series that airs on your website, videos get more engagement than any other type of web content. The more video you can incorporate into your website, the better.
6. User-friendly equals thumb-friendly.
Over 60% of internet users are on mobile devices. From smartphones to tablets, most everyone has a way to view your site on the go, which you must consider when designing a website. If your customers can’t navigate your website with their thumbs, odds are, they will click on one where they can. Focus on drop-down lists, large buttons, and short user journeys. A mobile device-friendly website is not only easier for your customers; it is also aesthetically pleasing.
Most people view a website for approximately 4 seconds or less before deciding to stay or move on to the next option. In those 4 seconds, you must communicate your brand voice, message, tone, and more through website design alone. Is that something you want to leave up to fate? If not, head on over to the Momentum Creative Lab Services Page to browse our services!