Web design is one of the most complex and dynamic areas of an organization today. Because it’s subject to shifts in trends than other marketing media it’s imperative to stay current on web design trends.
A lot changes in twelve months especially when it comes to popularity of design, algorithm updates, technology, and best practices. With the release of every new smartphone, desktop display, and tablet there are significant advances in display technologies enabling web designers to do things they’ve never done before. It wasn’t long ago that web designers and developers were limited to “web-safe” and flat colors, a few select fonts, one-page designs, and boxy layouts. Lately, however, user experience (UX) has been the driving force behind many of these new and innovative web design trends.
Let’s explore some of the more notable web design trends poised to take over in 2019.
1. Vibrant, Saturated Color Schemes
Color is one of the first things our brains perceive making it, arguably, the most powerful visual communication tool available. A study from the University of Winnipeg discovered that “[p]eople make up their minds within 90 seconds of their initial interactions with either people or products. About 62‐90 percent of the assessment is based on colors alone. So, prudent use of colors can contribute not only to differentiating products from competitors, but also to influencing moods and feelings…”
And with modern displays delivering vibrant, saturated color better than ever before choosing the right color becomes more than simply complimenting brand messaging, it can make the difference between engaged viewers and high bounce rates.
Bold color choices help guide users through a site by drawing attention to areas of interest, but these vibrant, saturated color schemes can also help set your site above the rest and stand out from the competition while keeping viewers engaged.
2. Bold Gradients
We couldn’t write a trends article without mentioning gradients. In fact, there’s no better way to enhance a vibrant and saturated color scheme than with a bold and dynamic gradient.
Today’s display technology is masterful at rendering color blending making gradients bolder than ever. But that’s not why gradients are so popular.
Gradients create a subtle visual interest without being too busy. That’s what makes them a valuable tool -they add to the dynamism of a design without overwhelming the message you’re trying to communicate.
More importantly, smart color choices keep gradients from competing with text and other graphic elements. When used skillfully, gradients can help draw viewer’s focus to the most important information or calls to action on your website.
3. Drop Shadows
Drop shadows are not a new concept, in fact, they have been a staple of design for so long they’re more like a cornerstone of good design, rather than a trend. However, with the advancements made in display technology, we’re seeing some exciting variations. Web designers are now using shadows to help create depth and a more dynamic UX. This is a dramatic shift from the flat design trend — a minimalist design approach that emphasizes usability — that has reigned supreme over the last decade.
Incorporating drop shadows creates a surprisingly versatile effect that not only increases the visual appeal of a webpage but also helps UX by providing emphasis to certain areas or elements.
Moreover when you pair drop shadows with vibrant colors and gradients, it gives new life to this design standard.
4. Big, Bold Typography
There’s no doubt that typography is, and always has been, a powerful visual tool that creates personality, evokes emotion, and sets the tone of your site all while conveying vital information. And as websites need to be increasingly creative to capture and sustain traffic typography, fonts play an important role in helping content pop and setting your site apart from the rest.
In 2019, we’ll see an increase with experimentation surrounding design elements like large, expressive, and contrasting fonts that will help create a dynamic visual presence, improve UX, and keep visitors reading your website.
5. Asymmetrical and Broken Grid Layouts
Gone are the days of boxy website layouts and a new era of dynamic and responsive layouts is dawning.
Asymmetrical and broken grid layouts add to the creativity and bold character of a website. These layouts create an easy to read and digestible home page that allows users to quickly navigate your site and find the content they’re looking for regardless of the device.
These layouts are gaining more and more popularity, although, in the past they’ve been referred to as sloppy or distracting. This spike in popularity is most likely because designers have found a way to subtly break the grid pattern by establishing a hierarchy through planned asymmetry all while keeping UX in mind.
Using this broken grid and layering different colors and gradients, with lots of white space, and creative typography creates a sense of depth that can’t be achieved in most grid-based layouts.
Conclusion
There are many factors that influence how a web resource is perceived by its target audience.
If your goal is to have a great looking website with a high volume of conversions, its design will play a significant role. This applies not only to visual appearance, but ease of use. UX has been one of the biggest factors influencing design over the past few years.
2019 has just begun and who knows what the next twelve months have in store. What changes will we see this year in web design?
