Some website trends are a flash in the pan, and won’t stand the test of time. However, brands looking to develop their websites should always stay on top of the latest trends, because there are many that will not only stand the test of time – but could potentially give your website the edge over its competitors.
Here are just 8 of 2016’s best web design trends that could be worth a second look:
- HD images. If they don’t compromise page loading times, HD images and backgrounds could make your site look utterly gorgeous.
- Video, but not as we know it. Brands are increasingly using videos in new ways, incorporating it into headers and backgrounds – which also has the added benefit for users of no slow loading times or buffering waiting for a video to play.
- Natural-looking stock photos. According to Forbes.com, this year web designers are starting to seek out only natural, believable images for websites. Users are sick of cheesy, staged stock photos and their expectations are sky-high when it comes to amazing images online.
- Micro-interactions. Consumers absolutely love a personalised web experience, so it could be worth spending time on those tiny details. Examples include hidden functionality, personalised data and amusing captions on things like sign-up forms.
- Dramatic typography. Instead of filling your website with a clutter of boxes, sidebars and text, take a lesson from print media and use the page to grab attention – a striking image and a bold, dramatic typography with bags of personality will really set your brand apart.
- Hover animation. This clever function works particularly well on retail sites, as it allows visitors to get more information, more quickly. They can hover over an image to access details or an image of a product from a different angle, all in just a second without having to load up a new page. This trend is definitely one that will stick around.
- Choose your own content. This fits in with the larger and more dominant trend of personalised user experience (UX), and it allows users to take more control over what they see and experience when they visit your website. It’s just like choosing a blog article to read from a page of many. Offer two options on your home or landing page (for example, offer a ‘light’ and ‘dark’ side to choose from, or two different products) and let the user take control.
- Scrolling. The beauty of scrolling is that it allows the user to access lots of your website at once, without having to load up separate pages, and the brand can move the user through the story it wants to tell. Scrolling should be smooth, easy and all at the user’s own pace, and there are lots of different ways to do it.
Are there any web design trends you’ve spotted that are not in this list? Please share and let us know!
