Website is the face of any business. No matter what your product is, a well-designed website will definitely grip the user interest. There is nothing called the perfect web design as that has different connotations to different users. However, what often matters is the look, the usability and the product in a single combo pack. Every small thing matters like design, color scheme, typeface, white-space usage, logo, etc. and leaves a lasting imprint on the minds of the user. The pace of technological change has amazed most designers and there is no looking back now. If you want your brand to remain in business it has to be sensitive to the emerging nuances of the technical world.
The dynamism has become the new norm as there is no room for being static even in web design which has to continually evolve itself. Remember, your website apart from showcasing your products is also a reflection of the brand story and the value it creates. You can no longer rest your case on mundane content but have to involve the new-age software like the slideshow maker, the intro maker, the logo creator, etc. for giving your users a truly out of the world experience-something which they will love to come back to.
The web-space has no place or acceptance for phased out technologies and designs. You cannot choose to miss the wagon. Innovate or perish as your audience will not hesitate to penalize you and switch loyalties. 2019 is the year of the people who are stubborn enough to stay put even if that means evolving at the speed of thought.
Here is a list of trends which will keep you going in 2019.
- Digital Typography: Typography is basic to the design process and is an essential skill for every designer. However, the only change it has undergone is its shift from print to the online mode which is indeed a huge one. There are many things which factor in when you look at digital mode like licensing, fonts especially with the advent of variable fonts the whole game-plan goes for a huge flip. There is so much to handle and as many options to consider. It is all your objectivity and choice which will decide the level of success which will be achieved. There are many choices which are available and you have to pick the right set of softwares to stay ahead of the competition. Tools like logo-creator, intro-maker, slides-show maker, etc. have gained edge recently as they promise to take the whole experience to a new level.
- Software Skills: The best way to know the latest skills which are ruling the design space is to screen the designer forums or the latest job postings. Both are the most updated platforms to inform you about the latest buzz in the world of design. You may have a sound footing in terms of the knowledge about the fundamentals of design, but the pace at which things are changing shape is clearly telling you to imbibe the upcoming trends, upskill yourself with the latest skills and then go hunting. The rules are savage, either you eat or you are eaten. That’s how it is in the jungle and this is the design jungle, where again only the Simba will rule-the digital Simba who is young, ferocious and has a keen knowledge of the latest softwares like the Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc. Of course, you cannot know everything so you may try your hands in the areas which actually interest you like Blender if you enjoy 3D modeling, or After Effects, if you have an inclination towards motion graphics, etc.
- Images: Needless to quote, editing of images has far crossed the lines of design studios and has entered the galleries of everyday lives of millions across the world. Everyone has turned a mini- designer and is trying their best hand to edit their images and take it to social media, etc. People who may or may not like you in person but do care to drop a like against your image editing skills. But designers have to largely be well acquainted with tools like Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, etc. as their area of expertise is much broad and technical. They are often required to perform simple cleanup or make full-scale manipulation of the images to enhance its appeal and appearance. Image editing skills hold huge promise and are best learned during the course of your jobs. You may alternately consider taking some online course, but nothing works unless you do, so it is the practice which will make you win ultimately and not the knowledge.
- Photography: Yes, you read it right. Photography forms a vital skill which will continue to hold a lot of significance in the future. In this age of automation where you are used to smartphones and the auto-adjusts, there is a unique charm to be original. As a designer, you cannot go by the diktats of the camera. This is your game and you have to set the rules and not let the cameras take the decision chair. So, the bottom line is that you need to master the art of photography and should be able to take and transform images into complete stories. It is highly imperative that you know the power and significance of all the details so you know where to play the trick to gain a maximum edge.
- UX Design: As automation makes a big leap forward so is the user experience. Data has emerged as the new focal point and everything as a designer you create has to be done keeping it in mind. The role of the UX designer is to turn every moment the user spends on the website into a lifetime experience. Every little part of the design will lead to that outcome and thus you have to understand the basics of UX design to be able to come up with workable options. As a user, it is the whole experience that matters so every aspect needs clarity of thought and vision. UX design is highly different from simple web design or graphic design. It is far more intricate and deep but knowledge of the same helps you better fit in the role as a designer.
Along with these, knowledge about coding and the changing technological trends is helpful for the designer to make more appropriate design decisions.
Now, that you know what skills to master, it will also be interesting to note what exactly the future of web design will look like. Here are a few trends to note:
- Design will Meet Data: Going forward the most important underpinning of the designing work will revolve around bringing it in sync with the growing needs of data. This means that a designer will have to not just design for the user experience but will have to consider leveraging the data to make the whole experience more personalized.
- Exceptional and Conversational Interfaces: Ironically, as we move forward, you will not be faced with many technical hurdles but ones coming from humans as the web makes the huge cultural shift and embraces conversational interfaces. This is typically the future of design but definitely is faced with many challenges like mental models, language, and many other cues of inclusive designing. Conversational interfaces will fundamentally change the rules of web design.
- Animation: Yes, animations will make a huge comeback in a more sophisticated and subtle manner. There will be an increased demand for skilled workers as we brace for the digital age. Tools like logo design, slideshow maker, etc. will greatly substantiate such animations.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality: Both AR and VR have made their presence felt across a range of industries like education, health, tourism, retail, security, etc. The huge acceptance by the audience in addition to affordability and faster internet speed has led to their massive success. It has been predicted that the overall market for these technologies will reach $209 billion in the next 3-4 years. VR will continue to challenge your imagination by its ultra-smooth designing capabilities extrapolated to the third dimension hence lending it the much-needed precision.
Conclusion
Web designing is all set to take up a different course with the advent of new realities and breakthrough innovations. Skills like digital typography, photography, editing of images, UX designing, will continue to dominate the ball-game. The future of design lies in the data so everything has to center around it. Also, you cannot afford to miss the charm of the new-age technologies like the AR/VR, conversational interfaces, variable fonts, etc. which hold great promise for the future. Remember, you are walking on the edge and have to balance out both function and appeal as both are essential to great user experience. Your design has to have proper use of whitespace with no clutter. Future belongs to those who shape it and not wait for it to happen. Web designs will continue to evolve, yet like in every game the ground rules remain the same, the basics of design will never go obsolete.
