Web design trends and online user expectations are always changing. The website features that wowed users yesterday soon become commonplace. And as they lose their ability to hold visitors' attention, businesses have to find new ways to gain an edge over their competitors.
Even if a business hates change, it still must choose between death and evolution. Because its customers visit other websites and soon come to expect the company to implement the changes they see on those platforms. If the business refuses to advance, people soon forget about it as they move with the times.
In this fast-paced digital era, it is easy for businesses to get left behind. Companies that are fast to adopt new technology get the most from them. In this article, we highlight the top web design trends of 2021. We shine the spotlight on the web design features you should be looking at if you plan on retaining the cutting edge in your specific marketplace.
1. Using dark mode
The dark mode is already a popular trend. Sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have made this an option for users. But in 2021 we expect more wholesale rollouts of the dark theme in websites. The popularity of this feature lies in its practicality. A dark theme makes other design elements prominent. It does not strain the eyes even in low light conditions. And it conserves the device battery power.
2. Unusual colors and color combos
Three colors trends will dominate 2021 website designs. Bold, bright, and saturated colors combined with a minimalist design will be a fixture as companies move from the soft neutrals of previous years. Glowing shades and intense colors that stand out will also dominate. We also expect unusual color combos like dark charcoals alongside exploding violets. Third, websites will deploy more evocative colors that influence people's moods as there will be a more defined movement toward color psychology.
3. Using 3D elements
3D is an inspiring trend that has excited users over the years. In the past, it was used mainly for games. But in 2021, as the technology becomes more lightweight, we expect to see 3D elements in everyday websites. The allure of this feature is it gives a depth of realism to web images. Businesses can deploy 3D to create more immersive UX. But the feature will more valuable for e-commerce sites as they do it to present more realistic versions of their products.
4. Asymmetric layouts
Website layouts have traditionally been based on a grid structure because this offered organization. Future websites will be more adventurous in the way content is arranged. More asymmetric designs will be used as brands seek to break with tradition and explore more exciting options. But, these bold new websites will still retain their appeal because they will combine asymmetry with balance in a way that allows the site to remain functional.
5. Voice activated-interface
As video has become the dominant media form for the internet, voice is becoming the future of search. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) allow the boundaries between human and technology to become ever blurrier. And users are more likely to ask Google a question than type their search into a box. This trend is moving to website design in the form of voice-activated interfaces. The trend is still in its infancy and dominated by voice Chatbots, virtual assistants, and voice search. But there is a steady march toward more comprehensive use of voice activation across all aspects of future websites.
6. Combining photography with graphics
In websites of the past, there were photographs and there were graphics, and each media stood on its own. But a major trend of 2021 is to collapse the boundaries of these decidedly different media. The beauty of a great photograph will be enhanced by importing spectacular graphics into it. This extends the realm of what is possible and lets designers add dimensions to a photograph that do not exist in the real world. This offers tools for adding a depth of personality to a website.
7. Website load time
In 2021 website load time will become even more important. Speed has always been a critical factor in SEO and UX but its role is about to become even more crucial. Ultra-fast loading times will be the norm and websites will strive to further shrink the threshold for fast load times. Currently, a website load time of less than three seconds is considered adequate. But as more sites achieve this level of speed, it will become the new normal and even shorter load times will become the standard.
8. Smart content loading and lazy loading
In the past, web pages downloaded all the content on a page the moment visitors arrived on the site. This design used up resources and diminished user experience. Smart websites no longer do this; they load only the content that is visible to users and load more content as users scroll down the page. This feature is very visible on social media feeds, where users' pages only show content within the frame of the device screen. But, we expect to see this design trend to become more mainstream in websites in 2021.
There you have it, top web design trends for 2021 that you can use to enhance your website and gain more hits.
