The year of 2020 made many industries realize the power and importance of a digital presence. Companies had to scramble to reach their customers in new ways.
This dramatic change in consumption, advertising, and communication will leave lasting impacts on the world of marketing. Instead of shrugging off the internet when things go back to normal, we believe that webpages, blogs, and social media will have an ever-increasing influence on consumers and audiences.
To attract new customers, satisfy existing audiences, and keep your company at the forefront of your industry in the year of 2021, your website should consider these 5 web design trends:
1. Retro Fonts and Themes
You’ve probably heard the terms “retro” and “vintage” when people describe the style of things like clothing or furniture. But did you know it applies to web design too?
Retro fonts like round, bubbly 70’s lettering or distressed, bold movie poster typefaces have been successful when used properly on a webpage. Usually, these retro fonts are changed slightly, where they have an added artistic interpretation that appeals to both nostalgia and modern design.
When looking to make a bold, trendy impact on your webpage, scrap the Helvetica title and explore some retro-futurism fonts.
2. Parallax and Horizontal Scroll
Parallax scroll animations, or small movements on your webpage triggered by scrolling, were a popular trend in 2020. Now that the internet is saturated with video, a bit of movement on your page can do wonders to capture your audience’s attention!
Not only will the classic fade-ins and slide-downs of text blocks and photos continue to appear in 2021, we also expect to see more creative options for parallax scroll animations to emerge for web designs.
When exploring the possibilities of responsive animation, be careful not to distract your users from your content. Too many moving elements at once or a bouncing text block can be frustrating for users to read and interact with your page.
In the early days of web design, the horizontal scroll was a design faux pas. Previously, nobody wanted to drag a webpage back
However, the horizontal scroll has made very positive impacts on user experiences this past year, and this can be largely attributed to the increase in mobile users.
Cell phones have made an enormous impact on the internet, and now more people access the internet via mobile devices than ever before. This means that successful webpages must be responsive to a variety of devices in 2021, and web design tricks like horizontal scrolling will certainly be your friend.
Last year, the horizonal scroll was frequently implemented in photo galleries. Users can quickly and leisurely flip through a series of photos on a single web page or Instagram profile without forever scrolling down the page or loading a multitude of new pages.
A successful horizontal scroll features very clear visual scrolling cues, such as arrows or dots. A user should know immediately that there is an interactive element to your gallery, and they should be able to scroll at their own pace.
3. 3D Assets
With the power and resolution of screens ever rising, graphics, videos, and animation have shifted and will continue to shift from 2D to 3D. Now that video and other complex media is so prevalent online, simple shape graphics don’t leave as much of an impact.
Three dimensional photos, graphics, and design will make your website stand out in 2021. Even design elements as simple as drop shadows and gradients will make a difference in your layout. This website page featuring a keyboard and app product uses 3D assets in an engaging, creative way.
Layering your website assets can also give a three-dimensional appeal without too much complexity. Adding a photo or texture as the background behind your text block with a drop shadow will create a 3D effect that engages your audience.
4. Multimedia
Speaking of moving elements and video, incorporating a variety of different media into your website will help propel it into 2021. A majority of the most successful websites feature a combination of text, photos, videos, and animations.
Video backgrounds, animations, and photos are not as powerful separately as when they are used together. However, it’s important to keep your website accessible to all.
When adding media elements to your site, make sure to include alt text for images and captions for videos. Avoid auto-play videos and instead insert a clear play button that allows the user to control the content. Again, website navigation and a comfortable user experience are both a top priority!
5. Muted Colors and White Space
This is the last design trend that aids in user comfort. In 2021, avoid using harsh, saturated colors on your website and opt for a more muted, cohesive color palette.
This is not to say that your brand cannot have bright, bold colors. If your brand is very vibrant, incorporate those colors selectively in your website design, and ensure that there is plenty of white or negative space to balance out the brightness of your assets.
Muted colors are easier on the eyes for people who look at screens all day. Personalized experiences like dark and light mode will also be more kind to frequent internet users.
Grain and textures are a way to give your website personality without adding in harsh colors to your design. Adding a subtle pattern in a background or a fuzzy texture in your visuals can appeal to users, thus making them more likely to stay on your site.
Explore muted color palettes, try a free color generator.
Ready to Make a Digital Impact with Great Web Design?
Here at Strategy, our team of web design experts is here to assist you. Our design and development teams can help you plan, create, and execute the perfect website for your brand, as well as the optimal user experience for your audiences. We will custom tailor your website features to your industry and business, so that you can have everything you need to be successful online.
Connect with us today to bring your business online and make a strong digital impact this year!
