Web Design Trends To Look Out For in 2020
The author C.S. Lewis is often quoted saying ‘Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes- but when we look back, everything is different?’. Well, this is the same with web design. The industry continues to grow and change every day and although the change isn’t always noticeable at the time, it never stops. Those who fail to adapt to these changes are quickly left behind. So, the million-dollar question for web designers is, what’s next…?
We’ve rounded up the latest visual web design trends that are set to shape the internet in 2020 and beyond.
Digital Illustrations
Digital Illustrations have become a popular feature in visual design. Relevant illustrations can make web design stand out from the crowd and establish an emotional connection with visitors. The benefit of digital illustrations is that they are a versatile tool. Designers can use illustrations for various purposes; for hero images, for feature descriptions or as subtle icons in navigation bars. The most popular digital illustrations in web design are flat hand-drawn illustrations and three-dimensional illustrations. Hand-drawn illustrations are popular as they give an impression of craftsmanship and hand-made design. With these kinds of designs, it is easy to see the designer’s personal style through their work. Three-dimensional illustrations are a newer trend in web design. They more realistic and blur the boundary between the digital and physical worlds.
Ultra-Minimalism
Simplicity and minimalism will remain an important aesthetic in web design in 2020. Minimalist designs can make your website appear simple and sophisticated. An effective minimal design is about having only a few elements on the page and using negative space to bring the viewers’ attention to those elements. The key to successful minimal design is to not ‘overdo’ it, keeping it clean and bare. Recently we have seen minimalist style evolve into what designers are calling ‘ultra-minimalism’. In ultra-minimalist design, each pixel must be carefully arranged to produce the desired result and negative space must be understood and applied consistently.
Hero Video Headers
High-speed connections have made it easier for web designers to turn home pages into an engaging experience. During 2019 we have seen more and more websites using short video clips in the hero section of their home page. Video features well on a website because it makes the browsing experience more live and dynamic. It engages users and encourages them to spend more time on the site.
Serifs on Screen
You may have heard the rule that serif fonts are for print and sans serifs are for screen. But you have probably also heard that you shouldn’t give in to conventions and give things a little shaking up. Well, that is just what designers are doing. While sans serif, with its clean readability, is still the go-to for longer sections of text, web designers are turning towards bold serif fonts for headers and callouts. When you think about it, it makes sense. Serif fonts were designed to be decorative, making them perfect for emphasis.
Organic Shapes
Web pages are typically set up for systematic grids to ensure order among elements. Geometric shapes such as squares and triangles have always been the most widely used shapes in web design as they create balance and order. However, today designers are using more natural shapes and smooth lines in their creations. Organic shapes are naturally imperfect and asymmetrical and can provide depth in a website that can make the page elements stand out. The goal with organic shape design is to capture the spontaneity of man-made incidents such as a splatter, making the website appear human and alive through illusions of movement.
Gradients
Designers have started to experiment with different visual styles and one particular style that has found itself in the spotlight is gradients. During 2018 and 2019, gradients started to replace minimalist flat colours. Gradients help to add depth in a flat layout and make them more visually appealing. However, the gradients used today are a little different from those used by designers in previous years. A new generation of gradients have emerged in web design and are relatively simple, using a clear light source and colours that are more similar to one and other.
We really can’t overstate the importance of staying ahead in the web design industry. By incorporating some of the trends outlined in this blog into your new website, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of staying ahead. If you want to know more about how Vital Agency can help develop your new website in 2020, give us a call on 0333 241 9303.