Web design is always moving with the times and 2020 will be another year in which we will see new trends being used. Long gone are the days of static information in predictable formats. Today you can really express and define your corporate personality through creative digital design. This is not to say that businesses have more personality now than they did in the past. It’s simply all down to ever-advancing technology allowing us to better express ourselves.
Web design being our core business, WECREATE is always on top of the newest trends. We also know that not all trends will translate into success for every business so we are here to help you see the forest for the trees when it comes to selecting what is right for you.
Have a look at the latest web design trends below. If you need help to understand what will work for your business (I.e. what enhances your image, builds relationships and increases conversion rates), do call us!
https://dribbble.com/anitagutierrez
Text
1. Text Only
We see increasingly that websites strip right back to text only in their hero area (the main banner on the landing page that claims your attention). This focus on words and typography (and often colour) can be very striking. There is nothing to distract to visitor from your message, the right typography does all the work. Check The New York Times Food Festival to see what we mean.
https://dribbble.com/quanht
Colour
2. Vintage
Websites that want to communicate a feeling of nostalgia are implementing vintage elements onto their website. Where going totally vintage was the trend for a while, adopting certain vintage elements such as colour, typography, or image into an otherwise modern aesthetic is the new way of making a nostalgic reference without completely travelling back in time.
3. Futuristic
The continuing trend of duotone and isometric web design is the catalyst for using futuristic colours like purple, blues and hot pink. Vibrant saturated colours, as well as glow-in-the-dark effects in combination with darker more muted shades, can make a webpage pop. We will see ever more daring experiments with these futuristic effects this year.
4. Dark Mode
Dark mode web designs are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. They appear ultra modern, are easy on the eye (reduce eye strain) and dark backgrounds make design elements in contrasting colours stand out more and thus easy to read. Coincidentally the dark mode trend also fits in perfectly with the above-mentioned trend of using futuristic colours.
5. Black and White
In 2020 we will see more and more website experimenting with simply sticking to black and white and using no colour at all. This results in a clean, modern and crisp look and feel in which layout, graphics and typography demand attention to detail to bring the site to life.
https://dribbble.com/broklinonjei
Typography
6. Dramatic Font Sizes
Larger than life font sizes that can be read from across the room are popular in 2020. Some companies use these extra-large font sizes to communicate their name, claiming half of the web page and even bleeding through the outer grid lines. Others use an oversized font on a text only screen for very clear navigation. The bigger the better is a trend we already noticed in 2019 and for now, it is here to stay.
7. Outlined Typography
Being typographically distinctive is a way to stand out from the crowd. We will see more use of outlined typography used on websites for this reason. A large outlined font can be used in combination with an animation, filling the outline as you scroll. Who says typography is boring?
8. Break the Rules
When it comes to typography, using odd (line) spacing, odd breaks, odd font sizes, twisted or flipped words as art elements definitely creates interesting effects and adds playfulness. Anything and everything goes in 2020 but there is one ground rule to hold on to at all times: it must remain readable.
https://dribbble.com/mary_borysova
Illustrations
9. Animated Illustrations
Using illustrations was already a trend but it’s gaining more traction. Perhaps its because Illustrations can be designed to match your brand personality perfectly and they look and feel authentic. They can help to tell a story or enhance navigation. Illustrations don’t have to be static, they can also be animated or used in combination with photographic material. Most trending of all types of animation this year is liquid animation, creating water-like movements.
Layers
10. Overlapping Elements
Overlapping elements are hot. Layers, shadows and floating elements create depth to a 2D layout without having to use 3D technology. Layering can be applied to text, graphics and photos. It follows the overall 2020-trend theme ‘anything goes’ – as long as it has a good flow and your message is clear.
https://dribbble.com/AleksandraAhn
Navigation
11. Ultra Minimalist Navigation
Web design is increasingly more simplistic enabling easier navigation. Video, voice and animation are used as substitutes for descriptive text. This ultra minimalist navigation strengthens the usability of a website. The less time a visitor has to search for things, the more time he/she spends actually focusing on content, moving around instead of wondering how to get to the information they are looking for.
With less text on the page, imagery is getting a lot of attention, as it becomes the main focus of the eye. Because of this, it’s important to spend extra attention in selecting or creating the right images for your brand. The right visuals can say it all without words.
WECREATE can assist you in incorporating these trends to your webpage, contact us and observe the difference.
