Guest post by Lauren Adley
Since the early 1990s and the inception of web design as an industry, there have been many changes in the way we build websites. From basic textual content to the table-based layout which allowed us to shape the display of highly simple web content, to the internet revolution and fast-speed connections that enabled more complex content and enhanced user experience, one could argue that web design has gone through a major shift. In modern days, web design changes so fast it’s necessary to constantly keep track of upcoming trends. The clients seek original solutions, enhanced performance and usability as well as improvements in overall aesthetics.
To keep you up to date with all the latest web design trends, here are some of the hottest ones you should keep under a close watch.
Performance requirements
How well a website performs is of massive influence on the overall company revenue, as well as on SERP performance. Clients expect page load times that are acceptable for their target audience, however, according to latest research – an average visitor expects the page to load in 2 seconds or less. This puts a lot of stress on the design team because it’s not easy to develop a website that will keep loading fast and keep a clean functionality, provide room for additional content, and run all of the existing content without any issues. Nevertheless, it appears that if you wish to keep running your business successfully it’s important to memorize that 2019 is about fast load times.
Minimalism
Hick’s Law dictates that the more options you give to a person, the longer it would take to make a choice. Revamping of “less is more” really took a swing and clearly aims to become the industry standard. Minimalism, however, doesn’t mean just cutting down the options, it means providing the most with the least objects and complications. Why creating a complex MENU which you have to lay out in less obvious places? The research shows that more than 88 percent of websites use standard horizontal navigation bars at the top of the page. Choosing a different location for your MENU can confuse, even aggravate the user.
Outsourcing is on the rise
As the online market grows, the demand for creative and effective web designers scales higher exponentially. The high demand forces agencies to outsource their projects to freelancers and other agencies in order to meet the deadlines. Current global outsourcing market size includes a playfield worth more than $86 billion, which means there’s work to go around for a long time. You can reach out to people that could deal with more mundane tasks while you focus your efforts on more pressing issues. Content managers often hire web content and dissertation writing service in order to maximize their effectiveness. There are also affordable proofreading services which can look through content before start working on typefaces.
Soft tones and bright colors
The visual component of every website plays a crucial role when it comes to keeping the people interested and online for more than just a few seconds. According to research, more than 90 percent of visitors claim that the number one deciding factor on whether they will stay or leave the page is the color choice and overall aesthetics.
Recently conducted analysis of most popular color palettes for 2019 shows that bright colors and soft tones are the hype of the season. Therefore, in order to make yourself trendy and in line with the market requirements one should consider variances of gray, pink, blue, and red. However, make sure the color palette you go with matches the identity of your client. In case of a startup, it’s much easier to run with the trend and create a visual identity from scratch.
CSS3 Animation
Animations are a great way to keep the visitors engaged or inform them in a more unconventional manner. In 2018, Forbes magazine accurately predicted that animations are going to be a regular component, due to increasing demands for the versatility of available web content. Since CSS3 doesn’t require JavaScript or Flash in order to animate HTML objects, it places less stress on website performance. It’s fair to say that 2019 will be the year when major developments in CSS3 application are going to occur, simply because it’s relatively uncharted territory and we can hope to see different purposes and designs of animated objects.
Mobile friendly
Statistics show that currently, more than 63 percent of mobile users browse the internet through their phones. As mobile internet is on a constant rise, it’s only natural to mention it as a trend that should absolutely not be misplaced. Building responsive websites should go without saying, anyone who dismisses the need for fluent mobile use is throwing away a large portion of the market share.
Web design is an unforgivingly competitive industry, it’s easy to lose your touch with the market and fall from the grace of your clients. We hope these small pieces of advice will help you build up your professional arsenal for the upcoming season and allow you to scale your business. Nevertheless, remember that following trends can get you only so far, it’s your creativity and original approach that really pushes you forward, so don’t be afraid to set up some trends of your own.
About the Author: Lauren Adley is a writer and editor at Edu Birdie, Essay On Time and Academized Reviews. She is dedicated to her family, work and friends. She is keen on reading, playing the guitar and traveling. She is interested in educational, marketing and blogging issues.
Image sources:
Img 1: www.pexels.com/photo/laptop-macbook-pro-office-computer-18104/
Img 2: www.pexels.com/photo/customers-users-color-wheel-6231/
