Gone are the days when websites would be designed solely for computer screens. People now get their content using all sorts of mobile devices, and pretty soon, the average person would also start doing so via wearable technology like glasses and watches.
As a result, the web design landscape is rapidly changing, and new trends are emerging left and right. In fact, traditional websites, as we know them, may soon become entirely obsolete, thanks to apps that are better designed to deliver relevant content to users—but let’s save that story for another day.
So, where exactly is web design headed? Well, here are some upcoming trends to give you an idea of what the future holds for web designers:
Less Clicking, More Scrolling
As more and more people turn to mobile devices, the idea of clicking becomes more and more obsolete. Smartphones and tablets are designed to be scrolled. It just feels more natural. And clicking tiny links on your mobile device’s relatively smaller display, while not entirely impossible, can get tricky unless you zoom in. This is why mobile versions of websites tend to use some vertical scroll design coupled with fewer but larger clickable areas.
But this trend is not limited to just mobile devices. Desktops and laptops are beginning to follow suit. In fact, more modern operating systems like Windows 8 are purposely designed to work seamlessly with touchscreens to make traditional computers behave more like tablets and smartphones.
Lean Back
Traditional websites typically use a lean-forward approach to delivering content. This means more links, more sections and ultimately, more distractions. This prompts users just to skim through the content of a page and then immediately switch to another, especially if the new page appears to be more attractive.
In contrast, more modern websites adopt a lean back approach to content presentation. It follows a more book-like layout where content is laid out like a long article. This approach works perfectly with vertical-scrolling designs, and unlike with traditional websites, people tend to actually read—and not just skim—when content is laid out this way.
The Missing Fold
For the longest time, the fold has been such a big deal in web design. But that, too, is about to change because, again, nobody ever just views websites on their computers anymore. This means that the fold will constantly be moving depending on the type of device used to access your website. And that’s a good thing, because now, you won’t have to worry about cramming all the important stuff on the upper half of your website. You can instead focus on things that matter like creating a great browsing experience for your users.
From Entire Pages to Modules
The cool thing about adopting a modular approach to web design is that it allows you to divide your pages into smaller sections that seamlessly rearrange themselves depending on the type of device used to view them.
Summing it All Up
The one thing that ties all of these things together is responsiveness. It’s a big thing now, and it is going to get even bigger as more mobile and wearable technologies become available. So, making sure that your designs work great across most, if not all, platforms should be among your top priorities.
Have any other design trends you’d like to share with us? Post them in the comments!
