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What was trendy in web design in 1996 is very different than what’s trendy now. Many of the design trends we saw as recently as 2013 are now out of vogue. But that’s not because we were tacky and repulsive back then, or because we’re chic and forward-thinking now. It’s because web design has evolved along with technology and our understanding of it. Here's what's trending for 2018, 2019 ,and beyond, plus a quick dose of interesting web design statistics.
While web design trends come and go, websites have come a long way since the dawn of the world wide web. For instance, take a look at the Space Jam website from 1996. It was a big budget website for the time. Now, compare that to the current website for Toy Story. It’s easy to see how far we’ve advanced.
What was trendy in web design in 1996 is very different than what’s trendy now. Many of the design trends we saw as recently as 2013 are now out of vogue.
But that’s not because we were tacky and repulsive back then, or because we’re chic and forward-thinking now. It’s because web design has evolved along with technology and our understanding of it.
The goal of any web designer, from the mid 90s to now, is serving the user. And, as web interfaces advance, we can serve the user in more efficient, more beautiful, and more comprehensive ways.
You browse multiple websites every day of the week, and there are some you like more than others. If you’re not a web designer, you may sometimes find it difficult to express what you love about any given website. But it’s worth thinking about those design elements that separate great websites from mediocre websites.
After all, we all want our own websites to be modern, sleek, informative, practical, and user friendly. When all of those factors are in place, your website becomes one of your best sales tools.
So, with the help of a substantial infographic on web design trends for 2018 and 2019, let’s take a look at the design elements that help elevate great websites.
Web designers are always looking towards the future, and this is what they’re looking at right now.
So, what’s trending for 2018 and 2019 in the world of web design?
According to a recent infographic (you can jump down the page to view the embedded infographic) from Design Advisor, we have a few handfuls of trends that range from broad to specific.
You’ve likely noticed that websites are becoming sleeker, more interactive, and more beautiful. But sometimes it’s hard to qualify exactly how that happens. By separating out these design trends, we can drill down into what makes a modern website something special.
A great article from PSD Center breaks Design Advisor’s data and trends down into 10 categories:
Some of these trends require further explanation to non-designers, but they’re all described within the previously linked PSD Center blog post. The “Hamburger” Menu, for example, isn’t a list of fast food items-- instead, it refers to a menu button that consists of three parallel lines, like you find on many mobile websites. It’s something you’ve seen before.
Feel free to peruse our linked resources, or dig around that PSD Center article, if you’d like some more clarity on those design elements.
What’s more interesting than this specific list of trendy elements, designs, and layouts, however, is the more expansive list of what more web design agencies are actually incorporating into their websites.
This list is comprised of the more tangible elements and styles a user sees on a webpage-- the stuff you can easily picture, even if you’re not a designer.
The trends Design Advisor lists:
Now, that’s not to say you should go out and incorporate all of these “trends” into your website. That’s a recipe for chaos, as any designer will tell you. Rather, these trends give you something to look out for the next time you see a website that catches your eye.
Often when we see a gorgeous website, we’re not immediately sure what we love about it. This list of trends will help you identify what you look for in a pleasing website.
If you’re looking into a new website or a redesign, this list of elements is even more helpful. The next time you’re meeting with a web designer or developer, you’ll be able to put exactly what you want into words.
Many of the “trends” on these lists aren’t emerging fads. Responsive design and a focus on beautiful typography, for example, have been popular for years-- and for good reason.
These trends simply show design elements that seem to resonate with users in the now. And, at the end of the day, a website is for the user. If we only made websites to please ourselves, we wouldn’t sell much of anything at all.
That’s what all of these styles and design elements have in common-- they put a greater focus on delivering what the user wants, while catering to the user in an aesthetically-pleasing manner.
Specific trends come and go, but user experience never goes out of style.
Design Advisor’s infographic also comes with plenty of fun facts and statistics. These stats are fun for anyone with a passing interest in the web, and they’re all reference-sourced (available at the end of the infographic).
We thought we’d share some of the more interesting and enjoyable tidbits from the infographic, broken down into categories for ease of viewing.
General Statistics:
Search Statistics:
Responsive Design Statistics
Site Speed Statistics
There are even more statistics and facts within the infographic itself, but these are the hardest-hitting, at-a-glance stats we found. Even if you just take a quick glance at these numbers, you can seethe value in a beautiful, functional website that really serves the user.
As modern web users, we all have expectations. If a page loads slowly, if a site loads poorly on your mobile device, or if you can’t find the information you’re looking for, you’re going to head to another website. Immediately.
Web designers already know this, of course. But if you’re pursuing a DIY solution for your own website, or are planning on enlisting a designer soon, then the general concepts you pull from these statistics are something you should keep in mind. The user comes first, and approaching a website in any other way usually results in costly mistakes and missed opportunities.
The websites of today look nothing like the ugly-but-creative Geocities and Angelfire websites of yesterday. Modern web design is clean, functional, and pleasing to the eye, and it looks nothing like it did even seven years ago. Web design trends will come and go, and most of them will focus on the user’s needs-- something that hasn’t always happened in the past.
There’s no way to predict what a modern website will look like in another seven to ten years. If we took a guess, we’d likely be wrong. But, as the needs of users, and the methods for delivering content and information change, websites will evolve right along with them.
In ten years, we might still be scrolling through eCommerce sites and watching cat videos on our mobile devices. Or, we might be watching those cat videos through augmented reality devices, and making online purchases without having to look at a dedicated screen. Whatever the case, those interfaces will evolve to be functional and attractive.
Good web designers and developers are adaptable and welcome trends and innovations with open arms. No matter what the future of web design brings, just make sure you have a great designer in your corner.
This infographic was originally posted and created by Design Advisor.
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