Website design has come a long way in the past few years. Websites are becoming increasingly responsive, operating across multiple platforms, mobile-first workflow is streamlining content and improving usability and apps are proliferating. Experts believe that 2013 is the year when website design will change beyond all recognition.
We look at seven of the latest trends in the web design world:
1. CONTENT FIRST
Content has become a buzz word and for good reason. It has never been more important for websites to contain information-rich pages that entice visitors, encourage site linking and increase site visibility. High quality, multi-platform content is fundamental to any marketing strategy, helping to build brands, forge connections with visitors and boost revenue.
The Guardian’s website team believes that web designers can stand out by ‘creating content that has meaning and truth at the centre, rather than shallowness and novelty.’ Designers must focus on creating accessible content that reaches users in the most interactive way possible.
2. RESPONSIVE DESIGN
A reaction to the diversity of new and innovative mobile devices flooding the market, responsive web design is on the rise. Responsive web design layouts are designed to work with all forms of digital media, from desktops and laptops to smartphones and tablets, giving users the same website experience, irrespective of the platform they use.
Think of responsive design as a single canvas, which is both fluid and dynamic. The goal is to have a single set of codes which operate perfectly in all environments. If a website is being viewed on a mobile device, its layout must adapt to fit the size of the screen. The width will be reduced, images made smaller and buttons more ergonomic.
3. FIXED HEADER BARS
Fixed header bars are becoming increasingly popular, having been widely adopted by social networking sites. They work well on almost any website. The CSS positioning is fixed, giving a frozen header pane that is practical and pleasing aesthetically. Navigation and general user experience are excellent.
4. CODING LANGUAGE
Steve Jobs never liked Flash, so he’d be delighted to hear that it’s on its way out, being replaced, increasingly, by HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and Canvas. Experience has shown that moving away from Flash makes for a more enriching user experience.
5. LARGE PHOTO BACKGROUNDS
Oversized photography, if done effectively, can give websites a massive marketing edge. Large photographs in the background can capture attention and evoke emotion from visitors and are a great way of conveying a powerful message. It is important to keep file sizes to a minimum to ensure fast load times.
6. SOCIAL MEDIA BADGES
Any website worth its salt should include badges to sites such as Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. Social media is key to a website’s marketing strategy – we live in a world where content is shared rapidly, so designers must make it easy for websites to attract new visitors and retain existing ones.
7. HOMEPAGE FEATURE TOURS
Sliding image presentations and demo videos are becoming increasingly popular on homepages, attracting attention with their rich informational content and drawing visitors further into sites.