As it's New Year’s Eve, we thought we’d end the year with a little gift from us to you… Nope, it’s not a bottle of champagne and a big party; it’s the low-down on the top 3 web design trends for 2020. Don’t say we never give you anything. As we enter 2020, what will certainly be an exponentially digitalised decade, the importance of an up-to-date and stylish website is paramount.
In this age of pop-up ads, cookies and push notifications, web design trends of 2020 are going to be geared towards clarity of use and simplicity. Uncluttered websites that are rich in content and visuals will dominate the field of web design, and implemented correctly, will keep your website looking fresh, modern and professional. As a digital marketing agency, we’ve got our ear to the ground when it comes to web design… read on for our top tips on how to shape your website as we enter the new decade.
1. Plenty of White Space
Whitespace - or negative space - refers to blank areas in between the design elements of a website. (While called white space, it doesn’t necessarily have to be white, just devoid of design elements).
It’s often said that simplicity is the pinnacle of sophistication, and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to web design. The more white space your landing pages have, the more stripped-back and minimalist it will appear; thus, giving it a spacious, well-balanced and quality feel. While minimalistic, the ensuing look is far from empty, the remaining visuals are large, bold, and colourful, only emphasised by its white (negative) frame.
In addition to the crisp and streamlined aesthetic that whitespace offers, it also increases the legibility of other important design elements such as important call-to-actions, distinct information and even the products themselves. Think about Apple’s website – less is more when it comes to showcasing their products. While this is not necessarily a new design trend, the prominence of white space will reign strong as we enter 2020 and people crave straight-to-the-point simplicity.
2. Oversized Type and Images
Going hand in hand with whitespace as a design feature is oversized type and imagery. Enlarged elements such as these – this can be just about anything from big typography to full-screen images and videos - communicate clearly what the website is all about right from the outset. Not to mention, these oversized elements against a blank background are incredibly eye-catching and look great on any screen size (especially important in the age of mobile web searches).
As part of this style, more and more websites are opting for a full screen image or video on their first fold, paired with large typography overlaying it. This layout leaves an incredibly impactful first impression when a user first lands on your website, and serves to deliver your message coherently and efficiently (less is more!). 2020 is a big year to make bold statements that not only set you apart from the crowd, but are visually explicit.
3. Thumb Friendly Navigation
As a report from Statista has recently found, over 63% of global search queries now come from mobile devices. This means that desktop sites have lost their lions share and mobile friendly sites have taken prominence. The Mobile First Index recently introduced by Google is a testament to the important of ensuring your site is designed and optimised for mobile. Of course, in 2020, this means that your web design should be focused on creating sites that are ‘thumb-friendly’.
When we say thumb-friendly, we’re talking about how most of us hold and use our mobile devices. More often than not, you’ve got fingers wrapped around the back of the device, and your thumb is free to navigate around the screen. This is why thumb-friendly navigation is important. Making sure things like the navigation bar, the call to actions and the contact buttons are within reach of the thumb will make your site much easier to use on mobile, and significantly improve your UX (especially considering the frightening advancements in mobile screen size)! Below is a diagram which shows the thumb-friendly areas of a mobile screen….
Give Yourself a 10/10 Website for 2020...
Hopefully you’ve read this and realised the myriad of ways your website will benefit from a little facelift, preventing it from becoming a relic of bygone internet days. Realising your website needs updating every now and then is one thing, putting into action is another. Fortunately, here at Christian Michaels we are on hand with a fantastic team of web designers to keep your website, and therefore you brand, on trend and relevant. Don’t hesitate to give us a call for a free consultation about how we can modify and improve your website's design as we move into 2020.
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