Technology tends to evolve quickly as people are constantly looking for devices with newer features and better specifications. The same can be said for web design, with users taking the same view towards the sites that they visit.
The fact is that consumers always want to be able to do more in a shorter space of time. The world of web design changes quickly as a result with new trends beginning and older techniques falling from grace. In a previous blog we went over up-and-coming website design trends; now, here are five things that we expect to disappear this year.
1) Desktop only sites
Mobile browsing has achieved a huge market share in a very short space of time. Fewer people use desktops than ever before and it is now more likely that a website will be viewed from a device such as a smartphone or a tablet. As a result responsive web design is becoming more important than ever to give the user a positive experience. Sites designed solely for desktops will soon be a thing of the past.
2) Complexity
Over the last few years, websites have been becoming simpler and cleaner. This trend could have been caused by any number of factors, but one of the most likely causes is the fact that simple designs are the most seamless in terms of moving between devices. Alongside this, users tend to favour minimalist sites that are easy to navigate. The rise of WordPress, a system that makes it easier to design and adapt websites, has coincided with this trend too.
3) Multiple pages
In the past, even the most basic sites would have a number of pages including those for specific services. They were designed to offer more information and provide SEO benefits. However, there has been a trend recently to reduce the number of pages. It is now common to see designs with only two or three pages and simple navigation bars. Talented designers can create a page that contains a wealth of information, but make it look like different pages without the user needing to click anywhere.
4) Stock photos
Programs to customise and edit pictures have advanced a great deal. Alongside this so has the quality of cameras, even those on smartphones. The result is that stock photos could soon become a thing of the past. Consumers want to see fresh, original pictures rather than the same old images. Videos are also becoming more popular because they are engaging and visually rewarding.
5) Outdated typography
For many years website designers stuck to a small number of fonts even though they had a wealth of options at their fingertips. They have now changed tactic though with the most savvy designers looking to use typography that rewards the user and captures their attention. The old, overused fonts will be replaced by a myriad of new choices.