Web Design Trends in 2015
Whether it is a new development method or design trend, web design continues to evolve each year. Just as we saw in 2014, user experience will be the primary focus with designers and creatives embracing design trends that allow for a seamless interactive experience. Users have also started to prefer scrolling rather than clicking between pages over the last few years, which has led to an increase in one page web designs. So, let’s take a closer look at six web design trends that will only continue to increase in 2015:
Responsive
By now, I would hope everyone has hopped on the responsive band wagon. But just in case you the missed the memo, responsive sites are now an expectation and not the exception. While most sites have already been adapted for tablet and mobile users, responsive design will only continue to expand with the introduction of smart watches in 2015. It is critical to provide a seamless user experience across all available media channels to ensure that you do not miss any opportunities to connect with your target audience.
Storyscaping
If you haven't read ``Storyscaping: Stop Creating Ads, Start Creating Worlds`` by Gaston Legorburu and Darren McCollWhile at SapientNitro, you may be missing the mark when it comes to really creating a lasting impression with your audience. While shareable content is always critical to keep your website traffic high, building a world around your brand and through your content is what creates a memorable, immersive experience for your audience.
Hidden Menus
Rather than crowding the header area with several navigation items, many designers are leaning towards a hidden menu. With the surge of responsive design, many users are growing accustomed to seeing an icon on mobile and tablet devices to indicate the menu. When the visitor is ready to move to another page, the hidden menu will only become visible if the user clicks the appropriate icon.
Minimalism
There is an idea in design that by reducing a design to only the most essential elements, minimalism is achieved. In 2015, we will see this more as sites look for ways to increase loading speeds by removing non-essential design elements. Some designers are even taking this a step further by removing elements such as a full-width background image or video (which was a big trend in the 2014) to create a sharp contrast between their straightforward brand and the clouded messages of competitors.
Authentic Images
Authenticity is the name of the game this year, whether it comes from the conversational tone of your content to the use of never before seen imagery. Stock photography is not going anywhere, but for 2015, stock imagery will continue taking a back seat to custom professional photography to create a unique experience for site visitors.
Dramatic Type
For most designers, typography has always been a very important element in web design. However, in 2015, web typography is getting bigger and bigger. Typography is used to enhance the user's experience by creating a natural visual hierarchy, ensuring that visitors understand the order in which information should be read. The bigger typography grabs the user's attention first and encourages them to read the largest type on the page first. Also, Type kits (such as Google Fonts) are becoming more affordable and will allow designers more freedom while working within a smaller budget to create memorable experiences.
So tell me — What web design trends do you think we will see in 2015?
