Web design features and functionality that meets the needs of your business operations and audience
In our last blog, we talked about some of the basic web design trends of 2017. We discussed the User Experience (UX), video content, colors, layouts, and typography. If you missed it, check it out here !
To complete our top ten list, we want to discuss some lesser-known design styles and cover some of the ways that enhanced analytics are impacting the industry as a whole.
10 Web Design Trends and Tips for 2017
6. Tactile Design
Trend: This trend has been around for a while, but it is still drawing a lot of attention from designers. Tactile design tries to bring the real world to the digital world by using images that present textures and objects that look good enough to touch.
Tip: Stock photos have lost their favor in the web design world. The more original your photos are, the better. Keep in mind that you can sprinkle in tactile details with other elements – for example using a navigation bar that looks like ripped cardboard, or setting animation against a chalkboard backdrop.
7. Material Design
Trend: Originally started by Google, material design has spread all over the internet due to its simplicity and navigational ease. It’s the opposite of tactile design, offering solid, bold colors and easy-to-understand icons in a flat format.
Tip: This design style works especially well with card-style layouts. Although it may seem minimalistic, it’s important to remember that negative space can be very powerful. To keep your material design interesting and unique, make sure that you use custom icons and appealing color palettes.
8. Scrolling
Trend: Many companies are converting their sites to one, long-scrolling page. As more and more users search for content on mobile devices, researchers are finding that people are more likely to scroll than click – thanks in part to seemingly never-ending websites like Twitter and Facebook.
Tip: This is a very new, forward-thinking concept, and your website may not even work with this kind of layout. Many people are still adverse to scrolling, especially on personal computers. But if your marketing to Millennials and Gen Z, you should consider it - as they are all about mobile.
9. Mobile-First
Trend: There’s no doubt that mobile usage is going to continue to increase for the foreseeable future. You may not want to adopt a site that features one long page, but you do need to prioritize how your site will look and work for mobile users.
Tip: While many website templates take responsive design into account, some don’t. If you are using a template for your site, make sure that you understand its limitations when it comes to mobile design. It may be worth paying a little extra to have a custom website designed by a professional firm so that you are certain of your site's responsiveness.
10. Performance
Trend: Performance metrics and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) are impacting web design in an enormous way. Companies can see what works with their audience – and what doesn't – thanks to analytics tools that drill down to data regarding customer behavior.
Tip: There are plenty of free tools out there, but be careful! Not all analytics tools are created equal; some were developed to be misleading. If you don’t have a certified SEO expert in-house, it’s a good idea to hire an outside firm to track this key information for you.
Not every trend from 2017 is going to work for you and your messaging. Choose a feature that makes sense with your products, services, and audience. And even though we listed mobile-first design lower on our list, make it your priority if your site currently has no responsiveness.
If you think your site needs a little refresh of its own, feel free to reach out to Conveyance. Our designers and SEO experts will build a site that meets the needs of your business operations and audience.
It’s OK to start small; you’ll quickly see how much users appreciate a current, well-planned website design. Give Conveyance a call today!
Conveyance Marketing Group is a team of bright, innovative and talented veteran marketers dedicated to big ideas, fresh insights and measurable results. We pride ourselves on taking challenging marketing issues and turning them into opportunities for our clients, on pointing brands in the right direction, and on getting our customers noticed both online and off. From branding to websites to digital marketing, and public relations, we handle all your marketing communication needs! Web Design and Development | Brand Strategy | Inbound Marketing | Social Media | SEO | PR
