Are you considering purchasing a new website for your business? Want to know the trends that are taking charge this year?
Web design is an ever-evolving field, with new trends and techniques emerging each year. In 2017, the web design landscape saw a significant shift towards more user-centric and visually engaging experiences. As the internet continued to evolve, so did the expectations of users.
Websites needed to be not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and intuitive to navigate. In this blog post, we’ll explore seven web design trends that took the internet by storm in 2017, shaping the digital landscape for years to come.
My Biz Niche share 7 web design trends for 2017 in this infographic.
- Mobile-First Design
One of the most significant shifts in web design during 2017 was the continued emphasis on Mobile-First Design. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, it became imperative for websites to provide a seamless experience on smaller screens. Google also started giving preference to mobile-friendly websites in its search rankings, making mobile optimization a necessity.
Mobile-first design involves designing a website with mobile devices in mind from the start, rather than as an afterthought. This approach ensures that the website looks and functions well on mobile devices and then adapts to larger screens, rather than the other way around. This trend marked a fundamental shift in web design thinking, leading to cleaner and more efficient layouts that catered to the needs of mobile users.
- Minimalism and Simplified User Interfaces
In 2017, web designers embraced minimalism and simplicity in their designs. Gone were the days of cluttered and overwhelming websites. Instead, designers focused on creating clean, uncluttered, and visually pleasing interfaces that made it easier for users to find what they were looking for.
Minimalistic design often featured generous white space, simple typography, and a limited color palette. This not only made websites look more modern and elegant but also improved user engagement by reducing distractions and focusing on the essential content and actions.
- Bold Typography
Typography played a crucial role in web design trends in 2017. Designers started using bold and eye-catching fonts to create memorable and unique website experiences. Large, expressive typefaces became a common feature, allowing designers to convey the brand’s personality and message effectively.
Incorporating typography into the overall design allowed for creative and visually appealing layouts. Designers experimented with various font pairings, sizes, and colors to make the text elements stand out and draw users’ attention. This trend added an extra layer of personality and style to websites, making them more engaging and memorable.
- Cinemagraphs and Video Backgrounds
Static images took a backseat in 2017, as websites began incorporating cinemagraphs and video backgrounds to capture users’ attention. Cinemagraphs are still images with subtle, looping animations that create a mesmerizing effect. Video backgrounds, on the other hand, allowed websites to tell a story or convey a message in a dynamic and immersive way.
These multimedia elements added a sense of depth and interactivity to websites, making them more engaging and memorable. They were particularly effective for brands looking to create a strong visual impact and showcase their products or services in action. However, it was essential to ensure that these elements didn’t compromise website loading speed, as slow websites can lead to high bounce rates.
- Material Design
Google’s Material Design language continued to gain popularity in 2017. This design philosophy focuses on creating a consistent and unified user experience across different platforms and devices. Material Design emphasizes elements like depth, animation, and a clean, intuitive interface.
Material Design guidelines provided web designers with a structured framework for creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites. It encouraged the use of subtle animations and transitions to guide users and provide feedback on their actions. The adoption of Material Design principles by many major websites and apps made it a dominant trend in 2017.
- Scroll-triggered Animations
Scroll-triggered animations became a prevalent web design trend in 2017, offering a dynamic and interactive experience to users as they scrolled down a webpage. These animations were triggered when a user scrolled to a specific point on the page, adding an element of surprise and delight.
Designers used scroll-triggered animations to emphasize key content, provide additional information, or create memorable visual effects. Whether it was a subtle fade-in of text, the appearance of images, or complex parallax scrolling effects, these animations added depth and engagement to websites.
- Custom Illustrations and Iconography
In 2017, brands sought to differentiate themselves by using custom illustrations and iconography to convey their unique personality and values. Stock images and generic icons were no longer sufficient to make a lasting impression on users. Custom illustrations allowed brands to tell their story in a visually compelling way, while unique icons improved the overall user experience.
Custom illustrations and iconography helped websites stand out from the crowd and communicate their brand message more effectively. They could be playful, sophisticated, or informative, depending on the brand’s identity and target audience.
Conclusion
In 2017, web design underwent a significant transformation, driven by the changing needs and expectations of internet users. Mobile-first design, minimalism, bold typography, cinemagraphs, Material Design, scroll-triggered animations, and custom illustrations all played a vital role in shaping the web design landscape of that year.
These trends were not just about aesthetics; they were also about improving user experiences, making websites more engaging, and helping brands communicate their messages effectively. While some of these trends have evolved or been replaced by new ones in the years since, they continue to influence web design practices, reminding us of the importance of user-centric design and innovation in the digital space. As we look back on the web design trends of 2017, we can see how they paved the way for the exciting developments that have continued to shape the internet in the years that followed.
Author:
Mark Ford
