2015 is over, and the world of web design has changed a lot. 2016 is sure to see even more amazing innovations in web design. What is different this year is that the changes will be more significant and beneficial. In fact, many industry experts are predicting that 2016 will truly be the year of web design.
Technology changes rapidly, and so do design trends. Different types of companies are trying to give their sites a sleeker look and make them more responsive and interactive.
Just as a book is often judged by its cover, the aesthetic, design and functionality of a website often determine the reputation of the company that owns it. Not only does the look of the site need constant improvement, but the functionality, presentation, loading speed and updating of the site also need attention.
In 2016, the web design field will usher in many new changes to look forward to. Web design trends will get rid of exaggerated shadow effects, complex materials and strict layering, and the overall style will become more concise and flat. It is widely accepted that the use of images and interactive elements will enhance the appeal of a website.
In 2016, your goal should be to design a site that captivates users and keeps them coming back. To help you stay ahead of the curve and stay on top of design trends, we’ve compiled a detailed list of 2016 web design trends in this article. It’s definitely worth a look!
Novel way to scroll
Thanks to the popularity of smartphones, every user today is used to scrolling long web pages. According to a recent study by UX Movement, the majority of users prefer a web design that scrolls vertically rather than switching between pages by clicking on navigation elements. In 2016, we will see a different way to scroll the web. It could be vertical, it could be horizontal. It could be touch, it could be animated scrolling. In short, don’t forget to incorporate new scrolling features into your design to attract users. This can also provide more fun and convenience for users of the site. NASA Prospect’s page is an example of an innovative approach to web scrolling. The way pages scroll is never boring or boring. If you don’t believe me, you can go and see for yourself!
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Example site: nasaprospect.com/
According to an article on Chartbeat.com, 70% of users can’t wait to scroll pages even before they load.
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Parallax between title and page
Another important web design trend for 2016 will be the web balancing parallax movement. It creates a 3D effect as the user scrolls down the page, making it more visually interesting. To make things even better, you can try to enable parallel parallax motion between the title and the page every time the user moves the mouse.
The advantage of parallax in web pages is that each time the user moves the mouse, they see something different. It also allows you to get your message out to your users in an easier and more interesting way. Of course, anything goes too far, so don’t overdo it. The Royal British Legion, for example, uses a parallel view design to convey a clear message in a highly entertaining way.
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The sample url: poppyspend.britishlegion.org.uk/
Semi-flat design
This design technique has been around for years, but has only become popular in recent years. Today, flat design is everywhere, from personal blogs to the websites of the most famous international brands. Flat designs are easy to create and manage. But trends change forever, and more and more designers are willing to add elements to their ICONS, catalogs and illustrations to enrich their sites.
When it comes to creating useful, unique and creative websites, many web designers don’t hesitate to use flat designs. Vine is a good example of semi-flat design. The site blends real-time graphics seamlessly with flat design, and many web designers consider it the best example of semi-flat design.
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Example url: Vine.co /
Design that breaks through the frame of thinking
This was one of the most important web design trends of last year, and we can expect it to continue this year. Rectangular layouts have long been the first choice of web designers. But in 2016, we’re going to see more web designers elaborating on layouts that go beyond the rectangle.
In fact, there are many other geometric shapes used in web layout. Whether it’s on a sports site, a fitness site, or any other site, geometric layouts outside of rectangles work well. This design approach not only helps users make better use of the navigation elements of the site, but also draws users’ attention. A great example of such a site is Full Stop. The site’s bold circular LOGO directs users to the company name. Other well-known sports brands such as Adidas and Columbia Sportswear incorporate geometric shapes into their websites.
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The sample url: www.fullstopinteractive.com/
Full screen layout
We’re now going to talk about a design technique that covers an entire web page with a single image (with a little text, of course). They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This phrase is most applicable to web design. Using a full-screen image or video on a web page is an effective way to engage users from the start. We believe this design trend will take the web design world by storm in 2016.
The most interesting aspect of a full-screen layout is that it makes it easier for users to find and understand the information they need. This design allows you to use images/videos of products and services to interact with users more effectively. Jobs Is Free Is a site with a full-screen layout. Its simplicity and charm make it an interesting site.
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Example website: www.jobsisfree.com/
Interactive storytelling
Visual storytelling — Of all the design trends on the rise, this is the most popular and popular. It took center stage in 2015 and is set to continue gaining attention in 2016. So this year, don the storyteller costume and share a story with your audience in your design. Also, make sure your story is interactive, which will make your audience more engaged with the story and keep them on the site longer.
You can get your message across by setting up puzzles, surveys, videos, images, audio and more throughout the site. The following MoMA Century of the Child is a great example of an interactive narrative site — it does have the power to keep users scrolling down!
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Example website: www.moma.org/interactive…
Fewer pages
In this era, Less is more! The same goes for the number of pages on your site. Using a single page design or simplified multi-page design in a website can attract more users. Keep in mind that sites with lots of content tend to annoy users.
Today’s users are reluctant to open multiple web pages. With the rise of mobile devices, single-page designs have become an easier way to browse. When you design a single-page site, the browsing experience is often more novel and interesting. Single-page site Kocha will show you that you can be the best site without increasing the number of pages.
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Example website: www.kocha.com.au/
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
SVG graphics have been used for many years and are still extremely important today. SVG graphics remain sharp and sharp on any device. It connects all the key web elements with design elements, making it suitable for screens of all sizes. Analysis by W3techs.com suggests that only 1.3% of web sites currently use SVG graphics. But we believe 2016 will be the year that SVG graphics become mainstream in creative web design. Here is a website that uses SVG graphics.
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IO /demos/#coff…
Responsive Web design
If you still haven’t adopted responsive web design, here are some surprising statistics that might prompt you to make a decision:
More than 2 billion people browse the Web on mobile devices
61% of users rated brands that provide a good mobile browsing experience positively
Mobile device users spend more than 50% of their PCS
Four out of every five users use smartphones to shop
An article on Designhill.com revealed that Google sees responsive web pages as a better mobile metric. Responsive design leads to a better user experience and helps improve site conversion. If you haven’t invested in responsive site design yet, it’s better to do it now than never. Sparkbox uses responsive design to seamlessly transfer web pages across devices.
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Example site: seesparkbox.com/
Ghost button
The days of big, fancy buttons are over. The use of ghost buttons, or transparent buttons, will be another mainstream in 2016. Also often referred to as hollow buttons, ghost buttons feature only the edge of the button and a concise font in the center of the button. This feature makes it often look more attractive. The ghost button on the World in My Lens site is a good example.
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Example website: www.worldinmylens.com/
The dynamic background
Dynamic backgrounds can take many forms, from an intense image to a 3D background or even a video. Placing a video in the background immediately grabs the user’s attention because the eye instinctively moves. We are sure that more sites will adopt dynamic backgrounds this year. The background of Yanagiu Kamiko’s site is immersive and fascinating. It makes the user want to know more about the story behind the background image.
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The sample url: yanagiukamiko.strikingly.com/
Split screen layout
Separate layouts will also continue to be popular in 2016. This means that the page will be divided into two or more sections. This approach allows designers to deliver twice as much content to users in a clean layout. This is especially useful when you want to show different perspectives on your product or service. Separate layouts can also be used to compare two different things. Standard Cars’ website, for example, uses a separate layout on its home page, juxtaposing the human elements of the car with the technical elements of the car.
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Example website: www.peugeot.com/en
With the rapid innovation of technology, new web design trends emerge every year. We hope that some of the trends listed above will provide designers with some inspiration and help them create more unique web pages.