Web Design Trends in 2011

Web design trends are dictated by the changing needs and preferences of web design customers. The dynamics involved here are highly complex because web design needs are diverse as customers from all possible niches known to us influence the web design trends.

What has to be noticed here is that web design customers are influenced by the changing preferences of the internet users. Previously, when websites were still new a lot of emphasize was given to how beautiful a website looked, Flash elements and dynamism of the websites. The focus was more on the graphic appeal of the websites.

Internet users preferred websites that were beautiful and aesthetically appealing. Today web design trends are different; it is not enough that websites are just aesthetically appealing but they should also be functionally efficient.

Number of people that use the internet has increased tremendously and today consumers are very impatient. Consumers want to find the information they need within seconds after they land any given website. The overall user trend indicates that the average time spent by the internet users in each website has reduced drastically and it is continuing to reduce day by day. If businesses want to impress their customers they need to accomplish that within the given short time. So website design has to respond to this challenge in helping website owners impress their customers and sell the products and services within a short time.

Take a gander at our top 09 trends for 2011…


01.   More CSS3 + HTML5



You can notice that newly designed websites use very little or no Flash elements. Website design is now focusing more on improving upon the loading time. HTML5 and CSS3 are gaining popularity. Flash is gradually being taken out of the picture as per the current trend Flash websites have no scope as more and more websites move towards HTML5 and CSS3.

What a gratifying sigh of relief! CSS3 and HTML5 have been on the distant horizon of web design for the past couple of years, but now, in 2011, we see an explosion of it. Designers are finally starting to let go of Flash. However you may feel about Flash, you do know that it does not play well with some of the hot, new technology available to your current and potential visitors. In 2011, you will slowly step away from Flash and embrace the magic known as HTML5.

Now that’s shown, please understand that Flash and HTML5 are not equal opponents. There is plenty of room for both in 2011. The problem is that designers in 2010 (and before) misused Flash. Case in point, very rarely should your entire site be made of Flash, especially these days. HTML5 alleviates some of the burden we have placed on Flash. However, HTML5 cannot (yet) replace the extraordinary dynamic animations and elements that can achieve through Flash.

Perhaps even more exciting is the fact that CSS3 is available to us in a real way this year. Move over Photoshop (wow, Adobe just cannot rest), because CSS3 is making short work of text shadow, border radius and image transparency. If you have not already begun, now is the time to really delve into understanding CSS3 and HTML5.


02.   Simple Layout



Another important design trend to be noticed is functionally appealing layouts. To fight the design overload on the consumers simpler website layouts are preferred. All the customers that shop online engage in comparison shopping. As a result they end up visiting numerous websites each time they setout to buy something online or to seek any information. Visiting websites with complicated designs tire their mind and when they reach a website with simple layout and simple design they feel relaxed and they are able to see the products and services that are offered. In other words complicated web design layouts and complicated web design elements rather than drawing the attention of the consumers online distracts them and tires them. The latest web design trend is therefore concentrating on presenting the products and services more effectively using simple color schemes and design schemes.


03.   Mobile Ready



Web design is also trying to cope with another great challenge these days which is to make websites usable in small screen devices such as smart phones and other hand held devices as 3G and 4G mobile internet facilities increase the use of mobile browsing. This again forces the web design industry come up with functionally efficient and user friendly websites. User pattern changes with the change of devices. People that use hand held devices to access websites will not be using pointing devices such as the mouse, rather the website are engaged through the use of touch screen. Here the user dynamics change obviously and web design has to respond to this changing dynamics. This again influences the website design industry to come up with simpler website design layouts.

Forecasters predict that smartphones will outsell personal computers this year. Bulletproof your design to meet this demand.


4.   Using Custom Fonts



Web designers are also constantly making researches on the effective use of various fonts and font styles. Effective use of fonts breaks the monotony especially when the internet users engage in long hours of search and comparison.

It is important to be aware of the latest web design trends while designing your new website because these trends are based on the user expectations. These are not fixed or rigid elements but it will continue to change as many new web design technologies are introduced. It is a vicious circle because new technologies evolve to meet the changing needs of the customers. Ultimately the web design industry is trying continually to enhance the user experience.


5.   Massive Images



Do you want a website that immediately grabs your visitors’ attention? Well having a beautiful image as your entire background is a good way to do that. Massive images were once taboo for web designers, but thanks to better image optimization, faster internet connections, and smarter loading methods, designers can gain a lot in some sites by pushing image sizes to the max.

More than just “big images”, we’re beginning to see more trending towards sites that use vast illustrative (and photographic) backdrops that are as a part of the actual experience as they are simply additional artwork.


6.   QR: Quick Response



If you have noticed those square barcodes popping on business cards, magazines or else where, you may already know that they are a hot trend for 2011. How exactly does it translate into web design? Amazingly well, in fact.

The barcodes are called QR, short for Quick Response. Simply take a photo of the unique barcode with your camera phone. Like magic, your phone will call up the website associated with said barcode. The beautiful thing about QR is that you can use it in a myriad of ways. Feature your QR on your website, in order for site visitors to have a shortcut to your mobile site. You can also track your visitors through QR, by placing a special referral code on your URL. When you are leaving comments on sites such as this, use the QR as your avatar.

2011 is all about mobility and it will be smart to take advantage of this new medium.


7.   Immersive Script Integration (jQuery sliders, etc.)



Coded plugins used to be an afterthought in most web designs… you would finish a mockup, then replace an image with a slider if you could find a great plugin for it. Nowadays, entire designs can be based on scripts and plugins that do more than “add something” to a design… they can define the entire website experience.


8.   Social Media Convergence



This isn’t one that requires much in the way of screenshots… mainly because the shift is more strategy than substance. While this trend has been happening for years, things seem to be coming to a head at the moment and the fate of the future of the internet is going to be decided.

This “social media convergence”, or rather, the pattern of brands and businesses focusing their efforts on social media sites (rather than their own independent sites). Instead of individual domains, we’re beginning to see more and more businesses moving to strategies that either are based on sites like Facebook, or are at the very least integrating social features in a way that is 100% reliant upon the social media sites.

“…instead of an internet composed of millions of different and unique sites, we could end up with a handful of “mega-sites” that everyone (individuals and businesses alike) simply have a page on…”

This makes sense for a number of businesses; it’s a whole lot easier to get people to discover and visit your Facebook or Twitter page than it is to have them stumble upon (pun intended!) your own domain (ie: myownawesomewebsite.com/me). The winners of this trend are, of course, the big social media sites who gather up more and more traffic. The losers? Well, if this trend continues, the losers could very well be anyone who doesn’t jump on the bandwagon… so instead of an internet composed of millions of different and unique sites, we could end up with a handful of “mega-sites” that everyone (individuals and businesses alike) simply have a page on.


9.   Touch Screen – Not Mice



Technology has become much more tactile. Usability is shifting from abstract to tangible. This means that instead of navigating your mouse to remotely connect, your destination is literally at your fingertips. Tablets, most smartphones and some desktops use touchscreens. Does your design accommodate fingertip navigation?

How much of your design is mouse-oriented? As designers, we worship mice. Our links light up when the mouse hovers over. However, there’s no hovering in touchscreen. How will your design indicate links to your visitors? What about drop-down menus? That’s also a no-go in touchscreen design.

Similarly, how will visitors peruse your site? As controversial as it may be for standard web browsing, horizontal scrolling may be more appropriate for touchscreens. Fitting nicely into this niche is a magazine-like layout where visitors virtually flip through your site.

Lastly, consider using liquid layouts as part of your commitment toward responsive design. In 2011, you are no longer dealing with screen resolution size. Visitors can change their viewing orientation from vertical to horizontal. Your design must be flexible to meet any challenge, or you will be a relic of 2010.

Tags: 2011, Trends, Web design, Web design trends in 2011
Posted in Design, Social Media, Web