4 Website Trends to Watch for in 2022
Now more than ever, web and design technology is advancing at an incredibly rapid pace.
We’ve all seen how the digital landscape has transformed dramatically over the last two years due to the impact of the global pandemic and accompanying changes in how people live and work.
In such times, it has become more important than ever to stay on top of web design trends. Like with the art and fashion industries, these trends are constantly in flux and are cyclical. The key thing is that web designers and business owners know which trends are currently on the table so that they can implement them into their websites and remove any roadblocks to user engagement.
The following trends have made their appearance in 2021 and are continuing into the new year. Read on to learn about these trends and the purposes that they serve.
1. Storytelling and Interactive Design Features
Website design in 2022 has become all about storytelling. Instead of simply stating facts or information in large content blocks, a website’s design will tell a story, revealing bits of info at a time and incorporating interactive and responsive elements that surprise and engage users. Such website designs are visually appealing, informative, and very successful at increasing brand awareness and piquing users’ curiosity, causing them to stay on the website and explore more.
Storytelling and interaction can be implemented into a website design in a variety of ways, such as through background videos, animated visuals and typography, and scroll-triggered reactions. Many consumers now are actually looking for and expecting these elements to be on websites when they visit them and spending more time on websites of this nature. So, this is a very important trend that should be implemented and at the heart of website designs in 2022.
2. Micro-Interactions and Micro-Animations
Micro-interactions and micro-animations are small elements of movement integrated into your website design that add life, energy, and motion to your webpages and help visitors engage with the words and messaging. They add a level of detail to your website that gives visitors a more interesting experience and emphasizes important areas of your site, directing users’ attention accordingly.
A micro-interaction is a small animation that reacts to users and helps them see the result of their action. It is triggered by hovering with your cursor or scrolling to a particular part of the page. For example, when you move your mouse over a button or a section of a website and something changes color or moves/bounces slightly, that is a micro-interaction. It engages you visually and gives the page a three-dimensional feeling.
A micro-animation is a small animation that enables and improves micro-interactions, guiding users through those interactions and allowing them to see how the webpages change. Animations are especially useful for transitions across different parts of a website and illustrating concepts in a simple way that is digestible for users. Used appropriately, they illustrate your message in a way that words never could and also add an element of playfulness to your website.
Making these animations and reactions subtle, but noticeable, is key. You don’t want to overuse them and thereby confuse your users. Hence why these interactions and animations are called “micro.”
Incorporating such subtle movements into your website will bring it to life, make it stand out, and engage more users.
3. Simplicity
People are very overwhelmed in our day and age and are tired of information overload. Due to this, people are looking for and attracted to things and places that will simplify their lives, give them space, and reduce their anxiety. In the world of web design, this means that simplicity is king and “less is more.” This trend can be implemented in a variety of ways.
Lots of white space – The inclusion of a generous amount of white space in a website design allows the content to breathe and gives users a sense of calm, allowing their eyes to rest. Using less infographics and condensed graphics also serves to give “space to the page” and not overwhelm people with information.
Fewer words – Less text and simplified messaging implores users to learn more rather than giving them a complex conversation to figure out and follow. With the text being spread out more over the site and fewer text blocks concentrated in certain places, users feel more at ease and do not have as much information to sort through.
Calming colors and vivid imagery – A soft and gentle color palette soothes users and does not inundate them with harsh colors and crazy patterns. Simple and vivid imagery that includes compelling photographs and personal faces invites users to relax and connect with the content.
Extremely clear calls to action – Simple and straightforward calls to action will show users very clearly what they must do and not overwhelm them with a host of options for how to take action. More and more, users are turning away from long web forms and series of questions on webpages; it is much more effective to use one or two clear calls to action to engage users or a couple of questions spaced out over a few interactions.
Implementing simplicity into your website will allow you to give users a streamlined and uncomplicated experience, conveying information in a way that reveals, expands, and gives space, rather than being so condensed and overwhelming.
4. Optimistic and Nature-Themed Designs
This trend is all about aesthetics, feelings, and evoking a certain emotional response in your users. People today are not only searching for simplicity and space, but also for things that will inspire them and make them happy. Thus the trend is for website designs to be as inviting, optimistic, and inspiring as possible.
An optimistic website design will create experiences that help users and generate general feelings of positive thinking and goodwill, including themes such as recovery, growth, and progress. Optimism can be created in a website design through the use of inspiring imagery, such as bright and smiling faces, light and playful typefaces, and colors that exude positive emotions. Unique shapes, graphic elements, and illustrations can add a lot of fun to the design as well, in addition to clever taglines or phrases that are placed throughout and intended to make users smile.
There has also been a resurgence of nature-themed website designs, which evoke outdoor spaces and give users a sense of life and growth. These designs incorporate earthy colors and tones, photos of nature, and natural/organic shapes and patterns. These elements all combine to help inspire users and make them feel alive and like they’re in a different space away from home.
These are just a few of the top website trends for 2022. By incorporating these trends into your website, along with the other ones that are currently in play, you will be able to gain traction in the market, engage more users, and grow your business in the coming year.
Need help in doing so? We would be happy to help educate you further about website design trends and assist you with a website redesign. Contact us today!
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