Source: forbes

As we enter a new decade, it’s interesting to pause and think over how much has really changed over the past 10 years, especially when it comes to web design. As technology has continued to evolve faster and faster, so have the needs of consumers, which has left web designers constantly adapting their styles to keep up.

Think about it: Just 10 years ago, mobile sites were barely in existence, and the ones that did exist weren’t exactly user-friendly. Fast forward to today, and consumers demand fast websites that are well designed and easy to use, making modern web design more crucial for businesses than ever.

If you’re looking to give your own website a modern makeover, take a look at the following trends for inspiration:

Dark Mode

 

Thanks to the advent of the “dark mode” feature on smartphones and across popular apps, consumers are increasingly choosing to use this feature when given the option. Not only is it much easier on the eyes for those of us who are constantly using screens, but it has a visually simple and clean appeal.

When a black or dark background is paired sitewide with brightly colored call-to-action buttons, the designs stand out even more while offering the visitor a visually smooth experience.

Hand-Drawn Elements And Graphics

Hand-drawn elements are bringing back old-fashioned design with a modern twist. Whether it’s static cartoons, hand-lettered iconography and graphics, or hand-drawn animations, website designs are starting to bring back the positive, warm and almost cozy emotions brought from these personalized designs.

After all, any manually drawn designs remind us of the humans behind the work — something that’s often missed in today’s tech-dominated world where futuristic designs have taken charge in the past decade in an effort to look forward-facing. Yet no matter how much technology takes hold in our work and personal lives, we’ll always be working with humans, and putting a touch of that same human element into our designs gives us a reminder of that.

Above-The-Fold CTAs

These days, it’s all about getting website visitors to convert as soon as possible. For websites, that means placing call-to-action (CTA) buttons above the fold of their website so that it’s one of the first things their visitors see. In a world of short attention spans and fast bounce rates, the top of the fold is one of the most important spaces in website design. That’s why more companies are choosing to put a headline, subheader and CTA button in that very space. With appealing iconography and the right header photo or banner to accompany the CTA, this design trick is sure to increase conversions.

Visible Grids

As the name might suggest, design grids are a series of horizontal and vertical lines that intersect together multiple times, serving as a structure for designers to work within rather than chaotic free space. However, a trend that we’re continuing to see in web design is the act of actually showing the grids even after the design is finished. Whether they’re softer gridlines or more dominant grid lines, making them visible at all creates a clean, structured site design, which gives sites a professional look.

White Space Frames

Minimalism is the name of the game in 2020, and creating a website with centered content framed by white spaces is one of the best ways to ensure all of the visitor’s focus is on the actual product or service your site has to offer. Not only do white spaces create balance, but they also create extra emphasis and pull attention to the exact words or visuals you want your audience to focus on.

Larger-Than-Life Typography

They say the bigger the better — at least, this is true for website fonts in 2020. Website designers have been using bigger fonts every year, grabbing audiences’ attention with just a few words in a splashy way. Big fonts are modeled after typical print poster designs, which often use large fonts to command the reader’s eye even from afar. What’s great about large typography is that it can be used for any website.

Geometric Designs

Who knew geometry could look so good? Geometric shapes are so versatile that they can be used in a ton of creative ways that draw attention to exactly where you want it. Whether it’s stripes, squares, triangles or any other fun out-of-the-box shape, geometric designs are a sure way to create a modern, minimalist feel for your site.

Glowing Or Neon Graphics

Brightly colored neon graphics and elements have never been so popular. As time goes on, many websites are getting flashier with their colors to create a bold, futuristic look. By combining neon elements with darker colored backgrounds (similar to the way dark mode sites are also being designed), sites can create graphics that truly pop out. In 2020, we can expect to see plenty of neon graphics that float in 3D, offering visitors a glimpse into the future of design.

Minimalist Navigation

In 2020, less is more. In nearly all of the trends listed in this article, minimalism plays a part. Navigation buttons are one of the most underrated aspects of website design, and more sites are starting to create minimalist effects through navigation. By combining all navigational buttons into a single drop-down menu, sites can clean up the distracting buttons and combine all focus into the above-the-fold text or video, front and center.

1970s Color Schemes

The '70s are back! While some sites are going full steam ahead with futuristic neon designs, others are going for a more retro look and feel with '70s pastel color palettes. Who says modern design has to be all about futuristic feels? Sometimes the designs that bring back the best of the past are all it takes to keep your site looking classic and timeless.

 

One thing is clear: This new decade is bringing in new designs that certainly won’t leave any website visitors bored. Whether designs are capitalizing on nostalgia or charging headfirst into futuristic visions, companies that create visually engaging sites based on these 10 trends are sure to grab their audience’s attention.