What web design trends are announced for 2021

9 dec 2020

968

Because we like to be among the first to know what's new, we've already informed ourselves about the web design trends that are being announced for 2021. And although we'd be tempted to think that each passing year brings us closer to that future science fiction that we dream of, the trend direction seems to take another route: that of realism. One reason for web design trends to go this route of realism could be closely related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Why do we say this? Because the online environment gained even more momentum with the protection measures imposed by this situation, and realism on the web becomes a must have, at the expense of hi-tech fantasy. But let's not linger any longer and start discussing what the trends in web design that are going to capture the year 2021 are and what they look like.

Animated web design with parallax effect

The parallax effect can be described as an optical illusion. This effect gives us the impression that an object is moving when we look at it from two different points. To understand better, stretch your hand forward, raise your thumb and first look at it only with your right eye, then close your right eye and look only with your left eye. Your finger seems to have changed position, even though you haven't moved it at all. Following this optical illusion, we are left with the impression that objects near us are moving faster than objects in the distance. Practically, this effect happens in real life, an example being when we travel by car. However, translated to a web page, it is much more spectacular. One of the main goals you should have when designing a website for your brand is to find a way to keep visitors engaged for as long as possible. This parallax effect is perfect for that. The difference between the depth of the background and the closeness of the foreground practically turns your web page into a theatrical stage, attracting users and keeping their attention.

Neumorphism – web design that brings old trends back to lighti

Neuphormism is a design based on old trends. You may remember when Skeumorphism was all the rage, responsible for the look of app icons everywhere, in the early 2010s. This trend was replaced by flat design, which simplified icons and colors in a more a little realistic, but more uniform and easier to identify. However, although we would be tempted to say that things have taken a completely different turn, and the past will not return, after 10 years we are already starting to notice how plant icons come to life and become realistic, with a 3D tendency. Therefore, we believe that we would be justified in calling neuphormism a fusion between old and new trends. This design brings back the tactile experience that was lost in the era of flat design, but at the same time improves the user experience.

Abstract art compositions

In 2021, geometric figures such as squares or circles will be extremely common in web design. Even if they don't seem attractive and we would tend to think that a minimalist and primitive web design would result, web designers manage to incorporate them into complex compositions that inspire freedom. In most cases, these abstract art compositions take the place of photographs and illustrations. The colors used are vibrant, but at the same time warm, and the final effect leads to web pages that are expressive and alive, even in the absence of human faces.

Eye-friendly web design with comfortable colors

In our times, online consumption is extremely high. In addition, this phenomenon was also visibly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. And a large consumption of online can also lead to fatigue, pain and other problems regarding the eyes. For this reason, web designers have come up with a solution for this problem: the use of comfortable colors. This trend made its presence felt as early as 2020, with the appearance of the dark mode for different platforms, which counteracted the overwhelming white that was dominant before. However, in 2021, web designers want to strike a balance between the two extremes of light mode and dark mode. They found a middle ground by using comfortable and warm colors for the eyes like green, blue, brown or pink. In addition, using these colors on websites induces a state of calm and relaxation.

Web design dedicated to causes

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internet has turned into a refuge for people all over the world. Online gained even more momentum, to the detriment of Offline, because remote work was introduced. Physical distancing was discouraged, while virtual distancing was encouraged. This was the perfect opportunity for the web designer to create meaningful and impactful web design templates. Thus, in 2021 we will continue what was started in 2020, more precisely the transposition of empathy in web design. Brands will continue to communicate in an optimistic way and emphasize the efforts they make to help the community. Therefore, 2021 will mean an increase in trying to raise awareness of social causes through interactive means such as visualizations and simulations. Until now, web design has focused on providing the best experiences for users. In 2021, the emphasis will no longer be only on providing an optimal experience, but also on trying to involve the visitors in different social causes or just to awake their empathy.

Web design that brings changes in the scroll function

This type of web design offers an amazing experience. So when users scroll, they're doing more than just navigating the page: they're interacting with it. A simple scroll action will cause a response on the screen. This is based on the strategy that interaction is a form of participation, and when users are involved in things that happen because of an action of theirs, they are more likely to be interested. Therefore, they will spend more on the page they landed on.

The scroll is one of the most common forms of interaction, which we thought could not bring us anything new. Well, web designers have thought that in 2021, websites will become more interactive when the user scrolls the pages. What does this mean? Starting from colors and reaching complex animated transitions, web designers will transform everything into a hallucinatory environment. Everything can get to the point where users will have the impression that by scrolling they have arrived at a completely different site than the one they originally entered.

Digital interpretations of physical products

In the case of online stores, it is the products that are under the spotlight. Therefore, digital renderings of physical products will be made. This approach not only leads to a visual synergy between the product and the site, but also makes web pages more real and unexpected. Considering that websites have become an integral part of our daily lives over the past year, this trend of combining the real world with the digital seems to have been created especially for the moment we find ourselves in.

Engaging quizzes

In 2021 we begin to say goodbye to searching a huge site for a small thing we want. Instead of reading product descriptions and making decisions on our own, new web designs will introduce quizzes that will promote an interactive experience. These questionnaires will be based on asking multiple choice questions, which focus on knowing what the visitors' desires are. After we answer such questionnaires, products that meet our requirements will be offered in a subtle way.

Three-dimensional colors

The color palettes that web designers have been using lately have undergone an extremely noticeable change. The evolution consists in the fact that web pages contain more realistic colors than ever before. In the coming year we expect saturated and three-dimensional colors, which will give the feeling that the web pages in front of us can really be touched. This sensation will be emphasized by a fine shading that will give the illusion that what we see is real. Two colors next to each other will appear either to merge, or to differentiate through shadows and depth. All in all, this trend suggests that in terms of the web design colors of 2021, an evolution of the online world towards a higher level that achieves realism is desired.

The online world promises to be extremely interesting in terms of web design trends for 2021. We will witness fusions between past and present, but also between real and virtual. In the coming year of web design, we will be amazed by the colors, but also by the experiences of interacting with the sites. And you have big plans for 2021 regarding your brand? Contact us at 031 428 48 85 and let's take your business to another level together.