When technology is ever evolving, change is the only constant. Take, for instance, the realm of Web design. Design trends come and go. Some may only breeze by while others last longer. Either way, design trends come into being and fade because of changes in technology and user demands and expectations.
As long as human beings desire improvement and expect more, design trends will continually evolve. And we need to learn to adapt accordingly. Often, that means saying goodbye to design trends that are no longer working.
So here are 10 Web design trends that are among the fading; you should ditch them if you want to keep with the competition and increasingly demanding audiences.
1. Complicated Designs
"Less is the new more" seems to be the new mantra of Web designers.
The last couple of years have been tremendous for flat design, including the minimalist approach of Apple's iOS7. And when Apple does something, the rest of the world seems to follow suit. In 2014, in particular, simple and minimalist designs achieved great momentum. The trend is even hotter in 2015.
For a great example of minimalism, look no farther than Apple's website. You don't even have to be a fan to see that the giant brand has been on point with its trademark minimalistic design.
2. Mobile Versions
Do you remember flashy websites that are visually stimulating but take time to load, especially in your mobile phone? Designers' solution back then was to create mobile versions. But that trend is gone. Today, designers are more innovative, creating responsive designs that seamlessly provide a more enjoyable mobile experience to their audience. Responsive design, in fact, has become the new standard for Web design.
Nike Megastore uses responsive designs: Whether you're on your desktop or mobile, the experience is designed to be equally seamless.
3. Text-Heavy Sites
As visual media continues to gain importance across the Internet, including websites, expect to see less text and more visual stimulation.
Videos are now easier and less expensive to produce, and more websites are including them in their content plans. Web pages are also incorporating more images even as they share their text content.
Content, in other words, is becoming more interactive.
In addition to using responsive and minimalistic design, Tesla's site has done well with interactive content, using large images, infographics, and video.
4. Clicking
We'll still see some clicking here and there, but scrolling will dominate as Web design offers audiences a more enjoyable Web and mobile experience. Scrolling designs load faster and they're more intuitive and dynamic. And as responsive design rises, expect to see long scrolling with content that is more organized.
Powerhouse Company, Shaker Brand, and Quay Restaurant are among the websites that have made use of scrolling over clicking to offer a more user-friendly experience.
5. Endless Web Pages
Websites used to consist of endless numbers of pages. In the spirit of minimalism, expect to see less of endless pages and more of one-page websites. Designers are no longer adding pages; they're removing those that aren't really necessary anymore. In some cases, one-page websites can say all that needs to be said.
6. Messy Content Hierarchy
Tile-style layout, made famous by Pinterest, may not work for every content type, but it will continue to thrive. The trend has been around for a while, so it's not new, but it will play a critical role in organizing content hierarchy. Tile, column, or card designs are going to get rid of ambiguous, sloppy, and disorganized content organization.
Riley Cran, SilkTricky, and Jay Z nailed it with their brilliant content hierarchy, which you see immediately in their homepages, by using the ever-popular tile design.
7. Stock Photos
Generic and corny stock photos are going to be a thing of the past. Bold, original, and real photos that echo your content and personality are going to trend instead. If you want to relate with your audience more effectively, use real and high-quality photos that will get attention and gain your audience's trust.
8. Boring Typography
Type kits are becoming less expensive, and more and more designers are experimenting with different types. We've already seen bigger and bolder typography. Expect to see more typefaces with personality to attract attention and make it easier to convey your message.
If you want to see catchy and interesting typography, check out Stuff and Nonsense, which has injected just the right amount of personality while keeping it professional.
9. 3D Designs
Gone are the days of 3D, shadow, and gradient designs, which have given way instead to flat design. In line with the industry's direction toward minimalism, flat design is perfect because it transforms cluttered, overly fancy, and sometimes distracting websites into clean and simple ones that engage and make visitors stay longer.
Many websites are still catching up with flat design, but others, such as SpellTower, have led the pack.
10. Static Graphics
Text and static graphics will be replaced by video, which used to be Flash but now will be HTML5 Canvas videos. Expect to see HTML5 video players incorporated in websites across the Web, although in some instances Flash will continue to be useful.
Cited as among the top HTML5 websites by ebizmba were Soul Reaper and Google Play Music Tour (see the video that explains it).
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Keeping up with Web design trends is an essential aspect of managing your business. The task is not something you may be thrilled about, but watching for new trends to follow and old trends to buck is the best way to handle potential threats and spot key opportunities.
