As a digital medium, web design is far more subjected to changes in technology that its traditional print forbearers. This fact shouldn’t surprise us because web design will continue to develop as the technical challenges increase. We will still have sites that are user-friendly, clear, advanced and innovative.
2017 was a year full of many advancements, including mobile usage surpassing desktop browsing. In 2018 desktops need to fight for their relevance, while mobile usage will finally be utilized in ways never seen before. With all that in mind, let’s look at some changes we will experience in 2018.
Drop shadows and depth
The use of shadows isn’t something new. They have been in use for quite some time, but now we can see some interesting variations. The web designers are playing with shadows more than ever because they want to create the world behind the screen.
This is the opposite reaction we had in the past years where the flat design was trendy. Shadows create a versatile effect that not only increases the appearance of the page but also helps user experience by offering emphasis. For instance, when you use soft and subtle shadows and combining them with vibrant colors enables the three-dimensional effect of the old shadows.
Vivid color theme
2018 is the year where you get a chance to express your creativity. While so many brands and companies are stuck with the web-safe colors, more designers are becoming braver in their approach to colors.
This is mostly contributed by the technological development of monitors and devices which are more suitable for offering more vibrant shades. Vibrant and vivid colors can be beneficial for new brands who are hoping to attract the attention of visitors. However, already established companies shouldn’t neglect this trend because it will set you apart from the competitors.
Useful background
The particle background is an excellent solution to performance issues sites run into with a video background. These type of animations are lightweight JavaScript that offers movement as a natural part of the background, without taking too long to load.
If you want to attract the user’s attention, then you will use particle background. In this case, brands can create a memorable impression of themselves in a few seconds. Additionally, motion graphics are becoming more popular on social media because they provide eye-popping leads back to the source page.
Mobile platform
As we mentioned earlier, mobile browsing has now officially outdone desktop. People use their smartphones for all kinds of stuff, to shop, order online and even do business. In the past, users have a hard time adaption to this process, but nowadays, we can imagine our life without smartphones.
The mobile design has matured, and the roll-out burger has become established, minimizing the menu for small screens. The icons are much more economical regarding space than before. The users will have no troubles understanding them. Overall, the experience of using a smartphone device is way better than it was in the past.
