With the constant notifications from our phones and the endless list of open tabs on our computers competing for our attention, it’s no surprise that the web design trends for 2020 will focus on creating a clearer and more intuitive user experience. The world around us is flooded with so much information and stimuli that websites need to convey their messages more clearly to stand out.
This list of web design trends for 2020 prioritizes the clarity and order that should prevail on your website, without compromising quality content and visual elements.
Top 10 Web Design Trends for 2020
Large Elements
Split Screen
Color Blocks
White Space
Grids and Windows
3D Digital Images
Overlapping Elements
Movement
Full-Screen Forms
Custom Visuals
01. Large Elements
This web design trend will have the greatest impact in 2020 and can be applied to all aspects of a website's design. To communicate clearly and immediately, websites are turning to large elements such as oversized typography, full-screen images and videos, and even large icons in the menu.
Increasing the size of attention-grabbing elements helps instantly convey the theme of a page, not to mention how well they work across all types of screens. To maximize this web trend, it's advisable to reduce the number of design elements on each page, as having too many at once can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
In this trend, the use of full-screen images or videos in the upper half of the page, accompanied by large typography, is gaining popularity. This web design effectively communicates a message directly and ensures that, in addition to being encountered, it will be easy for visitors to remember.
02. Split screen
If you need to convey more than one idea on your website without making it chaotic, a good solution is to divide your webpage into two halves so that each idea has its own space and prominence.
What’s fascinating about this web design trend is that you can also design both halves separately, allowing each to respond differently. For example, by playing with scrolling, you can create an effect of asymmetrical shapes between them, giving the impression that each side moves at a different pace.
To establish a visual hierarchy in this web design, additional elements are often added at the center of the screen where the two halves converge. These elements, which can be a logo, a call to action (CTA), or a menu bar, will serve as a point of reference and balance.
03. Color Blocks
Continuing with the previous web trend, some websites further divide their content into square and rectangular blocks of different sizes and colors. This colorful design can convey more than one message at a time in an organized and coherent manner.
Placing a photo or several short phrases in each block helps visitors absorb these pieces of information more effectively. If you want the composition to be more interesting, fill the blocks with tones from your website's color palette.
Although this web design trend involves presenting an eye-catching array of asymmetrical (or symmetrical) shapes, the key is to avoid a chaotic collage. The color blocks should create a harmonious composition where the design is intuitive and easy to understand. Color blocks are carefully aligned (using a grid can be helpful) so that all visual elements complement each other.
04. White Space
White space (or negative space) refers to the area surrounding the elements of a design. Its use creates harmony and balance on a page or screen. While white is typically used as negative space, color can also serve as a background for professional websites. This web trend focuses on creating spaces between lines and text, around visual elements, or in the margins of the page.
Since white space involves leaving areas empty, some view it as a waste of useful space. However, the reality is that it provides a breath of fresh air in web design. Its use enhances readability, separates independent sections, helps highlight elements like calls to action, and even improves the overall appearance of the page.
White space has always been one of the most important design principles, but it seems that, alongside large elements, it will play a bigger role as a web design trend in 2020. In fact, the use of large typography and images is already a common denominator in innovative websites. The result is a clean and harmonious look, far removed from the style of minimalist websites.
05. Grids and Windows
Web design is increasingly finding inspiration in new technologies. By referencing operating systems and mobile applications, websites are enhancing their appearance and achieving a contemporary look.
To explain: by using a grid, a screen can be divided into rectangles and thin lines that guide our eyes to read in a certain direction (what is known as online rapid reading). However, what was once a tool reserved for development is now being showcased openly. With this web trend, web designers highlight the division of the screen and the blocks that make it up.
Shapes reminiscent of pop-up windows and browsers are already becoming trends in web development. This look can take on a subtle form or even be more explicit with designs that cleverly evoke the early days of computing.
06. 3D Digital Images
Alongside structured web design, brightly colored 3D-generated images will also be a trend on websites. When integrated into the design, these images create contrast and have the powerful ability to capture visitors' attention.
Using 3D-modeled images is not a new concept, but their presence is becoming increasingly widespread, likely because the software to create them is more accessible than before. When combined with fluorescent colors, these images achieve a futuristic effect that gives a website a distinctive personality.
Keep in mind that this web trend should be used in moderation. If you wish to incorporate fluorescent effects into your website’s colors, it’s advisable to distribute them along the edges or outer margins of your site as a complementary or secondary color in your palette. To balance this, neutral tones like whites, grays, and blacks can be used.
07. Overlapping Elements
Overlapping elements on a webpage is an intelligent way to add depth to a 2D screen. When done correctly, it creates the feeling that the design holds more than what meets the eye. This effect is achieved by overlapping elements so that they appear partially hidden, or by adding additional content that "pops up" when clicked.
This web trend may seem like a way to clutter the screen. However, by properly using white space, asymmetrical shapes, and establishing a hierarchy in the content, the final result can be harmonious and legible.
You can achieve this effect by using windows, the parallax effect, or skillfully layering images or text.
08. Movement
Videos and animations have long been a part of the web, making us forget the concept of a static website. Regardless of the type, movement always generates interest in users and is particularly useful for capturing your audience's attention. Moreover, it’s an excellent way to direct visitors' eyes to a call to action or any important element on your webpage.
Movement can take various forms, from micro-animations that trigger when the mouse pointer hovers over an element, to typography that scrolls horizontally across the screen, or even full-screen videos.
To effectively apply this web design trend, you should ask yourself which section of your website you want to draw attention to. Keep in mind that while movement can serve your goals, it can also distract visitors. Therefore, position your moving visual elements strategically to support the message of your website.
09. Full-Screen Forms
By now, it should be clear that white space and large elements will be key players in the web design trends of 2020. This influence will also extend to online forms, those seemingly mundane elements of web design.
Online forms are one of the most interactive features of your website. They are vital for acquiring new newsletter subscribers, gathering shipping information in an online store, and much more. However, they can sometimes be tedious, which is why many users abandon websites while filling out a form. But that was in the past. The new web design trends advocate expanding the size of forms to take up more space on the screen and enhance the user experience.
Another way to encourage users to fill out a form is by using real-time micro-interactions whenever they take an action. One way to achieve this is through subtle design changes. For example, darkening a color can indicate that a form field has been completed, and messages can inform users that their submission has been completed successfully.
10. Custom Visuals
Websites can use a multitude of visual elements to convince and persuade: photos, icons, illustrations, etc. However, they are no longer mere decorative elements; they play a key role in the web design of innovative websites, from supporting and enriching the page’s message to contributing to a company’s brand identity.
For example, an online skate shop might use images of street art, while the website of an NGO, which will use images of people to evoke emotions and optimism, conveys a completely different message.
If you want to have an amazing website to kick off 2020, we welcome you with open arms to help you find the design that best suits your company or business.
>> CONTACT US!
