Retro touch
Today, many old things are becoming relevant again. We can trace this idea in the sphere of fashion, cinematography, and web design as well. This trend concerns the visual side of web design, especially typography.
However, we’re not speaking about the same tired fonts, rather a stylization that includes big and bold types with experimental colors, forms, and shapes. It breathes life into the textual material, making it almost visual, engaging, and eye-catching. Another retro trend is the use of grainy texture instead of sleek composition. It gives a website a more natural and artistic look.
Interactive 3D content
Along with retro, advanced 3D technologies are bursting into web design in 2021. The lines between reality and the virtual environment keep blurring, so that design can use more three-dimensional effects and techniques to build stunning, almost futuristic projects. Now 3D elements can be seen everywhere, from illustrations and animations to the creative digital interpretations of physical objects. It helps designers to depict whatever product in depth to reinforce the realistic feel when users interact with it.
Scroll effects
Parallax scroll effects have been a trend in web design for many years, and, what is more, it continues to grow. Parallax creates an illusion of depth and movement. As users navigate the web page, the objects near to them appear to move faster than objects that are farther. The effects range from backgrounds and color schemes changing, complex animation transitions, to shifts in the layouts. All in all, it’s a perfect way of making design alive so that when users scroll, they are going far beyond the navigation – they interact.
Dark mode
Prior, most website designs were in black and white. Now, we can see a shift to a dark mode design that is becoming increasingly popular. In black and white design, designers focused mostly on the colors, but the dark mode is about the shades rather than colors. It is a great way to add a modern, elegant, and stylish look to any website or product.
Modest color schemes
Bright colors are beautiful, but, nowadays more and more designers seem to cherish modest color palettes. Simplicity is the key. The soft color scheme doesn’t interfere with impressive typography or interactive micro animations. That not only creates a balanced outlook but naturally fosters relaxation and calm while iterating with the platform.
Three-dimensional colors
Since the design becomes deeper, three-dimensional colors are becoming more and more beloved. A shading that creates a soft transition from one hue to another allows designers to blend various colors and incorporate uneven combinations to impress users. Also, three-dimensional colors can add multiple levels to the website's visual, making it look more sophisticated and refreshing.
Frosted glass effect
Another well-received trend is the frosted glass effect. It helps to create a semi-transparent design that is modern yet easy to perceive. Blurry elements behind are still readable, and they don't impede the main message. So that a viewer can see a big picture without getting lost in details or interrupted by them. That’s why a frosted glass effect is a perfect way of mixing things up without leaving some of them behind the user’s perception.
Collage art
A picture is worth a thousand words so that illustrations in web design are still vital. To attract more attention, designers try new ideas in their projects. Some incorporate hand-drawn elements that are highly authentic and unique – some use micro animations throughout the website to make it more interactive. There is also another way to craft a visual side of a design.
Collage art has been known to the world since 1914, but now it comes back and enters web design as a new trend in 2021. With that trend, images can be combined and merged into one unified piece of art. It is also helpful if designers need to show multiple images at once and don’t want to put them aside on different web pages.
Virtual and augmented reality
As users want more detailed information about the products and services before purchasing them, web design should provide them with such an opportunity. As for e-commerce or real estate business, VR/AR websites can significantly help to boost performance. Consumers can view the product online, examine its features, and even see how it would look in reality. That all builds credibility and promotes sales.
Audio experience
Multimedia is an integral part of web design. Each year it develops, presenting new opportunities. Now, the concept of voice user interface emerges. It allows users to interact with a system through voice or speech commands. It might be useful for those who have some visual impairments or don’t want to waste time searching for the information. It is hands-free, intuitive, and speedy. However, this functionality can't be seen on most websites, but the trend will evolve.
Web design will evolve, and every year will bring more and more innovations to it. Still, it’s critical to remember that trends are changeable. When incorporating them, it's necessary to think about them as a smart decision, but not a temporary one.