7 Awesome Web Design Trends in 2021

Over the years, web technology has made tremendous progress. With the help of new technologies, web design can break new ground. Is it even possible to create a beautiful and user-oriented website without using current web design trends? Are there timeless websites that are still as impressive as when they were launched? Maybe from an aesthetic point of view. But also from a technical perspective? Certainly not.

There Web design does not exist out of nothing but has to be technically implemented, web design trends are heavily influenced by technological innovations and possibilities. In this article, you will learn about the upcoming web design trends for 2021.

Trend 1: Serifs (no joke!)

Many web designers claim: Serif fonts are for paper and certainly don’t belong on the web. Now you can see serif fonts like Garamond on many websites. Garamond in particular was actually developed for book printing - and not for the Internet. Apparently we have reached all the limits of the web and now we need to rethink the old rules. Fortunately, most of the regular text on the Internet remains sans serif. Fonts without frills make more sense for longer text on the web because they are easier to read. However, serif fonts are very decorative and are often used for eye-catching headings.

Trend 2: High-contrast color gradient

In the past, webmasters disdained color gradients because they were too confusing on the web. Today they are accepted again. It’s not about subtle gray color gradients. Now the following applies: the louder, the better. The modern color gradients appear dynamic and evoke emotions through the combination of retro colors. Usually these gradations are combined with a sober, clean design. Today they stand in contrast to the rest of the corresponding website.

Color gradients with strong contrast are increasingly being used as symbol colors or logo colors. The palette does not have to be identified by a specific color. Soft and bright colors in particular have become design elements in web design. Dynamic image overlay and color animation are becoming increasingly popular. This web design trend is unlikely to go away any time soon. The color palette should professionally complement other elements of the website to convey the target message.

Trend 3: Standard layout and design templates

The Internet is developing rapidly and becoming more and more complex. A good web design must fit all device sizes. If you want to reinvent the wheel for every new web design project, the technical effort involved is very high. There are templates and frameworks so that even customers with small budgets can set up modern websites.

Standard layouts are pre-built code components that can be used to compose different websites. The result is that websites look the same. On the other hand, the learning behavior of users plays a key role. Navigation is usually in the top right corner. Users know this and can find solutions more quickly on websites with similar structures. This improves the user experience. When every website looks similar, the operation of each page is easy to understand. So there are not only disadvantages if the appearance of the pre-built frameworks is uniform.

Trend 4: Homepage sliders

You will see it again and again: the slider on the homepage, the so-called hero images. Unfortunately, users often ignore these sliders. In fact, these sliders were intended to build emotionality. The header slider is now part of the website standard library. Users are used to not finding any real information here. However, it is still a trend to integrate title sliders into websites. Hardly any WordPress theme without such a title control.

But be careful: if the slider or hero image resembles advertising too much, the element will be ignored by the user. The user focuses on what he finds useful. Title sliders without actual content no longer attract attention.

Trend 5: Mobile First in web design

Responsive web design is not a trend, but now a must. Nevertheless, responsive designs should be mentioned here. Responsive web design is a response to users’ online behavior and has rightly achieved a secure place in modern web design.

Users now browse on the go. Traditional desktop PCs are increasingly being replaced by mobile devices. Some web designers still create their screen designs for HD screens that users rarely use. Even Google is gradually converting its search index to mobile devices. For this reason there is also a mobile-first approach. Although responsive websites are designed to display some mobile device optimizations on desktop websites, this should now be the other way around. Now the website is being developed for smartphones first. Only then should the website be adapted to a larger screen.

Trend 6: Fixed navigation

Fixed or fixed navigation means that the navigation stays at the top of the screen even when the user scrolls. The fixed navigator always remains visible. This means users don’t have to scroll up again to browse the website. In addition, especially with long texts, the reader can immediately see which subpages are still available.

Trend 7: Smart chatbots in web design

Some web design trends, such as chat robots, have emerged from the technological development of computer-aided AI. These chatbots have been popular for many years and are now common on small websites. The design of these chatbots will be more balanced in the coming year and the interaction with the bots will be more user-oriented. Chatbots can already be customized and can no longer be compared with previous models.

Conclusion: What role do web design trends play?

Should you follow trends when building a website? This question can only be answered individually. Critically addressing certain web design trends is crucial for sustainable web design. Many customers expect a modern website that is based on current web design trends and associate this with competence. You can’t go wrong with proven web design trends. They are considered advanced and do not offend. Users have already seen them and can quickly find their way around because they already know the designs from other websites.

Web design should always be innovative and not copied. Making the site as intuitive as possible should be a top priority. Therefore, consider the trends carefully and add your own creativity. Web design trends are great, but they should also be meaningful and support your goals.