Web Design Trends

WHAT? WHY?

Over time, the look and feel of websites change and it is important for web designers to know what's good and what's bad for websites. The following points should be considered should you wish to make a mark and be known in the industry this 2011.

Simple Color Schemes
www.launchlist.net
Limit your palette to two or three colors. Work within the shades of each color for variety.
Mobile Ready
www.warface.co.uk
Your website has to be optimized for SmartPhones, iPads, netbooks, etc. Forecasters predict that smartphones will outsell personal computers this year.
Parallax Scrolling
www.head2heart.us
The parallax effect uses layers to present the illusion of a 3D space. Can be used as header, footer or background. It can be accomplished with some simple CSS tricks or the help of jQuery plugins like Spritely
Designing for Touch Screens, not mice.
www.siblify.com
This means that instead of navigating your mouse to remotely connect, your destination is literally at your fingertips. Tablets, most smartphones and some desktops use touchscreens. Does your design accommodate fingertip navigation?
Depth Perception
www.gardenerandmarks.com.au
The 3D elements are crisp and simple, which what makes them so stunning.
Large Background
www.christianwoo.com
Large photos are an instant way to grab your audience. The background photo must be content-appropriate. Use soft and slightly transparent imagery that does not over shadow your content.
Typographic Designs
www.carsonified.com
Play with type faces that go well together (Hint: Font faces by the same designer usually work together)
Grid Intensive Layouts
www.workdiary.de
Web designers are starting to break away from traditional web layouts (header, content column, sidebar, footer) in favor of more unique, grid driven layouts.
Textures
www.bombedout.com
Textures aren't new, but as each year passes we see it being integrated in new and interesting ways
Single Page Sites
www.sparklingmilk.com
Single-paged websites work well in either horizontally or vertically.