Web Design Trends 2016

Information overload is frustrating. When implemented on a website page, users have difficult times focusing on a single section, finding what they are looking for, and navigating through most parts of it. Minimalism is one of the biggest website design trends in 2016, which introduces an easy way to utilize empty spaces on browser window. Rather than putting a clutter of less-necessary sections into unused spaces of the page, you may want to leave them empty; the easy way to utilize empty space is to not use it at all. When the page already features everything it has to deliver, there is no need to add flashiness. Sometimes you don’t need any obvious sidebars or footers as well.

Regardless of how minimalist you want to go, it is foolish to use blank background. You do not want your website to be like a Google Search homepage with plain white background. Using an HD image on the homepage is an easy way to get user’s attention. When combined with minimalistic design, the image also becomes easier to see and understand. As data compression is becoming more sophisticated and bandwidth friendly, there won’t be slow load times. Page speed is a web design trends that everyone is getting on board with.

A lot of website design trends in 2016 are affected by the development and popularity of mobile devices. More websites are now adopting single-page design with which visitors can browse through contents by scrolling. This is a mobile-friendly design; as mobile Internet usage keeps on getting higher, you want to use the design.

Depending on the complexity of the website, single-page is probably not a viable option. If single-page is a necessity, you can use non-scrollable design instead. There is no scrolling, so users must click a simple icon (such as an arrow or dot) on the page to navigate. Either way, users can go back and forth between contents hassle-free. The problem with clicking is that mobile users have difficulties navigating through the websites. You can solve this by using a web app in which the clickable icons are replaced with sliders/scrolling. Rather than having the entire contents on one long page, you can put them on multiple pages accessible by sliding.

Depending on the complexity of the website, single-page is probably not a viable option. If single-page is a necessity, you can use non-scrollable design instead. There is no scrolling, so users must click a simple icon (such as an arrow or dot) on the page to navigate. Either way, users can go back and forth between contents hassle-free. The problem with clicking is that mobile users have difficulties navigating through the websites. You can solve this by using a web app in which the clickable icons are replaced with sliders/scrolling. Rather than having the entire contents on one long page, you can put them on multiple pages accessible by sliding.

As the name suggest, vertical split basically splits the layout vertically into multiple sections. Website designers use the design to give equal presentations of two or more contents at once. For example, the main product image is on one side, while a simple list of practical benefits on the other.

You can consider this an alternative to either single-page design or card layout. With standard layout, product image will take most of the available space on one page, so relevant information such as features and specifications must be placed on another.