6 Key Web Design Trends for 2019

Web design trends move fast, and not keeping up can leave your website looking outdated. While this may not seem like a big problem, studies have found that a website’s design is linked directly to how trustworthy a visitor finds your business. This may not be fair, but it is a reality, so it’s important you update your website regularly.

So what are the trends you need to be aware of in 2019?

1. Speed and Short Attention Spans

It’s no secret that website loading speed is important – too long, and a customer will bounce before your website ever finishes loading, and a fast load time makes your site a winner with Google’s algorithms. Research shows that if your site hasn’t fully loaded in three seconds or less, you will likely lose your visitors.

2. Minimal, Flat Design

What does this mean? It doesn’t mean that your website must be white and bare; it just means that it absolutely must be easy to view and consume on a mobile device. Websites that are extremely video or image-heavy take a long time to load on a mobile device, and websites that aren’t responsive are a no-go.

Not only are non-responsive websites difficult for mobile users to use, but it will likely be penalized in search results.

3. Single-Page Sites

Single-page sites are ideal for mobile users, which is why they’ve seen such a boom in popularity. Instead of multiple pages, all of the information is displayed on one page in different sections which flow from one to the next seamlessly. These sites are ideal for events and businesses who channel all site visitors into an email sequence, but less so for those who need to include more information for their potential clients.

4. Broken Grid and Asymmetrical Designs

As mentioned above, a minimalist website design doesn’t mean your site needs to be boring. Web designers are finding numerous ways to give sites a new and fresh look without giving up the flat design necessary to keep fast loading times and responsivity. For a long time, websites reflected a grid system, but now designers are coming up with ways to break this old style without the design becoming cluttered and distracting.

5. Geometric Shapes and Patterns

Shapes and patterns have come back in a major way because they are easily integrated into a flat design. They load quickly, but add an interesting element to the site and easily reflect company branding.

6. Video Backgrounds

Despite all this talk of minimalism and loading speeds, video backgrounds are striking and effective for many websites. Why? Because the movement is so eye-catching that visitors have to pause to see what’s going on and what your site is about. If you choose to use a video background, ensure the image you use for your mobile-friendly site is just as effective.