After a tumultuous 2020, 2021 continues to throw curveballs our way at unprecedented levels. Time seems to have slowed down, with rapid changes in a week feeling much like a decade. In a year where we struggled to keep up with the changing rules and regulations upending our lives, it can be bold to assume that one can predict what will happen in the coming year.
Whether or not the pandemic will ever disappear, one fact remains: the website theme and design space will not be the same. Analysis of user preferences shows a leaning towards new possibilities, and so our experts at Invicta Agency have put together a list of the top 5 web design trends that will shape 2021.
1. Dark Theme and Low-Light Mode
The dark theme was major in 2020. We predict that it will become even more popular in the coming year. For years, white-dominated the empty space on most websites. However, large brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Hublot have recently adopted a change to a dark mode in their landing pages. It has become an instant hit in social media apps such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook that offer alternative themes to their users.
The transition looks ultra-sleek with a single colour change. It also enhances other design elements allowing them to pop. You can minimize your eye-strain and even save your battery power. We believe more platforms will continue to offer a toggle switch to the dark mode in the coming year.
2. Enhanced Ecommerce UX
For far too long, digital services seemed like just another option for most physical stores. It is an understatement to say that large brands were caught unaware by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than half the globe experiencing a partial or full lockdown, shutdown businesses have had to shift their operations online swiftly.
New studies project worldwide retail e-commerce sales will hit a new record high of $4.9 trillion in 2021, accounting for 17.5% of total retail sales. We foresee companies building or improving their existing e-commerce sites to be faster, more consumer-friendly UX, and safer. While the pandemic has accelerated a current trend, it will continue to make waves as shoppers stick to habits they adopted during the lockdowns.
3. Better Quality Product Photography
Shopping online is more convenient for consumers than moving from one physical shop to the next, searching for a particular product. However, some items such as fabrics, furniture are hard to purchase as you may not have the liberty to touch, feel, or see them.
As more companies shift online, we predict enhanced product photography in 3D replacing thumbnail images. Propelled by the AR/VR popularity train, webmasters will look for ways of providing large and detailed pictures. Immersive 3D tours and AR views have the potential to take over space.
4. Asymmetric Layout
66% of online users prefer to look at a beautifully designed site if given a chance to consume content for 15 minutes. A visually appealing website is now more important than ever. Website designers continue to rely on a grid to streamline the structure of their sites. It also helps keep critical elements in focus, allowing easier optimization. The downfall to the grid is a lack of uniqueness in design. One way brands are looking to overcome this pitfall is through asymmetric layouts.
It allows web designers to bring forth their creativity and individuality as they have more fun building the site. It helps companies decide how the web pages reflect their brand. However, you may need to find a balance even with asymmetric layouts. We can predict more designers going off the grid and embracing collapsed gutters, multiple overlays, and empty spaces.
5. Voice Search Interface
Our expectations are voice search will continue to grow big in the coming year. Improvements to Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri continues to fuel the meteoritic rise of voice search. As more consumers embrace the trend, voice chatbots and virtual assistants will become standard for most websites. The human-centered design can take center-stage, allowing for better interactions with your clients.
In 2020, the website design and theme trends will major on dark themes, futuristic 3D photography, asymmetry, voice user interface, and better e-commerce site builds. To achieve usability and high conversion rates from your site, choose one or more trends to incorporate into your website.
