Web Design Trends for 2013
- by Matthew McNairy, March 19, 2013
The first quarter of 2013 is drawing to a close and some web design trends will start to take hold. Predictions are just that, so it’s always interesting to see what comes to fruition. Of the four below, one is a guarantee while the others fall into the wait-and-see category.
1) Responsive Design – It’s almost a cheat to call this a prediction because it’s such an obvious direction. As screen sizes on phones, tablets, and computers continue to change, it’s going to be impossible for every website owner to modify their product for the multiplying range of resolutions. The cost and time would be prohibitive. Responsive design enables developers to create options that will work for all tools. This one’s a guarantee.
2) Single-Page Layouts – HTML5 has opened several new doors for designers, including the ability to create dynamic single-page layouts. Users will be dazzled by the scope and designers get to exercise their wide-screen sensibilities.
3) Touch Screen Efficiencies – The release of Microsoft’s Surface officially means that all the big dogs have jumped into the touch screen pool. To capitalize on the growing market, designers will have to create elements that work smoothly with the technology. That means bigger buttons, larger arrows, and simpler navigation. Hiding icons and getting cute with tiny imagery isn’t going to work.
4) Vertical Scrolling – In line with the touch screen efficiencies, simplicity and intuitive features will continue to be in demand. By building headers that move up and down the screen as the person scrolls, designers are enabling users to get the full experience of a page without the frustration of having to go back and forth as they browse. Frankly, it’s a surprise this hasn’t taken hold sooner.
What trends do you see on the design horizon for 2013? What would you like to see disappear?
