I’m often asked about the state of modern web design. It’s a topic that comes up in consultations with business owners, conversations with colleagues, and even interviews I give with the media. Sometimes, up-and-coming web designers will inquire about the latest trends and ideas.
In each case, I always point out that modern web design is a moving target. Things change so quickly in this industry that it’s tough to keep your finger on what’s happening right now, and almost impossible to predict with any certainty where things will be headed beyond the near future.
Still, the subject of modern web design is important because marketers and industry professionals alike need to keep up with best practices or they’ll fall behind. With that in mind, today I want to share my five favorite modern web design tips for 2018 and beyond…
#1 Let Your Web Design Tell a Story
To me, modern web design is all about instant impressions. It involves telling your story in a way that’s impossible to miss with a few words and pixels. When someone visits your website for the first time, they should know within a few seconds or less exactly what your company is all about. There are a lot of cool things you can do on the web, but you shouldn’t ever sacrifice clarity for style.
#2 Remember That White Space Is Your Friend
As websites have gotten more complex, design trends have moved back towards simplicity. I think that’s only natural. The sheer possibilities that exist in web design today have presented their own problems. Namely, that a lot of marketers (and the web designers they work with) are cluttering up the internet. If clarity and simplicity are your first goal, then white space is your friend.
#3 Ensure Full Mobile Compatibility
Modern web design is heavily influenced by the spread of web-ready mobile phones and tablets. These devices are everywhere, and in fact mobile internet users now make up an online majority. It goes without saying your website should be responsive for mobile compatibility. Beyond that, you should look for ways to optimize your pages (with smaller images, radio buttons, etc.) to make it easier for mobile visitors to interact with your company.
#4 Simplify Your Text and Image Blocks
Another feature of modern web design is pages that are easy to scan. Most of us simply don’t have the time to look through long blocks of text, or to wait for huge images to load. That’s especially true when we are using phones and tablets to find answers (see above). For that reason, all marketers and designers should look to simplify, and in some cases minimize, the content on their pages.
#5 Prioritize Easy Navigation
As a rule, the longer it takes someone to find the information they’re looking for on your website, the more likely they are to leave and take their attention elsewhere. That’s why navigation is a huge priority in modern web design. No matter how you set up your menus and search bars, ensure customers can always move from one point or page to another with very little hassle.
Modern web design is all about giving visitors the user experience they want, and helping them to find solutions to their problems. If you feel like your current web presence doesn’t check off the boxes I’ve outlined above, it might be time to meet with a business web designer who can take your company’s marketing to the next level. Why not call Biondo Creative today and let us put our expertise to work for you?