2013 Web Design Trends

By Author: Glenda Himes
Total Articles: 28
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There had been a gigantic change for web developers through the years. In fact, Phoenix marketing firms are now getting busy over mobile platform-friendly designs together with the latest browsers which back up HTML5 and CSS3 web models. There are tons of fresh ideas coming from the design community every day that even newfangled concepts are traded within months.

Fact is, some of the concepts included in this article have been keepers in the web design scene, but due to energetic and diligent web development tastemakers, these old standbys have evolved greatly. Nowadays there are lots of user interfaces and open source projects available online as free downloads. Because of this freedom, up and coming designers can hone their craft and be kept up to date with flourishing web design trends. The following are this year’s most relevant trends in web development:

1. Minimalism Whitespace

They are considered as two of the old guards of web design but has since then transformed to correspond with today’s fresh ideas. Lots of web developers use whitespace to make the main content pop and let users focus on ...
... nothing but the site’s content. In addition, even “crowded” websites can use whitespace in smaller sections to lighten and provide room.

Whitespace is not always white though since dark layouts still utilize whitespace. These are the portions of a site where you reserve some room to act as some sort of “breathing space” for the users. This will embody bigger elements on a page like icons, buttons or screenshots. The use of this aspect will make content or text easier to read and it will prevent users from clicking on competitor sites.

2. A Cleaner Source Code

Coding times these days have been cut down radically, thanks to the release of more CSS frameworks. This signifies that a Phoenix website designer can now create a 2-column or even 3-column site layout within minutes as long as he or she is using the proper tools needed for the job. In addition, there is less HTML markup required to get similar results.

Creating websites on cleaner source codes denotes that what you are working on will be tons more simplified and smaller in size. This is good news for a designer because smaller files mean faster loading period. Furthermore, editing the layout can be undertook within minutes devoid of the added effort. Online there are web developer communities, check them out and look for great material and references to begin creating clean, understandable source codes for your sites.

3. Natural Design Aspects

CSS3 specifications have produced plenty of changes in web design. However even the most basic CSS3 properties have been shaping the implementation of natural design for website layouts. These designs are background gradients with an adaptable container, box shadows and rounded corners. Years back, these styles mentioned would have needed images. Today you can create a mock-up within a browser by using only CSS3 to produce those effects.

4. Mobile-Friendly Website Designs

The rise of smartphones have prompted web developers to “start small.” It means you can begin modeling a website layout from a mobile and then go higher. Pro tip, you could create the most important design elements first and then jam them into the mobile layout. If they don’t fit at all, you might have to drop a few elements. At the same time you can plan how your layout will look as the window gets wider. Your layout will have enough room to contain a sidebar and other page components.

5. Infinite Scrolling

Social media sites like Facebook and Pinterest have started implementing the use of infinite scroll effects on dashboards, user feeds and timelines. However there are designers out there who have questioned the purpose of the infinite page scroll. Certainly it presents a smoother interface use without all the clicking to reload a page but then users will have a problematic time producing permalinks for various pages.

6. Large Images

Large photo backgrounds are on the rise, and it is not going to go away soon. There are now lots of sites and personal portfolio pages implementing this certain style. Site layouts are usually adjusted to convey emotion or feeling based on the background style and its colors. Big images are not actually for everybody, but it can work if the site owner has enough space. In addition, the biggest issue with this style is adding content into the layout wherein it can still be understandable. This is why big image backgrounds usually work for agencies and landing pages. It is also the go-to style for personal sites and design portfolios to bring about a greater connection with the visitors. Pictures of immense size are a wonderful way to further display your craft be it illustrations, vectors and photography.

Over the course of this year, designers will be busy discussing and bringing new evolutions in design and fresher ideas on the table. The best way to get updated with trends is to be hands-on with them. Visit online communities, talk to other designers all over the world and get busy with tutorials. You can also consult a good professional web designer or graphic artist for ideas you can instill in your own site.

PrimeView is a full service interactive marketing and phoenix web development company based in Arizona and is known nationwide for its award winning web designs as well as their contribution as one of the very first web designers in Phoenix and across United States and the whole world.