{"id":32747,"date":"2020-01-31T11:14:12","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T17:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/blog\/?p=32747"},"modified":"2023-06-26T18:45:25","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T23:45:25","slug":"web-design-trends-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/blog\/web-design-trends-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The 8 Biggest Web Design Trends of 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Web design is like a shark – for better or worse, it never stops moving.<\/p>\n

And, that constant movement leads to evolution, innovation… and occasionally some regrettable web design trends.<\/p>\n

Still, it’s good to keep an eye on trends. They often lay the foundation for new best practices.<\/p>\n

There are a few recent trends that have already<\/em> become web design canon. Responsive and mobile-friendly design practices, fast load speeds, clear and user-friendly UI\/UX design, and brand-centric design have recently trended – and continue to be essential. This is for good reason. These practices serve every website (and particularly every business website) well.<\/p>\n

But, not all trends have substance. Not all trends stand the test of time. And, not all website design trends are good for your business.<\/p>\n

As we explained in our look at 2019 web design trends<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Your website is a critical component of your brand, and as your brand and marketing strategy evolves, your site should as well.<\/p>\n

After all, your website and your brand should work in tandem. Misalignment can damage not only your brand but also your customer\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n

But, the decision to incorporate a trend into your website design should always be determined by whether that trend makes sense for your brand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, we consider it our<\/em> job to sort through the latest trends and predict which ones are grounded in sound design – and which ones will likely quickly fade and become dated.<\/p>\n

Here are the most popular web design trends and styles of 2020:<\/h2>\n
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  1. Forward-thinking custom illustrations<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. In-your-face Interstitials<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Random Shapes<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Hamburger (Mobile) Menus on Desktop<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. 3D Design Elements<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Tightening Integration Between Social Media and Website<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. The End of Autoplaying Media with Sound<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Dark Mode<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let’s take a look at each of these in detail.<\/p>\n

    1. Forward-thinking Illustrations<\/h3>\n

    Custom illustrations have taken the web by storm over the past few years. Businesses of all sorts – but, especially SaaS businesses<\/a> – have embraced this trend with gusto.<\/p>\n

    Why? Because illustrations are a great way to make complex things more understandable, the intangible tangible, and the vague specific.<\/p>\n

    Businesses today are using illustrations on their websites to explain complex concepts, draw viewer focus in a mindful way, and create unique visual brand identities. That’s nothing new in 2020.<\/p>\n

    But, you should keep your eye on these two new<\/em> illustration trends this year…<\/p>\n

    Animated Illustrations<\/h4>\n

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    Was that a little movement you caught out of the corner of your eye? Better look over there!<\/p>\n

    Our eyes are hardwired to notice movement. Historically, it’s helped to keep us alive. And, in 2020, web designers are capitalizing on this default human setting.<\/p>\n

    Animated illustrations are one of the newest trends being used to direct viewer attention within web designs.\u00a0 You’ll see these petite animations on sites all over the web.<\/p>\n

    Some animated illustrations are merely still graphics that jiggle, while other illustrated animations are more thoughtful and complex. When used to their fullest capacity, animated illustrations can tell stories, explain concepts, or help viewers navigate a website.<\/p>\n

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    This example from Zibbet.com demonstrates the concept behind their service – easily selling handmade goods on multiple platforms.<\/p>\n

    Best of all, like all illustrations, animated illustrations can be custom-designed to visually represent your<\/em> specific brand. So, the possibilities are pretty limitless – as long as you’re working with an illustrator who truly understands your business and brand identity.<\/p>\n

    But, be sure to use these animations wisely. Poor placement could draw your audience’s eye to the wrong place – causing more harm than good.<\/p>\n

    If your business offers a product or service that needs a bit of explaining to help customers see the value, then an animated illustration that does just that will be a great upgrade to your website.<\/p>\n

    Hand-drawn Illustrations<\/h4>\n

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    Slick digital graphics used to wow us. But, they’ve lost some of their luster through the familiarity of seeing them every day.<\/p>\n

    Today, in the sea of polished sameness, hand-drawn illustrations stand out. And their popularity is on the rise in 2020, both in web design<\/a> and in 2020 logo design trends<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Project management platform Basecamp<\/a> has been at the forefront of hand-drawn illustration for years. The current iteration of their website uses hand-written notations overlaid over screenshots to help explain how their service works and highlight certain features. These call-outs are visually unique on the page and stand out as a result.<\/p>\n

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    Marketing automation platform MailChimp<\/a> also uses distinctive hand-drawn illustrations in their web design. You’ll notice that the visual style is completely different from Basecamp’s, helping to demonstrate the versatility of this illustration style.<\/p>\n

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    Is your brand playful? Rustic? Unpretentious? Hand-drawn illustrations can be many things. Consider embracing this trend if you’re looking for a fresh way to draw focus through your website and create a unique visual brand.<\/p>\n

    2. In-your-face Interstitials<\/h3>\n

    \"interstitial<\/p>\n

    Pop-ups are back.<\/p>\n

    And, if we’re truly honest, they never really left. But, they’ve certainly grown more brazen.<\/p>\n

    Today’s pop-ups are called interstitials<\/a>. Some marketers use this web design tool responsibly and in helpful circumstances. For instance… If you’ve spent a great deal of time on a page,\u00a0 an interstitial may pop up as your cursor moves toward the navigation bar inviting you to learn more about the product before making a choice.<\/p>\n

    Other websites bombard you with an interstitial message before you’ve even made it to the homepage. These interstitials appear as soon as you navigate to a site and often invite you to sign up for their email list in order to receive a discount off your first purchase.<\/p>\n

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