Modern web design is what describes the always evolving visual storytelling tools of a business or brand website. By embracing modern web design trends, a brand can always tell its story in a fresh way. Some elements of web design can help communicate what your brand is all about while others can improve how your website looks on a certain device.
Just remember, you don’t need to include everything we’ll look at in this list, but using some will enhance the experience of your website visitors.
Modern Web Design Requires Moderation
Web designers and web developers have hundreds of design elements at their disposal to create an exciting (or not so exciting) user experience. However, a modern website doesn’t, and shouldn’t, use every bell and whistle available in its design, and a skilled web designer or web developer knows that. A great modern web design is clean and has a professional look with a focus on UX (user experience).
Now let’s take a look at 12 modern web design elements that are important for performance while providing users with a positive experience.
1. Easy Navigation
Ease of navigation is one of, if not the most important element of web design. If a user has a difficult time finding their way around your site, how do you expect them to be interested in what you have to offer?
Your site can be imaginative and creative, but it absolutely must have simple and clear navigation. Your navigation should help guide users to the content that they might find interesting.
Modern web design is more focused on user experience than it has been in the past. Now there is more competition for the user’s attention than ever before, and if navigation isn’t easy, a potential lead will move on to a competitor.
2. Responsive Design
Responsive web design is important because of everyone using devices of different screen sizes. Some of your site users will be on their 27″ retina screen iMac, others will be on laptops, many on a smartphone, and even some on tablets. If your site is responsive, then the user experience can be a positive one across all devices.
Still skeptical of the need for responsive design? Mobile browsing is more common than desktops when browsing the web. Responsive web design also provides several benefits because it will be more flexible, improved UX, SEO friendly, and easier to manage. Overall, a responsive design website is more efficient in time and cost than running separate desktop and mobile websites.
3. High Quality Content
Bill Gates wrote “Content is king,” in 1996 and the statement still holds true today. Content is the basis of all media, and it will always be key to the advancement of modern web design.
Content is the foundation of your website and it’s ultimately how you convey your brand message. It helps sell products and services. Content provides website users with useful information. Publishing unique high quality content your target audience finds relevant will increase the number of people who find your site in Google and other search engines. Every piece of content you publish is another way for search engine users to find your website.
To create high quality content you will need to understand how people read online. This understanding will help you develop attractive headings, using bulleted lists, designing infographics, creating engaging audio content, and attention grabbing video content.
4. High Quality Images
High quality images are more than eye candy that makes your site look good.
When images are used correctly, they can help drive traffic to your site, encourage social media sharing, and they can even help to drive conversions. Users are increasingly visually driven, and this means images are increasingly important.
If you do not have a DSLR or mobile phone with an amazing camera, try these sites for some high quality stock images.
5. Consistency
Consistency is an absolute must in modern web design. Be consistent with the content and design throughout the entirety of the website. Consistency will provide your visitors with a high quality feel to their experience.
All visitors to your site should be comfortable when browsing your website. Anyone should be able to feel that the site is full of relevant information that’s organized in a logical manner so navigation is easy. If the experience is logical and easy, your users will be happy and they’ll be appreciate the consistency of your website.
Also, consistency will be reflection of your organization’s professionalism, whether it’s warranted or not.
6. Having a Fast Website
People today are impatient and they will leave your website if they have to wait more than five seconds. It doesn’t matter if you’re a B2C or B2B company or what niche you serve. Of course you want to provide a positive user experience, and as the behaviors of customers evolve, the speed of your website is something you will need to maintain.
A fast loading website is important for SEO and usability. Your site can have a great modern web design, but if it loads slowly your visitors are likely to lose interest and move on to another site. A fast loading website will be appreciated by users and prove favorable to improving your search engine ranking.
7. Layout & Visual Appearance
The layout and overall visual appearance of your website helps shapes the user experience. The overall look of your website will take into consideration the company’s unique design elements and brand assets, colors, and typography, as well as spacing, photography, and product usability in more general terms.
Branding is of utmost importance here. The site should evoke your brand and reflect what your brand is all about. Consider how to leverage your brand’s visuals to stand out on desktop, mobile, and tablets.
The visual appearance is what makes modern web design look modern. You want to create a long-lasting brand association and establish relationships. Every visual aspect of your design should be given careful consideration; from fonts and colors to shapes and images.
Don’t forget the basics! Your site should be visually appealing, but it should also be accessible, usable, and easy to find. Help yourself and visitors get the most out of your website with high usability.
8. Color Scheme
The color scheme of a website is a basic component of design, but that doesn’t mean it’s meant for light consideration. The color scheme is an important element of modern web design. Choose the right combination of colors through color theory.
Ideas are developed through colors. Colors also help communicate messages, evoke emotions, and can spark interest by directing attention.
Don’t pick only the colors that you like when developing your website’s color scheme. Choose colors that reinforce your brand and boost your website.
Use color theory because colors that look brilliant alone may not work well together. Understand the basics of color theory (How to Choose a Color Scheme? The 3 Cats Labs Guide to Color Theory & The Color Wheel) and also learn what emotions and impressions are related to which colors.
Selecting a color scheme is a bend of both art and science.
9. Typography
You’ve got the greatest content you’ve ever had for your website, However, if it’s not easy tor read you’ll lose your audience. It’s good to remember sans-serif fonts are always the best choice for online readability. Almost certainly you’ll want to add some flavor to your website with “fancy” fonts. It’s best to save these for use in headings and other larger type placements.
You also need to consider the size oft the fonts. Yes, users can change the size of fonts using their device settings, but you shouldn’t expect the users to do the work for you. Tiny text might look cool and neat, but if it can’t be read, then what’s the point? General guidance is to use size 18pt font for paragraph or body text because it works well across all devices.
10. Telling Your Story/About Us
The About Us Page is a must and is an important part of your website, because people want to know who they’re possibly partnering with or from whom they’re making a purchase. The About Us page introduces to your audience who you are and what your business is all about.
Getting things right on what seems to be a basic page can be tricky. Explain what your brand is all about in a way that anyone can understand. Doo’t just say what you want to say, because that can easily shift from clever to reckless. You want to gain customer trust by being authentic, creative, and most of all, human.
11. Email Integration
Around 54% of the world’s population uses email. This is why email integrating is a core component of modern web design. Connecting to you audience directly through their inbox is an excellent opportunity to increase your visibility and reach. In turn this allows for continuous engagement and higher probability of lead conversion.
Email sign ups also allow for your audience to learn about your business and better understand your brand. You get to promote your new products and services while recipients are pleased to be “in the know.” Email integration is a very useful tool that can build your email marketing list, and then you can use that list to complement or enhance other marketing channels.
12. White Space
Your layout needs to be clear. With the abundance of information the average person is exposed to during the day, empty space can aid in achieving clarity in communications. It doesn’t matter whether your site is purely informational or an e-commerce site, it needs to be easy to understand.
White space, or negative space, is the part of a design that is unmarked. White space creates balance and harmony in a design. It is also useful for the purpose of directing attention from one element to another.
White, or negative space is an element of modern web design that makes any website look clean, simple, and uncluttered. The use of white space will help you deliver information to your audience; and they may not say it, but they’ll appreciate the clarity.
Let’s Talk About Your Brand
shane@3catslabs.com | Call +65-3159-4231
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