As a web designer, youll be soon abandoned by the time if you didnt catch up the web design trends in a flash. Now Ill show you the latest design trends in 2013:
No. 1: More Responsive Web Design
Responsive Web Design is not a new term any more, but why we always keep on talking about it?
Simply to say: There will be more and more strategies and more relevant standards in Responsive Web Design. For instance, designers use Breakpoints in Responsive Web Design to adapt different screen sizes. When a new device which has the enough market power (such as iPad mini), the strategy will be changed and the breakpoints can be changed to other implementations.
We believe there will be more and more website designers focus on responsive web design rather than making different webpages for different devices. This kind of design type can ignore screen size and adapt multiple screens in multiple devices.
No. 2: Use Font Layout as the Mainline
At the early age of building website, designers often concentrate on image processing and JavaScript. But there are some breakthroughs in the recent years, the most obvious point is font design is becoming more and more important. For instance, its much lightweight to income @font-face from Server than image or JavaScript.
Whats more, font layout can be more proper to Responsive Web Design than image layout or complex JavaScript layout.
Open your mind and put more font layout to your website.
No. 3: Say goodbye to Flash
Dont be surprise about this, but there are still many website using Flash. Many people should know how bad Flash is for SEO works and it can get supports in many devices (look at Apple products) now. Besides, its a forever pain for Flash users to face the frequent update
The best way is to use HTML/CSS 3 and JavaScript.
In the year of 2013, Flash will come to an end.
No. 4: Quasi Materialized Design will be history
There are many discussions about Apples Quasi Materialized Design in 2013 and Apple itself is about to change design strategy. Repeat use these old design elements can help us to change our way of thinking in new technologies.
Apple is pursuing new design aesthetics waiting other to follow its steps. During this period, weve seen some companies has their own solutions. For instance, Microsofts Metro Design.
So in the future, more and more website will tend to Flat Design.
No. 5: Full Screen Image for visual impact
Ive said font layout will take the place of image, but it isnt incompatible with what Ill tell you. More and more websites use full screen images in their homepages to increase visual impact. However, reasonable optimization is the primary thing for your website, you should take your band width and server into consideration.
In 2013, the design trend of using full screen images is continuing.
No. 6: More space
This trend of design had been started in 2012 and it will continue in 2013. Simple Design Aesthetics and Responsive Web Design are the key features in latest design. It will be more professional and attractive if you leave enough space in your webpage.
No. 7: Socialize
Deeper Social Integration will get an explosion in 2013, so put more Social Networks to your webpage and add buttons to highlight them.
No. 8: Color Schemes – peaceful and elegant
The fashion of color comes and goes faster than anything else, so we can hardly predict a popular color in a specific point. But at this time we can sure that peaceful and elegant color schemes is leading the websites and mobile application interfaces.
We recommend you black, white and grey as Safe Colors now.
No. 9: Mobile Browsers will be replaced by Mobile Applications
Even if a website can be compatible with all devices, but a mobile application is better for some sites. For Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and so on, mobile application version has much better user experience than mobile browsers.
This design trend will be more obvious and more and more people view the contents by mobile applications rather than by browsers.
No. 10: Content First
Designers should pay more attention to contents presentation in 2013. No content, no website. The optimal method to keep a website fresh is to update valuable contents.
Writing, design, publishment, sharing and anything you are doing should be focus on content. No exception to Responsive Web Design.