6 Exciting Web Design Trends for 2021

Web design is an exciting service that provides real results. A large portion of your customers are going to find you on the internet, and your website is going to be their first impression of you. What do you want this initial introduction to say about your company?

There’s more to your website than simply how it looks — even though that is very important, too.

A great website is a tool. It helps your customers learn more about your company while providing various ways to help them. And the best ways to accomplish this are changing all the time.

The new year is going to bring a lot of changes, and top web design companies are pushing the industry standards further than ever before. Advancements in technology afford new capabilities, and evolving consumer habits are shaping the way these capabilities are going to be utilized.

Here are 6 exciting web design trends to look out for in 2021:

Increased Importance of Mobile Design
Utilization of Dark Themes
Emergence of Artificial Intelligence
Importance of Accessibility
Attention to the Small Details
Room to Breathe

1. Increased Importance of Mobile-First Design

All of the websites designed at Horton Group are done so with mobile devices in mind. This means they are made in such a way to guarantee they look great on cell phones, tablets, or anything else you might have in your pocket that can access the internet.

This is not the way it has always been. Historically, desktop versions were designed with mobile versions either simply using the same version, or displaying a scaled-down version of the desktop website.

This tendency has started to shift over the years. Mobile devices are being used to access the internet more and more. It’s no longer simply a good idea to design websites for mobile devices first — it’s a requirement.

2. Utilization of Dark Themes

Dark mode is available for many of the apps we use every day. People have become increasingly inclined to use it because it’s much easier on the eyes. This refers to the practice of using darker colors, usually black, as the default color for blank background space.

The tendency to use darker themes will continue to be a trend going into 2021.

There are a handful of benefits to web design companies using darker colors. As we mentioned, it makes a more comfortable experience for the user. It also makes design elements stand out a little better and give the website a more elegant appearance.

3. Emergence of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence in web design is nothing new. However, the technology is continuing to get better and businesses are seeing more benefits from using them.

Chatbots are the most well-known version of artificial intelligence on a website. These tools are available to answer commonly-asked questions for consumers at any time of day. There’s no delay while waiting for a person to respond.

This makes a much more pleasant experience for website visitors. Simple questions pop up very frequently, and these tools are going to become more refined and more helpful.

4. Importance of Accessibility

Web design companies are often focused on the functionality and general aesthetic of a website. These elements are incredibly important to a well-designed website, but there’s another consideration that will see a great share of importance: accessibility.

This refers to how easy your website is to use for people with disabilities.

There are a variety of ways to increase the accessibility of a website. There are visual elements such as ensuring a high degree of contrast between text and backgrounds as well as technological capabilities such as voice recognition software.

We want our websites to be accessible by everyone, and this effort will become increasingly important in 2021.

5. Attention to the Small Details

Consumers expect a lot more from their website experiences now than they did in the past. We expect these interactions to be made easier. And the way to accomplish this with web design is to pay attention to the small details.

These micro interactions can include things like changing the color of hyperlinked text, providing previews of links even before they’re clicked, and more. Micro animations also add to this, which could be something like interesting movements of buttons.

Taking these small details into account might not look like much when visitors initially scan your website, but they will greatly improve their experience as they start to dig into your content.

6. Room to Breathe

Web design companies don’t need to overfill their new designs in 2021. A minimalistic approach to design will become more prevalent in the new year.

There might be a desire to stuff your pages full of images and information, but that can drown itself out. A smaller amount of content will put more focus and importance on the information that is there.

More open space makes the web design feel less claustrophobic for visitors as well. It can be overwhelming. Conversely, more white space provides a comforting and calming experience for the visitor.