You access diverse types of websites for fulfilling various needs such as booking tickets, buying stuff online, seeking entertainment and paying bills, etc. Despite the popularity and emergence of mobile apps, websites have not lost their relevance much. However, like everything else related to the internet, web design trends keep changing. Even if you look at the website of your favorite e-commerce brand, you will spot changes over time. The top 10 website design companies follow these trends and deploy these in their work. Ultimately, it is all about catering to changing user needs.

Top web design trends to hog limelight in 2021

More than half of 2020 is gone, and certain trends have affected web design prominently. A few of these trends will persist in 2021 while others will fade out. The top web design companies will follow these for sure.

  • Emphasis on Asymmetric layouts- For a long time, the web designers have made website UIs based on grids. The focus has been given on maintaining symmetry in site design and layout. While adhering to symmetry in site design helps in streamlining structure and aesthetically presenting content, it makes the site look generic. The trend of relying on asymmetric design is catching up. It suits the theme and target viewers of specific sites. However, web designers still need to maintain a sense of balance.

  • Deployment of AI - AI is hogging plenty of attention these days, and brands in various sectors are embracing this fast-developing technology. It is being deployed extensively to develop smart applications and customized software solutions. However, in 2021, AI is expected to be used in the web design realm too. As web users become more demanding and prefer personalized solutions, it makes sense for web design agencies to deploy AI. Deployment of AI in web design will be useful in gathering data on user behavior and preferences. It will also be useful in boosting conversion and sales in the long run.

  • Smarter chatbots- Chatbots on websites are not exactly new. You may have interacted with such applications that are used in lieu of humans, mostly in customer care related operations. However, in the near future, the chatbots used in websites are expected to become smarter, and they would be able to resolve complex customer issues. So far, the chatbots can answer basic queries, and complex issues are handed over to human support staff. This is set to change in the future. This will reduce the load on human support staff and make things easier for the customers too. It will also lead to time-saving and reduction of complexities.

  • Using floating elements and soft shadows - Aesthetic appeal is very important in web design. However, with time web designers are getting more means to make the sites look appealing and user-friendly. To ensure the websites look visually appealing, many web designers are making use of soft shadows. This, coupled with floating media content, can make a website stand out amidst the competition. From headings to buttons, this design style can be applied to some page elements without hassles.

  • Using Dark theme - One of the welcome changes in the new version of Android was the introduction of the dark theme, and WhatsApp users hailed the move too. It was also welcomed when Apple introduced the feature in iOS 13. The same trend is catching up in web design too. Several web designers are now using black instead of white in the empty space in the web pages designed. Giants like Mercedes Benz and Apple have already deployed dark themes in website design, and more players are expected to follow suit. It is not only about enhancing site aesthetics. The web users find dark-themed sites less taxing on the eyes. The dark-themed sites look gorgeous on OLED displays, in particular. It also paves the way for using neon inspired visuals on the site.

  • Blending graphics with images - The trend to blend images with graphics is on the rise in web design. Many brands are using this technique to make the site interface aesthetically enticing. It can be the image of a product or a person associated with the brand. This helps in maintaining branding but adds a different dimension to the visual aspect. It is kind of a digital collage. This can also be utilized in personal websites and blogs, especially the sites of creative professionals and artists.

  • Multiple content choices- People access the web for various needs, and they even visit the same site for diverse needs. The web designers are now focusing more on offering diverse content options in the same sites to cater to varying types of users. People use a wide range of devices to access the same site, and they also use different browsers. The sites are being designed in a way so that the users can choose what type of content they want to see. For example, there will be an option to play or pause a video on the landing page or a product page. Some users prefer watching videos, while others may prefer reading the text content more.

  • Focus on fonts and typography- A web design trend that caught up in 2020 and is expected to continue in 2021 is enhanced focus on using fonts and typography. A number of brands have resorted to using typography to make the sites stand out. Using images or collage inside large-sized tests and using contrasting hues in headings and subheadings are popular now. Sometimes, using such visuals work better than using images in the background to make the sites look enticing. Of course, the designers need to pay attention to legibility while picking some fancy or large-sized fonts.

Summing it up

Web design trends do not remain static over the years, and it has been seen so many times. The trends evolve, keeping in pace with changing user needs and technological evolution. As per survey done by Companies List in 2021, some more and unprecedented trends may also gain prominence.