Website design trends tend to change over time based on the availability of new technology. Despite that fact we continue to see more white space on websites recently. At one point it may have seemed that website designers were attempting to utilize every bit of space on a page, but at some point they realized that the layout became so busy that the main accomplishment of this type of design was to confuse the viewer. When we look at larger more successful corporate websites we notice a great deal of white space and a consistent focal point. This makes it very obvious to the viewer what the page is about and enables easier navigation.
When considering what type of website design would be most appropriate for you it’s not necessary to imitate larger websites such as Google, Amazon, or Craigslist but it is a good idea to take a lesson from their successes. While a certain amount of flash animation can definitely make the page more interesting, overdoing it can simply lead to confusion.
Another trend in website design currently is larger typography. Using fonts as big as and beyond 36 pixels, designers are able to create websites that are more visually appealing, more consistent, and appear to be trustworthier. Website design agencies in particular are moving toward the usage of larger typography in order to communicate the most important messages of their websites. While the larger fonts limit the amount of information that can be displayed on the page it certainly enhances and reinforces the message behind this text.
Media blocks are also beginning to proliferate website design on an increasing scale. With more and more people gaining access to broadband Internet it is now much easier for browsers to view these types of elements without requiring as much time for the page to load. This enables a better presentation of product information without requiring the viewer to invest as much effort in navigating the site as was previously. A website design that includes media blocks increases the potential for customers to simply sit back and enjoy the show rather than putting forth much effort in exploring the website.
There’s also a tendency for many website designs to mimic the appearance of a magazine cover. The arrangements of the page, illustrations, and the above-mentioned larger typography contribute to giving the web page and appearance similar to a magazine. This last element contains a certain amount of irony since increased usage of the Internet has reduced the circulation of many nationally published magazines.