1. Abstract Illustrations
Custom illustrations can make your website stand out. But more than sourcing stock images and visuals, we recommend taking the time to get genuine illustrations that will best represent your website. If you want to make it even more interesting, consider the use of abstract illustrations to tickle the user’s mind.
Pro tip: All Strikingly templates are mobile-responsive but do take note of image size specifications to ensure your visuals will look great on all devices.
2. Split Screen Content
Do you have too many ideas to convey but you don’t seem to have a lot of space on your site? Maximise your website’s real estate while keeping your design clean with split screen content. Break a section into two and make each half feature a different yet connecting visual and message. Partitioned design was one of the popular web design trends 2019 that carries over to this year.
Pro tip: Explore themes that feature split screen layouts on Strikingly to take advantage of this web design trend. You can even make each half of the screen behave differently by using a still image background on one half and a video background on the other.
3. Minimalist Websites
Keeping it clean and simple was one of the favorite web design trends 2019 and we still see it in this year’s websites. Clean layouts and backgrounds make messages stand out, making users zero in on the content rather than get distracted by complicated visuals. Keeping your website simple also ensures that it will load quickly even on slower internet connections. Less clutter means a better user experience.
Pro tip: Minimalism doesn’t necessarily mean dull. Try playing around with gradients on your image backgrounds or as color filters on illustrations. Look around for interesting illustrations and patterns that are easier on the eye.
4. Huge Typography
Here is another way to get the message across. In-your-face typography and bold fonts on headlines grab a user’s attention effectively - sometimes even more so than images. Take advantage of Strikingly’s huge library of fonts and play around with different options for conveying your message.
Pro tip: Keep the bold fonts on headers and certain parts of your content that you want to emphasize. If you use bold typography on your entire content, it loses its purpose.
5. Patterns on Website
Using interesting patterns on background images is another one of the best website design trends to watch out for this year. They make websites look fresh and modern without appearing too obtrusive.
Pro tip: When it comes to using background images, take note of Strikingly’s recommended sizes and guidelines. This will ensure that your background images and patterns will look the same on all screen sizes.
6. Retro and Modern Combinations
This year, vintage themes are making a comeback. Web design trends are taking inspiration from the 50s and 60s in terms of the use of dust, noise, and black and white images. Check out retro-inspired typography to make your website stand out as well.
Pro tip: Use grayscale images to inject a bit of vintage into your website. Sepia filters and subdued color shades are also great for a more 50s kind of vibe. Alternatively, you can also get creative with retro color schemes from the 70s. Think neon and pastel colors for a more interesting look.
7. 3D Elements
3D has become a vital element in modern web design. It provides a level of depth that makes visuals look more realistic and engaging. 3D cartoon vectors and graphic illustrations are also more popular this year.
Pro tip: Combine 3D visuals with minimalist design elements to keep your website looking clean, balanced and modern.
8. Black and White
Following up on the minimalist themes is the use of black and white in this year’s website design trends. Using black and white is widely popular in websites that want to look modern and elegant. There is an air of exclusivity in predominantly black websites which is why it is a common theme in fashion and luxury brand pages. Using a neutral background also makes the message stand out even more.
Pro tip: Clean typography and simple patterns are best combined with black and white themes.
9. Photos and Illustrations
Another website design trend that is starting to grow popular is combining photos and graphic illustrations. Some websites use vector graphics to make their website look more modern. Many are starting to combine photos and vector graphics to create an even more engaging visual.
Pro tip: Use tailored illustrations to push your brand and support your message. You can start with a stock vector and customize it according to your liking.
10. Designing with Sound
Using sound and videos make a site more engaging. While it’s not always a good idea to put background music on auto-play, creating high-quality videos and injecting playlists can help get your message across effectively.
Pro tip: Make sure to ask the user first or at least give him or her the option to listen to your playlist instead of going on auto-play. Also, be mindful of slow internet connections and make sure that your website content will still stand without the video in case the file doesn’t load.
