WEB TRENDS IN 2021: ORDINARILY REMARKABLE

WEB TRENDS IN 2021: ORDINARILY REMARKABLE

In 2021 web design trends worldwide appear to be following a common theme – they are inspired by the ordinary. Call it nostalgia – people crave the everyday things that they lived without during 2020; we remember life before the pandemic, and though we want to return to it, we desire a slower, more simplistic way. There is a nod to the past, but designers take the traditional and enrich it with color and movement. They are making the ordinary remarkable and giving the past a modern spin.

OUR FIVE FAVORITES

COMFORTABLE COLORS & GRAINY TEXTURES.

After hours of Zoom meetings and computer work, people have screen fatigue our eyes and brains are searching for colors that naturally promote tranquility and relaxation. This year web designers are avoiding the color extremes of light and dark and finding a middle ground. Instead of using pure black or pure white, which can be jarring, they opt for softer color palettes: greens, pastel blues, warm browns, or light pinks. Web designers seem to be aiming towards accessibility and comfort instead of focusing on the dramatic impact.

Similarly, grainy textures can give a website a more natural feel. Designers are trading in the matte blocks of solid color for more complex, coarse textures with an organic feel that provides an authentic experience instead of the smooth perfection that has been commonplace for the past few years.

RETRO FONTS.

Retro fonts have had their share of ups and downs in popularity. After becoming popular a few years ago, much of the vintage typography has not aged well. However, in 2021 designers have dusted off these passe fonts and given them a modern spin. We see a combination of the old and the new in many of the websites this year; designers are taking vintage fonts and artistically reimagining them to make them look fresh and distinctive.

PARALLAX ANIMATION.

Parallax animation has been a website trend for years, but in 2021 designers are using it subtly. Parallax is the optical illusion that happens when objects near the viewer move faster than those farther away, or at least that’s how they appear. This year, instead of using grand sweeping animation that can confuse the eye and overwhelm the viewer, designers add just enough gentle movement to create contrast and bring attention to each element as it appears.

NEUMORPHISM

Neumorphism, a derivative of Skeuomorphism,  is a favorite trend of 2021. Skeuomorphism is a design approach that incorporates hyper-realistic renderings of materials into designs. Flat design replaced Skeuomorphism in popularity around 2010; it simplifies icons and colors by making them less realistic but uniform and easily identifiable. Neumorphism is different from both; it focuses on the color palette. Designers use a solid background color and dark and light shadows to create a 3D effect. It generates an illusion that the components are inside the background and are only visible because they protrude or are sunken in. This trend produces a soft visual that stays consistent throughout the entire product.

WEB DESIGN FOR CAUSES

The importance of virtual communication in 2020 cannot be understated – virtual conferences and video calls replaced in-person meetings; companies quickly learned to pivot from brick-and-mortar locations to home offices and online retail. Thus, the importance of websites skyrocketed. Designers rose to the challenge and created meaningful websites to guide people through these complex times. This social consciousness has become a trend in design. Expect to see nods to sustainability and community activism. Designers are vigilant in reflecting the diversity of their customers in the imagery they are choosing. In 2021 we see that the best interactive experiences for users are the ones in which everyone is represented, and the sites bring awareness to social causes.

The web trends of 2021 are mirroring our return to everyday life. These new website designs are down-to-earth and beautifully simplistic. They offer the user a comfortable experience and highlight the ordinary. The creativity is in the subtly of these trends; less is more. This year authenticity wins.