When you design a “modern” website, you incorporate the practices of strategic thinking and user experience. You don’t design websites that merely “look stylish or cool.” However, you merge contemporary aesthetics with established principles that generate genuine marketing and business results.
Are you seeking inspiration to create your modern website design? The article has compiled some of the state-of-the-art trends that illustrate the integration of creative design with practical usability.
7 Modern Website Design Ideas to Try
Here are the latest modern website design trends you can expect and try to refresh and upscale your site.
1. The use of custom illustrations
Breathing life into your brand and website, custom illustrations not only distinguish your brand but also boost brand recognition. It is especially when your unique illustrations reflect your brand’s aesthetic or style.
2. Go for full-page headers
You can create different header types, but a common layout features the key text or CTA (call-to-action) buttons positioned on the left side of the header. You can complement it with eye-catching images on the right. It occurs since readers concentrate their attention primarily on the top-left side of your page.
3. The application of parallax scrolling
Parallax scrolling is a design technique in which images on a website’s foreground visually shift at a different rate or angle compared to those in the background. Scrolling uncovers slight variations in depth, highlighting images and text as you navigate down the page.
4. The comeback of white space
Returning to minimalism, the white space trend is similar to that found in print magazines. Flowing like natural currents, it establishes a visual hierarchy where no component detracts from the entirety. It also offers breathing room, allowing viewers’ eyes to relax.
5. Implementing playful cursors
Unique and playful cursors can create a new experience for those viewing your site pages. You can simply modify the cursor shape or go all-out by intricately programming animations activated by the cursor.
6. Telling compelling and engaging stories
It’s essential to understand how to craft captivating narratives in your content and marketing efforts to engage individuals genuinely with your website and brand. It is not only captivating but also will educate your intended audience.
7. More focus on UI/UX
The UX in your modern website design needs to be seamless, engaging, and without disruptions. It emphasizes the importance of quick page loading, multimedia, white space (to minimize clutter), and SEO content that is not only relevant but also scannable.
Pursuing Modern Website Design: 5 Key Elements
How to design a modern website? Here are several key elements for giving your website a contemporary and professional look.
- Embrace minimalism
Adheres to the “less is more” philosophy, minimalism emphasizes simplicity and a limited use of components. Fewer unnecessary elements mean improved web performance (faster loading times), making it easier for users to navigate. It ultimately establishes a clear and upfront user interface.
This style also works well on various devices and screen dimensions, enhancing readability. Additionally, it indeed gives your web design an increasingly professional and credible look.
- Build a mobile-first design
Mobile-first design is now an inevitable aspect of modern website design. In this approach, you design the website initially for mobile devices and then adjust it for bigger screens. It is to ensure that the site is accessible on smaller displays, as this is how the majority of individuals access the Internet these days.
You can adopt two key methods here, namely adaptive design and responsive design. The first option allows you to use pre-set layouts and adjust them for specific screen dimensions. The latter utilizes fluid grids and flexible images to tailor the website’s layout according to screen size.
- Employ white space
Also known as negative space, white space refers to the blank spaces found between components on a website. In modern website design, it provides a clean and simple look. Additionally, it facilitates fast loading times, reduces the number of users who leave the page before it fully loads, and promotes longer user engagement.
- Give priority to typography
Typography highly focuses on the text appearance on a website. In contemporary web design, typography plays a crucial role as it gives websites a distinct appearance and effectively communicates their message.
- Try different layouts
The layout designs of your website guide how users are supposed to access it. When the visual hierarchy doesn’t align with the natural eye movement, viewers are more likely to experience confusion or dissatisfaction.
Keeping this in mind, having experimented with different layouts can enhance the user experience. It promotes a more dynamic and engaging experience, encouraging users to explore your website further.
Still, developing a modern website design involves more than merely adhering to current design trends. It is also about creating an experience that seems new and creative while providing genuine value to your audience. A genuinely contemporary website merges offers a combo of modern aesthetics and user-friendly interaction, as well as strategic thinking.