Web design trends: how to create a website in 2021
What is important to consider, which way to look when developing a design concept in 2021? We’ve gathered the top 7 trends. They will help you create a site that will not require global visual changes in 3-5 years. After all, fashion is cyclical and fleeting. That’s why it’s important to look deep and use long-lasting trends.
Minimalism
People got tired of the endless stream of colors, pictures, icons and other decorations, which are used without measure on some sites. So there was a demand for a brief and simple web design.
But to call it simple can be very conditional. Every detail, every element on the site should be verified and perfectly chosen – so we achieve a sense of freedom and air.
The trend of minimalism is maintained and improved. There is every reason to believe that it will be popular for many years to come.
Simplicity in everything – these are the main principles of minimalism:
- Pure colors;
- No serifs in typography;
- Blank white spaces;
- A concise interface.
Users have the opportunity to focus on the product without being distracted by design elements. It has been observed that minimalism has a positive effect on conversions, allowing the user to calmly make a purchase decision.
Attention to icons
Small pictures that replace thousands of words are given special importance. Needless to say, icons have come a long way from being black and white flat pixel images to standalone elements that anchor the user’s attention to important points? The history of the development of icons began with the first computers and dates back some 50 years.
Nowadays, designers use all the latest achievements in graphics and 3D visualization to create unique icons for websites and applications.
Web design in 2021 should be perfect. That is why so much attention is paid to icons. Designers created more than a hundred professional libraries of icons for all tastes, for all projects and tasks. Today you don’t have to spend time and effort to draw icons.
But you need to accurately understand the task and the concept of design, so as not to make mistakes:
- Do not use icons from different libraries;
- Do not download icons from stock sites;
- Do not use outdated icons in the interface.
All this cheapens the design and makes the interface unattractive.
Separately, we should pay attention to the trend, which appeared due to the development of technology graphics and visualization – 3D-icons. They are perfectly combined with gradients, captivating in their strangeness and fresh approach.
There are not so many ready-made libraries with author’s 3D icons yet, but there is every reason to believe that the trend will expand and soon three-dimensional icons will completely conquer the webspace.
Shadows and mesh-gradients
A continuation of minimalism in color. Shadows and gradients – the user’s request for pleasing colors and muted forms. They look harmonious in minimalist designs with properly chosen illustrations.
Pastel colors are used, muted shades that flow smoothly into each other. Blurry transparency of bright colors frames the main content and allows the user to concentrate. The use of gradients as backgrounds is in trend. This adds volume and depth to the page.
Unique 2D illustrations and fun sketches
The problem with illustrations is that some designers have devalued them. There are now millions of one-size-fits-all, accessible pictures on the Web that can be freely used on websites. Users notice this and don’t want to put up with unoriginal visual content.
Therefore, the year 2021 passes under the slogan: “Work to illustrators!”. Creative author images are especially valuable and in demand.
Note that it’s not always necessary to turn to artists. There are editors and designers on the Internet, where you can modify and refine your designer’s creations to suit the objectives of the project.
Humorous illustrations with violations of logic and proportions of objects are trending. Original pictures draw attention, forcing users to stop, watching, puzzling the meaning.
Pictures should be used in dosage, focusing attention, not overloading the space. They will look perfect on a white background – all the attention to the meaning and the author’s ideas.
Pastel colors
It looks like acid colors and bright designs are a thing of the past for a long time. We are not upset. Because soft, warm, pleasing to the eye shades returned to the trends. They fit perfectly into minimalist interfaces, keeping things light, airy and simple.
Pastel shades are not as simple as they may seem at first glance. You need to get the subtle tones right so that the design blends in with the overall concept, icons and illustrations. If you’re having trouble selecting tones, you can use Color Hunt, which has ready-made palettes for every taste. All you have to do is select and adapt them to the project.