As we begin to drift into the final, chilly months of 2012, what better time to reflect on the trends that have made web design stand out this year? Below are five trends that have made a strong impact on websites this year.
Responsive Design
As noted in a past article, responsive web sites where born out of the idea that a website should be able to morph in width and layout depending on what device the site is being viewed on. With mobile web browsing increasing 69% since 2010, you can be guaranteed this 2012 trend isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
WordPress
WordPress has been around for quite some time now, but it really shined in 2012. Taking CMS to a whole new level, WordPress remains to be the best solution for no-hassle content management with solid SEO built right in.
Full Size Background Photos
Web designers have embraced a new trend in 2012 that really personifies “a picture is worth 1000 words.” Full-width photo backgrounds instantly give personality to a website and are great for branding and presentational purposes. We typically use this technique when the main objective is to make a strong visual connection to a place, product, or an overall feeling.
Texture
Pre-2012 trends defined texture in web design as “grungy”, but today we’re seeing a much more subtle approach to texture. Web designers have taken a turn (for the better) and are now incorporating purposeful tactile designs that help guide your eye through a website by making key elements pop off the page. Our own GreenMellen logo treatment is a great example of how a clean logo can pop off of a textured background.
Custom Fonts
Google web fonts and typekit are God’s gift to web designers! FINALLY, we’re not tied to only using Georgia and Arial in our web layouts anymore. In 2012, we’ve begun to see much more variation in web fonts, which has brought a whole new level of sophistication to web design.
We’ve enjoyed making websites in 2012 and are excited to embrace the features that will be coming our way in 2013! What are your favorite trends in web design today?
