2019 Web Design Trends

web design trends 2019

As we start into the new year, what are the 2019 web design trends?  Each year we see new trends and some past years trends dominating for this coming year.  Some trends for web design also cross over to both fashion and home design.  Yet, some are unique just to web design.   Let’s take a look at the trends we expect to see this year.

The Top 2019 Web Design Trends

 

Video Backgrounds

 

We started to see video backgrounds emerge in 2018 and we continue to see them grow even more this year.  Video catches the eye and keeps viewers on the page longer, which leads to higher conversions.   You might think that videos would bog down a site too much, but, interestingly, video backgrounds have been shown to increase conversions.

When a viewer lands on your site and a video plays in the background, they are more likely to stick around to watch the video because it is attention-getting. The longer a viewer stays on your site, the more likely they are to convert. This, in turn, raises your site metric times and the higher your average time on site is, the better your SEO is.

Finally, a video background is sleek and modern on a website. As long as the video is short, muted, and has a high-quality look to it, a video background can add to your branding.

Increase in Video Marketing

In addition to video backgrounds, videos, in general, are increasing over all platforms.

You might ask, how is this related to web design?  Users expect to see videos on your website, whether in a blog article or a brief explanation of what you do. This piece should be a part of your overall brand strategy.  Videos help people stay on your website longer and stay more engaged.

Cisco has projected that more than 80% of all Internet traffic will be video by 2021. 

We are seeing an increase in videos for blog articles and posts.  With Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and even now Pinterest, videos are growing as part of the web design strategy.

Videos convey your message quickly and effectively.  This could take paragraphs to accomplish and in today’s fast-paced world, may be just too long for some users.  A video may be played in a matter of seconds. This is especially useful when you have a complex message to explain to your users in the short amount of time that you have their attention.

Video marketers receive 66% more qualified leads per year.

The increase is due to the education and familiarity they are given through video. Customers gain trust and educate themselves with video in ways that cannot be accomplished through text alone.

86% of businesses use video on their website and 77% use video on social media

We cannot forget to mention that YouTube is owned by Google.  Adding Youtube videos has shown an increase in rankings for your overall business.  Video, whether tutorial, entertainment, or educational adds to your overall brand.

Do you have a video on youtube, your website, or social media accounts?

Broken Grid/Asymmetrical Layouts

web design trends 2019

If you are familiar with web design most pre-2018 websites follow grid layout design.  Grid layout design helps align page elements based on sequenced columns and rows. Designers use column-based structure to place text, images, and functions in a consistent way throughout the design.  This traditionally has been thought of as a clean and sleek look.  In the past, designers who did not follow this were thought of as sloppy and unorganized.

In 2019, designers are pushed to think outside the box.  This merging trend is the broken grid system or also referred to as asymmetrical layouts.  Elements start crossing over columns and rows making an asymmetrical look.  Elements might not line up perfectly but form other patterns such as diagonal lines our cut out shapes.  The unusual placements, layering with different colors and textures, repeating irregular patterns, use of white space, and creative use of typography create a sense of depth not found in grid-based layouts.

The designs are striking and a fresh change from standard websites.  The eye is forced to look in a different pattern and hopefully to the most important messages and parts of your website.  Using colors, shapes, textures, expressive font, and dynamic images, the website can direct the user’s attention in a new engaged way towards the content or calls to action that we want the users to find.

Geometric Shapes

web design trends 2019

Modern shapes and patterns are still going strong in 2019.  Geometric structures such as squares, rectangles, and triangles with their sharp corners create a sense of stability. Besides the standard square, rectangle, and triangle, we are seeing an increase in organic shapes that are naturally imperfect and asymmetrical.  They can provide depth to a web design that makes page elements stand out.

Shapes based in nature, such as mountains, raindrops, and leaves, create a natural look.  Organic elements make the website feel human and alive.  Lines on the imperfect shapes give the illusion of movement.  All of the shapes give the website a sense of attraction and character.

Mico-animations

Micro-animations are small, preferably functional animations that support the user by giving visual feedback and displaying elements more clearly.  Think of them as mini-videos for page elements on a page. Micro-animations have existed for some time now.  Due to the increase in better browsers, faster servers, and mobile processors, they are becoming more popular.  These micro-animations can bring your page to life.   Just be careful not to use too many as it can slow down your web page speed.  A balance of micro-animations can add a lot to your page.

Minimalism with bits of bright color

web design trends 2019

Minimalist design is design at its most basic, stripped of superfluous elements, colors, shapes and textures. Its purpose is to make the content stand out and be the focal point. From a visual standpoint, it is calming and focuses on simple main points or calls to action.  We are seeing an increase of minimalist design but with bits of bright color.  Minimalism has been big for almost a decade now and we are starting to see users and customers rebel at the idea of minimalism, taking small risks with color.   They are not quite ready to go with the emerging trend of maximalism.  Maximalism focuses on brave colors, textures, patterns, motif and repletion.   The trend is to have bits of bright color in the website design.

Adding a Shop to your website to diversify your income and offerings

Adding an online store to your business is becoming a big trend.  An online store through WooCommerce or Shopify allows you to diversify your offerings and the ability to have a stream of extra income.

If you have a service-based business, adding an online store can be a stream of passive income.  Passive income is income resulting from cash flow received on a regular basis, requiring minimal to no effort by the recipient to maintain it.  You can work on your store as you have the time in your schedule.  We are seeing owners sell digital documents, training classes, ebooks, design templates, tutorials, etc.

Besides selling digital items for service-based business we are seeing restaurants and other small stores adding a store.  As shopping moves more and more to the online world, small businesses are hopping onto the bandwagon.  Restaurants are selling spices, bottles of their secret sauces, and recipes to diversify their income streams.  Small retailers are selling their items on their own site to gain a bigger chunk of revenue versus going with big retailers or advertisers that take a chunk of the sale. 

The reason is the small retailers have mastered social media and marketing and have grown a natural following of fans that convert to buyers more quickly.  These shops want to have their own online store.

Live Chat Boxes

 

web design trends 2019 - live chat boxes

 

One of the best ways to “chat” with prospects and customers is to meet them in a channel they most prefer.  Customers prefer to communicate digitally and on your website via live chat.

Live chat boxes provide instant responses to your questions about their business, website, or products. A staggering 42% of customers prefer live chat compared to just 23% for email, and 16% for social media or forums.

This does not mean that you have to have a person stationed to answer live chats 24/7.  Live chats allow users to leave an email address so that you can respond when you are back online.  Some chat boxes allow you to respond in Facebook Messenger to the person asking the questions.  People are more likely to ask questions if they think they will get an immediate response.

Many companies are seeing the benefits chat boxes can bring to their organization including:

  • Greater convenience by giving users instant responses.
  • Better customer service
  • Increased revenue  A report by ICMI found that website visitors that engage with your company via live chat are worth 4.5 times more than visitors that don’t.

 

Conclusion

Out of all the possible web design trends in 2019, these are the ones that we picked to be the most prominent.  What design trends do you plan on adding to your website in 2019 to attract new customers?  Please comment below.

2019-web-design-trends

 

Jessica Rhoades

Jessica Rhoades

Jessica Rhoades is the Owner and Designer at Create IT Web Designs. Among her greatest passions are web design, SEO, helping small businesses succeed, bicycling, traveling, and making lists.

Sign up to receive our FREE Ultimate Guide to Writing Website Content

This writing guide is designed to help you write an awesome ABOUT page, HOME page, and additional page content.  It is packed with examples that will have you started on writing the BEST content for your website.  Sign up to receive this FREE guide, monthly tips, and occasional offers.  Don’t worry, if you change your mind, you can unsubscribe at any time.