10. Big Images, Big Impact

More and more websites are using large visuals on their home pages. Full screen images transport visitors within the website and share a part of the experience with them. This design technique is especially beneficial to home and garden or travel websites, where the client can view as much detail as possible at first glance.

9. Muted Colors

Color schemes are a constantly changing trend in website design. Calmer color schemes have been popular in 2013, being both more visually inviting and easier on the eyes. Brightness and loud colors on a website can be deterring to visitors.

8. Forgetting Flash

Flash design is quickly becoming obsolete. More websites are making the switch to other web design platforms such as HTML 5, CSS, and Javascript, which are better adapted to SEO and mobile devices, and provide an overall more user-friendly experience (plus, they’re less of a hassle to update).

7. Simplicity is Best

Websites and mobile devices alike are straying away from skeuomorphism and leaning towards flat design. The times of shiny, touchable-appearing buttons, with shadows and gradients that create a 3D effect, are coming to an end. These flashy looks are quickly being replaced by simpler and more streamlined colors, textures, and styles.

6. Typography is Key

Typography and font are equally as important as images in grasping visitors’ attention. Font style reflects the tone of a website, and clear typography that is carefully arranged is essential to clear communication. It doesn’t come as a surprise, then, that clearly legible font is the most popular style of typeface for 2013. 

5. Infinite Scrolling

Many websites are implementing infinite scrolling in place of ‘next’ buttons that require clicking. A website’s following pages, additional elements, or next set of results automatically load with infinite scrolling. This technique makes visitors more likely to stay on a website longer and read further.

4. Fixed Header Bars

These bars are fixed to the top of the screen, usually including buttons that bring the visitor back to the website’s homepage, their ‘about us,’ or contact information pages. When a visitor changes pages or scrolls down the screen, the bar remains stapled at the top of the screen. This is especially ideal for web pages with infinite scrolling. Returning to the home page requires no scrolling back up to the top—it’s an easy click away.

3. Responsive Design and the Mobile App

Computers are not the most popular devices for browsing the Internet anymore. Many people even prefer to browse with their mobile phones or tablets, which is why it is necessary for a website to be responsive to any screen, fitting it properly and remaining clear and readable. Many websites are even formatting their designs to follow those of mobile apps, which have become favored over mobile browsing.

2. Social Networking

There’s no downside to including a social networking sharing option on a website. By including a ‘share’ button on their website allowing visitors to pass on links, articles, or posts through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest, businesses are effortlessly gaining publicity and increasing their client or fan circle.

1. Content is Crucial

Whatever the change in website trends, content remains the most important element of any website. Web content makes the website, and should always be top priority. Creating the clearest and most quality content is vital to a website’s success.