Web Design Trends 2022

HOW WEBSITE GRAPHIC DESIGN PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUCCESS

18 Mar 2022

Web design is constantly reinventing itself. This is also necessary to arouse the interest of visitors to your own website. Web design in 2022 is more than just colors, fonts and shapes. In addition to visual stylistic devices, modern web design also uses technical tools to achieve the desired effects. We present the trends in web design for 2022 and show which additions will turn websites into attention magnets.

THE CUSTOM CURSOR - SELECTIVE USE AS AN ATTENTION GETTER

The cursor is not perceived by most users as a component of the web page, but rather as part of their own browser. It is all the more surprising when the cursor changes its appearance unpredictably.

Through web design, it is possible to customize the cursor with the help of CSS, HTML and JavaScript. The idea is to use custom cursors specifically to enhance the immersive experience for the visitor. For example, it makes sense not to modify the cursor permanently, but rather selectively, similar to an input field. For example, the cursor changes its shape or color when hovering over a graphic. It is also possible to use such a cursor as part of the overall visual concept. A custom cursor can also suggest a direction or offer a suggestion for action, thus guiding the visitor through the website.

The goal is to make your website stand out from the crowd. A Custom Cursor provides these effects, as it is mostly unexpected. Thus, it picks up the user, arouses attention as well as interest and animates him to interact with the website.

NEO-BRUTALISM - PLAYING WITH CLEAR FORMS AND STRUCTURES

The term Brutalism has its origin in modern architecture. The digital neo-brutalism in web design 2022 now picks up a part of this style. Visitors often feel overwhelmed or annoyed by cluttered websites. Pop-ups, chatbots, and lots of visual highlights create sensory overload. Neo-Brutalism, on the other hand, in which minimalism also plays a role, focuses on the essentials and are thus refreshingly clearly structured. While minimalism limits only the amount of colors and objects, neo-brutalism does without anything that deviates from the narrow framework of the style. At the same time, it plays with purposefully applied elements of surprise that guide the user.

Thus, there are definitely colored websites in neo-brutalism. The focus is on reduced color worlds, black and white websites are also allowed. The structure and layout of the web pages follow clear lines. Sharp edges between the elements of the web page provide for demarcations. This results in a website with linear structures and clear demarcations between the colors.

The entire design of the website is adapted to this style. It thus also affects the images and other visual content. These are either unedited and raw or can have their colors modified by "color garding" so that they harmonize in relation to the rest of the design. This creates an overall impression that appears raw and can appear visually industrial.

This deliberate simplicity sets Neo-Brutalism apart from most websites of recent years. This alone provides differentiation from competitors. At the same time, this can lead to a higher focus of the content, but in neo-brutalism this is not a must. So the web design does not try to distract the viewer with visual effects, but deliberately leaves room for content.

MEMPHIS DESIGN - THE 80S RETURN

In a completely different direction than neo-brutalism goes the Memphis design. This design trend also has its roots in various design directions. Memphis design leans on the design trends "broken grid design", "collages" and the typical style of the 80s. There was a move away from clear and uniform structures. Instead, Memphis design plays with shapes and colors away from rules or norms. Bright and eye-catching colors are allowed and even more desired. Patterns and style elements may appear chaotically distributed. With these characteristics, Memphis design is the clear opposite of minimalism and was also created as an antithesis to designs with clear structures.

These are exactly the factors that go into Memphis-style web design. The result is colorful websites that look funky and sometimes a bit chaotic. The web designer is allowed to give free rein to his imagination and creativity here. In web design, minimalism had established uniform user interfaces. The Memphis design obviously distances itself from this, but still pays attention to user-friendliness. The visitor is invited to discover the website.

This makes for expressive websites that stick in the visitor's mind. With this look, Memphis-style websites also convey very specific emotions and messages. This is how a company presents itself as young, approachable, friendly and creative.

VISIBLE BORDERS - FRAMES PROVIDE SUPPORT

Most web pages do without dividing lines between individual content elements. As a rule, there is no demarcation to other areas. This is due to the fact that in design studies it is taught that good design does not need frames or, to put it differently, a delimitation is only necessary if no structure can be created with all other design means. Visible frames provoke the general design doctrine and push the frame and separating elements to the extreme. The theory behind this claims that most visitors to a website don't consciously notice borders and separators anyway.

Visible Borders are visible frames that are deliberately used to clearly delineate individual areas. This creates a framework, similar to an Excel spreadsheet, that presents content in an orderly fashion. This includes the navigation menu, but also the actual content of the website. Visible Borders thus draw clear boundaries between the individual areas of the website that present the content.

In any case, the visible borders thus bring a touch of retro to the web design. Inspired by the style of the 90s, websites with Visible Borders present themselves tidily and clearly. A firm hold is the focus of the look. This leaves more space for the actual content. At the same time, depending on the user experience, the page often doesn't look cluttered due to the clear structures, even with a lot of content.

INCLUSIVE WEBSITES FACILITATE ACCESS TO CONTENT

In 2022, there is no room for websites with barriers. Societal perceptions, and therefore your customers, expect providers not to exclude minorities. Digital media will be accessible to all groups of people. However, when developing websites, this point is always overlooked or passed over for a variety of reasons, be it cost or expertise. The subsequent removal of barriers is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Many then shy away from the additional resources required. Therefore, it makes sense to design a barrier-free website directly during development.

An accessible website aims to provide all users with information without restriction. This applies regardless of whether motor or cognitive impairments are present. Remedies here include easy language, proper contrasts, dynamic font sizes, and content prepared for screen readers. On the one hand, these steps increase the reach, and on the other hand, this also serves as a role model and improves the image.

IMPLEMENT DESIGN TRENDS 2022 IN YOUR OWN WEBSITE

A fresh website with a new design can attract attention. The own website is an important component of the corporate identity and thus transports the image of the company to the customers. With the web design trends 2022 the own external presentation can be refreshed and modernized. A modern website presents the company in a contemporary and professional light.

At GAL Digital, we always have an eye for new trends and techniques. Thus, we create websites that are technically up to date and also visually reach the visitors as well as the desired target group. Do you have questions about the trends in web design 2022 or would you like to update your website visually and technically? We at GAL Digital are always available to provide expert advice.