Seven Important Web Design Trends for 2012

Now that we’re in 2012, as a web designer this a great time to take a look back at your portfolio, and start preparing for the year by practicing the following web design trends, which will shape the online world in 2012.

HTML Will Replace Flash

We can already see this happening, Flash seems like a thing of the past now with the uprising of HTML 5. This means that most websites will choose to go with HTML 5 for dynamic functions. Compatibility will no longer be an issue for websites because all recent browser updates are able to run HTML 5.

More Websites will be Animated

Websites can now be dynamic without the need of Flash. HTML 5 opens up a realm of possibilities for developers, allowing them to be as creative as they want. The sky is truly the limit. There are some amazing examples of animated websites already, so this year, expect to see some creations that will blow your mind.

Texture Effects

In 2011 we saw websites begin to make use of textures. Websites have been given a subtle facelift to give an impression of depth in backgrounds and logos.

This has proved popular for online portfolios of graphic/website designers. Subtle textures and softer colours have been combined to give backgrounds and icons a classy lift.

Parallax Scrolling

Web designers have taken advantage of HTML 5 to improve the user journey on their websites. Brands such as Nike have used this unique feature to take the user through a step by step journey to communicate what their brand is about. Layers have been animated at different speeds to give the website a further sense of depth.

WordPress Websites

WordPress is a great option for web designers because it’s so easy to use. It’s the preferred option to building a bespoke cms for a client. WordPress will make projects a lot more bearable for web designers because of the freedom it gives the user in terms of customisation and content management. No longer will clients have to keep calling designers to change the content of their website, because they can just do it themselves through the admin panel.

Interesting Typography

With the combination of depth and textures, the homepages and websites will have interesting typography. The web is now less restrictive in terms of fonts, so designers will take advantage of this and treat their websites like posters, making calls to action a lot more appealing, therefore there will be new methods of promoting featured content.

No More Boxes

The days of borders and boxes are coming to an end. We are seeing websites choosing to lose the borders on their page, in exchange for breathing space. Icons will stand on the page with a drop shadow, without the restriction of a box. This will give websites a clean layout, giving a sense of open space.