Just like in the world of fashion, in web design it is crucial to keep up with trends; what seems modern and cutting-edge could be out of date in a few months. Amidst this shifting digital landscape, web designers must be able to quickly interpret changes and understand the difference between a passing trend and one with staying power that will lead to results.
Today, it is no longer enough to create a beautiful and functional website; the user wants to interact and be involved. In fact, web design of 2019 will center on the user experience, focusing more and more on interaction design, with the goal of exciting and above all impressing the public. The elements at the center of the 2019 web experience will be microinteractions, small details that respond to every action the user takes on the site. Regarding mobile, microinteractions have been around for some time considering that some apps are built entirely around them. People commonly refer to these elements as small animations, but they are much more than this. Unlike a typical animation that exists to create an illusion of movement, microinteractions interact with the user, convincing them to take action, while animated graphics are an accessory to make them more persuasive and engaging. In web design, microinteractions completely change the user's approach to the site; the experience shifts from solely information pages with beautiful images to specific points of interaction, and a reaction to each action, guiding the user through the site and at the same time giving him the perception of full control. You could incorporate simple elements that transform a typical boring method of data collection, or an animated text editor or a hover-to-zoom effect, or even more complex details such as interactive infographics, a 3D effect on the font or image, or an animated scrolling of the menu and colors on the home page. Even if defined as "micro," these are components that have a big impact on audience engagement, capable of creating the perfect call to action, because we are subconsciously drawn to the irresistible animated button or small movements of the images as we navigate. If everything is focused on user experience, how do site layouts change in 2019? Some years ago, thanks to the growing use of mobile and a demand for responsive and simple websites, “flat” design took hold. It is an essential and minimalist style with clean graphics that continues to remain at the top of web design trends to this day. However, 2019 will see the growing popularity of contrast lines, as seen in Asymmetric Layouts or Broken Grid designs, making a leap from simplicity to creativity explosion in the use of shapes and images. This suggestive design choice allows you to differentiate yourself from other lookalike, flat design websites while drawing attention to specific points of interest on the site. One such point of interest is the background, which will become increasingly interactive and attractive. The trend seen here is to play with large images, colors and animations that create a strong visual presence, and more importantly to use videos. This trend toward videos is already well underway from previous years, having taken hold with the growing use of social networks as a key means of communication and a strong branding tool. Finally, let's not forget colors and fonts in web design. As colors have been used in marketing to influence purchasing decisions and emotional involvement of the consumer, also in web design colors can have a certain influence on user behavior and action. 2019 will be the year of bright and bold colors, perfectly suited for a persuasive call to action and impactful visual communication. The goal is to ATTRACT ATTENTION. Designers have begun to dapple with strong color contrasts, and it can be seen in their broad range of color palettes: from bright colors, such as the fluorescence of the 80s and 90s, to delicate pastel greens and pinks. Another trend that has endured since 2016, which began with the renewal of the Instagram logo, is that of the color gradient. Finally, an alternative use of intense colors and contrasting shades is produced by the Duotone effect which, when applied to images and photos with powerful, almost fluorescent shades, manages to give character and style to the home page. In short, the World Wide Web is no longer just flat! And the trends of bold suggestion and exaggeration don’t stop with colors; they also extend to fonts. In 2019, the trend of big letters that dominate the entire page will make websites more expressive and creative, a perfect accompaniment to the Broken Grid trend. We will see a more courageous use of font, with illustrated and 3D models, and characters manipulated with animated letters and typographic elements intertwined with other geometric shapes. Text is a very important communication tool, perhaps the most important. The trend of large letters helps to create captivating titles, improve the user experience and, above all, to deliver the message to the intended receiver. On the other hand, font represents the voice and the tone of the page, so it's up to us to ask ourselves "How much do we want to make ourselves heard?" In conclusion, web design of 2019 will focus on the bold choices of fonts and colors, asymmetrical layouts, interactive and animated backgrounds, and the ability to provoke, stimulate and leave an impression on the user. But perhaps most importantly, microinteractions will make the difference between an ordinary site and an exceptional one, completely changing the way you browse and putting the user at the center of the online experience. The goal of web designers for 2019 will therefore be to attract attention, provoke emotions, interact with users and leave no room for apathy.