After the pandemic began in early 2020, companies in many industries had to quickly pivot more of their operations to online markets and workspaces. This shift transformed how we do business, including engaging with consumers online. 

Web design has experienced a wave of new trends to help improve engagement with online audiences, creating a virtual renaissance of creativity and purpose. The standard web page and blog appearance has been thrown out the window in favor of nostalgic themes and user-centric navigation options. 

For 2022, there have been a plethora of innovations that you won’t want to miss. The following six web design trends will help you create a website that attracts and converts while making your brand shine.

One-page Site Layouts

Just a few years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for a dental office to have a website that had a home page, four main pages, and thirty subpages. This wasn’t even including the blog! Today, this mentality has changed. Consumers don’t want to browse a web page for half an hour searching for information. Instead, they want to find everything they need to know in just a matter of seconds. 

Enter the single-page website. Not only does it epitomize the phrase “less is more,” but it supplies high-quality, concise content that is quick to navigate and offers less complexity—no more searching through drop-down menus and side-bar navigation. While your business may still require additional pages for products and services, single pages allow you to funnel consumers to the content they wish to see with less distraction.

Simplified Hero Sections

The hero section has always been about eye-catching imagery, background video, or a photo carousel of highlights meant to draw in visitors. It communicates your brand and creates a welcoming environment. 

The past year has turned this standard approach on its head and focused instead on typography, color, and layouts to help consumers identify with the shared brand identity. This simplified approach uses less distraction and directly relays what your company has to offer.

Bolder Typography Faces

When you think about typography, you probably think of headlines, by-lines, and captions. But what if your typeface was the primary graphic element on your page? Instead of a colorful logo or smiling picture, do you choose an oversized typographical visual as the focal point?

Site designers have gone so far as to use imaging as the background and let artistic text overshadow these visuals. This approach encourages visitors to consider further what they are seeing. It also elicits curiosity and creates a memorable moment in the viewer’s mind. 

Going for the Abstract

Illustrations aren’t anything new in web design, but more companies are going with the abstract. This trend has created some exciting results that provide a welcome change to the usual cookie-cutter layouts one might expect to see. 

Instead of 2D color palettes, designers can now go for textured gradients and overlays that create a handmade appearance. Couple these experimentations with a renewed interest in art deco motifs, and a website design specialist quickly has endless possibilities for the look and feel of any site they make. 

Renewed Appreciation for Lines

It used to be enough to simply use strategically placed spaces and images to denote the beginning of a new section. In 2022, the linework is making a comeback. So whether you need to delineate a product gallery, a few paragraphs, or highlight a callout, designers can use lines to add more flair to the visual landscape of your pages. 

The overall appeal of using linework on a website is that it generates a familiar magazine feel. Plus, adding more pizzazz to your mouseovers and page style with a weighted line is easier than ever. 

Inclusivity in Design Trends

Gender-neutral designs were popular for highlighting an organization’s thoughtfulness towards the many different users that come to its site. In 2022 and beyond, this trend is becoming a standard. Creating a new level of accessibility from the get-go has helped consumers realize there are more services and products available to them regardless of their walk of life. 

From color palettes that are more muted and favorable to any gender, including muted pinks and florals, to using graphics that don’t necessarily imply one gender preference over another, sites have found new ways to promote their inclusivity. Designers are even encouraged to offer clothing filters that don’t sort by gender and use models of varying body types.

2022 Has a Lot to Offer Web Designers

For web designers, 2022 will be a year filled with freedom to work outside the box by creating playful layouts that are imaginative and pay homage to bygone eras. These styles are likely here to stay as companies, and their marketing teams, look for ways to engage with four generations of consumers (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z). 

If your organization is considering a website update or a complete rebranding, consider working with a designer to connect with your audience. Your site is often the first point of contact with your prospects, so your brand must communicate engagingly while providing an enjoyable user experience. 

Also Read: 6 Ways To Improve Your Web Design This 2022