by AARONPOST on NOVEMBER 19, 2009
What will 2010 bring for Web Design, who knows? This list together based on what kind of work I am doing with both my startups and from my clients I am doing work for. No research, no case studies, just my gut and what I have on my to-do list for the next 3-5 months.
PLEASE NOTE: While some of these trends are not new, small to mid-sized businesses are just now starting notice.
1. One Page Layouts – I hope this trend will continue, I really do. Its nice to hear clients ask “do I need that page anymore” and the real driving force, ROI and economy. No business wants to spend money updating, changing or thinking about pages that receive no attention.
2. Social Elements – Facebook, twitter, etc. While this was huge in 2009, I expect to see this trend grow. I do see a shift from the basic connecting from twitter to book recommendations, more events, links to forums, etc. It appears to me that businesses are starting to really grasp the social scene but many are looking to take it up a notch or two. I am excited to see how some of these experiments will work.
3. More Dynamic Actions – Less flash and more AJAX for websites. Sorry but I have a hard time understanding why I am going to wait for a site to load on my phone only to have usability issues. Not sure if technology is catching up or its getting easier to implement, but I am starting to see more dynamic pieces being added to a site.
4. Large Type – Design aside, devices are getting smaller and people are getting older? Siting here in a coffee shop I look around and see a few older adults on their phones or net-books, their holding it closer to their face or have the screen resolution zoom in to much. Larger type and less of it, we’re all getting older so lets make it easy on ourselves.
5. Real People – NO MORE STOCK PHOTOS!!! Well, maybe less of them, 2008 and 2009 I started to see people like Tyson Crosbie change the way people looked at their profile pic, now I am starting to see that being implemented for everything else on sites. No more fake buildings, people or situations. Social Media certainly helped change this attitude and so did people like Tyson.
7. Textures (or a sense of depth) – Can’t get enough, I am seeing more and more depth in web/mobile design. This trend started a few years back but I am going to go out on a limb and say we are going to see more of this implemented in creative ways in the mobile web. (hint hint, wink wink)
8. MOBILE, MOBILE, MOBILE – If your not planning, designing and building for it now, then your shop might be a little emptier than 2009. Mobile web is taking off, I suggest you start thinking about how your going to take advantage of this space. (DISCLAIMER: Both of my startups are working in the Mobile Space, so I might be a bit biased.) UPDATE: Google wants to index your mobile site, I told you its going to get HOT
9. Colors – The greens, specks of red, soft and refined pinks, and the neutrals. And while I hate to say it, the bright Neon’s are back. Its true, get used to it.
10. Icons – All the icons we are seeing on our mobile phones, get used to it because we are going to see the shift to put more icons on our sites. I don’t think the pure glossy icons will continue, infact the icons like used here are the ones we will be seeing more off.