The way websites are designed has changed enormously since the introduction of the internet, although sometimes the changes are so gradual that we barely even notice them. By looking at some of the current trends in this area, we can get a feel for what is changing and what new navigation methods we can look out for.
1. More GIFs Are Being Added
You may have noticed more GIFs and videos appearing on diverse websites recently. The key to the success of this trend has been a move away from the previous approach of using big videos that dominated the screen and that could make it more difficult to concentrate on the rest of the content.
As well as being of higher quality now, the other important aspect of the multimedia elements is that they’re now better integrated into the sites. This means that smaller, more relevant GIFs may be used on a continuous loop to add a sense of movement and to encourage visitors to keep scrolling down. This Creative Marketing blog explains how brands such as Invision and Macaw have added GIFs that provide value to their visitors.
2. The Clear, Professional Approach Remains Popular
While many industries suit the GIF-heavy approach we just looked at, others are better suited to a clean, professional look. This makes it extremely clear to the visitor what steps they need to take at each stage and is particularly important in sectors where a high degree of trust has to be established right away.
In the entertainment industry, we can see on this casino Canada site how the games are neatly divided into categories in a style that allows new players to immediately check out the different ways that they can choose to play. The options for registering in the casino or looking for more information on different aspects of the casino are all clearly marked, meaning that visitors can see right away what they need to do.
The automotive industry is another area where clear, sharp sites are still in demand. Mazda and Tesla are examples of major brands that have found the right balance between an elegant look and lots of eye-catching images. They tend to have a minimal amount of text and keep the navigation extremely simple so that the focus is always on the vehicles.
3. Experimental Navigation Is Gaining Ground
There’s no single explanation of experimental navigation that lets you see what this involves. Rather, we should look at this as a way of turning the traditional navigation process on its head. This means that we forget about traditional design such as putting a fixed menu at the top of the screen and try new designs that grab the attention of visitors.
This can be a great idea on sites where there isn’t a lot of written content and you need to find different ways to keep people engaged with the site. The Design Shack site explains how side navigation, horizontal scrolling, and hidden icons are among the styles that have been successfully implemented by some website designers.
This Leads to More Diversity
Perhaps the key lesson in everything we’ve looked at is that there is now a far greater sense of diversity in the world of website design. Rather than being restricted to a single way of creating their sites, designers are now trying bold new approaches that suit each target market and make navigating more fun than ever before.
