Web design is evolving and changing every year with new trends emerging all the time. But while it’s not always possible to predict what will be popular in the nearest future, there are some trends that are already gaining traction this year. Hence, here are the seven main web design trends to try in 2022.
#1 Typography That Stands Out
Typography is one of the most important graphic design elements even though many designers prefer to focus on visuals instead. This year, there have been two major trends in typography, and in both cases, it is meant to stand out:
Bold and Loud: Oversized typography or textual elements in colors that force users to pay attention to them are the trends now. Such typography needs the audience to look at it and get the message. But while it does stand out, it doesn’t always overpower the regular visuals around it. The website itself can have bold visuals with equally bold and loud typography.
Moving: Another trend is moving typography. Textual elements that are slowly floating across the screen make the web design look more dynamic. The key here is not to make it too annoying. The movement should be smooth and slow to have a positive effect on the audience. You can even combine such moving typography with bolder elements for a greater effect.
#2 Engagement and Interactions
Speaking of creating a dynamic web design, another major trend is an emphasis on engagement and interactions. Websites need to increase that conversion rate, average session time, click-through rate, and so on. That’s why more and more website owners are opting for highly engaging designs.
In many cases, designers are asked to use animations to encourage such interactions, but the engagement aspect can be subtler. For example, elements that appear and disappear on the page when the user hovers their cursor over them. On the other hand, the entire website can be designed to be highly engaging by asking users questions and delivering relevant information based on their answers.
#3 A New Approach to Scrolling
Scrolling has also seen a new approach that is centered on engagement. There are two main trends in scrolling:
Dynamic: Dynamic scrolling allows users to scroll through the page from up to down with only some elements changing. Some elements appear or disappear while others may even overlap. This kind of scrolling is perfect for smaller websites that can have all the information listed on a single but lengthy page.
Horizontal: Horizontal scrolling is exactly what the name suggests – scrolling from left to right rather than from up to down. Of course, not everyone might like this kind of scrolling which is why only some websites are trying it out. That being said, it is still a trend that many web designers are eagerly adopting.
#4 Focusing on Negative Space
White, blank, or negative space is not a new concept, but it seems to be particularly popular nowadays. The reason for this is that some websites prefer to focus on minimalism, but instead of going all in, they decide to utilize negative space to achieve different goals.
For instance, negative space can help you guide your audience. When you only have several colorful elements on the page, the users won’t get distracted so easily and will focus on those elements. Likewise, using negative space means you have fewer elements on your website which makes it more responsive and easier to navigate.
#5 Looking to the Past
Nostalgia has been widespread in everything. From fashion to pop culture, nostalgia has made even the younger generations long for the days they never actually saw themselves. Likewise, it seems that the world of web and graphic design has taken note of this tendency as well which is why there are two trends that have been going strong for a few years now:
Nostalgic: Nostalgic designs use specific elements from the past that are either the same or very similar to those elements. For example, something that looks exactly like the designs of different elements found in older versions of Windows. An online shop focused on fashion pieces from the 2000s could easily utilize this type of nostalgic design to appeal to the right audience (usually Gen Z or Millennials).
Retro: Retro designs also turn to the past for inspiration, but instead of using specific elements, they are meant to have a general look that seems to be similar to older designs. In this sense, retro is not about being specific but rather creating a certain appearance that looks similar to older designs without looking outdated. In fact, this balance is particularly important when it comes to retro designs. If you make your design look outdated, it simply won’t be effective as retro.
#6 Trendy Neo-Brutalism
A particularly interesting and somewhat unexpected trend in web design today is neo-brutalism. Brutalism arose in the past century in the 1950s-1970s and primarily was an artistic movement in architecture. As the name implies, brutalism was all about brutality, boldness, and straightforwardness in every sense of those words. Architects would often use raw and exposed materials such as concrete to create buildings of the brutalist type.
Now, neo-brutalism has transformed into something new and has become a web and graphic design trend. Asymmetrical layouts, default fonts, untreated images, and unstyled HTML – all of these are just some examples of neo-brutalism in web design. The approach is largely the same with the main goal being to show a “raw” look and strip down unnecessary parts. Neo-brutalism is often used to create authenticity, but it can be unappealing to some users.
#7 New Types of Graphics
Last but not least, there are certain trends seen specifically in graphics as well. Namely, there are two trends that stand out the most:
Collage-Style: Collage-style graphics use collages as a simple way to incorporate multiple images that are all related to the same theme or topic. Collages are not a new thing, but they have gained more attention recently. In some cases, collage-style graphics are used for futuristic designs while in other cases they are utilized for minimalistic websites. In other words, collages are quite universal which is why they are now more widely used with all types of designs.
Handmade: Handmade and DIY-like graphics are also becoming more popular. Once again, this is due to the authenticity they are able to bring to the overall design of a specific website. And there’s nothing people love more than authenticity. Imperfections and handmade artworks are becoming more widespread while being paired with different types of designs as well. Moreover, certain companies can especially benefit from this design trend. For instance, using children’s artwork on the website of a kindergarten is the perfect way to make the site look more authentic while staying on theme. Likewise, businesses that sell handcrafted products will also greatly benefit from this design trend.
Wrapping Up
To summarize, web design trends may be coming and going over the years, but to be a truly successful designer, it’s worth keeping an eye on them. Even if you don’t end up using any of them in your own work, knowing what’s popular will help you understand how you can make your creations better.
Melissa Leis is a freelance writer who provides copywriting, ghostwriting, and blogging services. She is a contributor to Best Writers Online and currently working as an editor for a writing service review at Writing Judge. Melissa is a professional with many years of experience in creating high-quality marketing and digital optimization content. Listening to inspirational podcasts and reading sci-fi books are her favorite things to keep growing and staying tuned.
