Trends in web design are cyclical, but 2022 may stand out for a variety of reasons. Yes, current events like the pandemic come into play, but in addition to that, mobile devices continue to become more powerful, and privacy and safety have become top-of-mind for many people.

With greater technical capabilities, we've seen a lot of complexity added into web sites over the last few years – but web designers and developers need to respond to cultural phenomena like economic recovery, privacy and safety. We think 2022 is the year in which sites that course-correct toward clarity, openness, and simplicity are the sites which will gain traction in the market.

Here are some of the trends in web design we anticipate making an impact in the upcoming year.

9 Website Design Trends in 2022

1. Mobile-First Design

As more people continue to access the internet through their smartphones, mobile-friendly websites are bound to perform the best. It is crucial to consider how the users like to view things on their mobile screens.

The thumb-friendly website also comes into play here. Designing a simple and intuitive website offers an optimized thumb scrolling experience for various mobile platforms. You can check notifications and type messages with more ease.

2. Website Load Time and Page Speed Are King

One of the most important web design standards is ultra-fast load time. Quick loading times have been essential factors in UX and SEO for years, and it continues to be a top priority for websites that want to rank well and convert better.

Studies say that more than half of internet browsers expect a website to load fast and no more than two seconds after clicking a link. If it takes more than three seconds to load your site, your visitors most likely will leave, and it's not likely they'll be back, ever again!

Website performance has a direct impact on a companies bottom line. Pinterest reduced perceived wait times by 40%, and this increased search engine traffic and sign-ups by 15%. ( citation You might have heard the term “location, location, location” from your real estate agents when looking for investment properties.

3. Minimalism

Minimalism in web design isn't new, and the trend is only getting stronger.

Minimal website designs are popular for a reason. They work because they focus on the most important information and eliminate any superfluous elements that may distract users from your content.

Even sites with maximalist aesthetics such as many bright graphics and dynamic elements are moving towards minimalism by paring down content.

4. Delicate Linework

The trend of using delicate lines to divide page grids has grown quite a bit recently. Horizontal and vertical lines can quickly and easily separate sections into images, headers, paragraphs, and galleries.

However, it's easy to overuse linework. Some modern website design platforms use linework so distinctively that you can spot the platforms just from the similarities in lines.

5. Muted earth tones

Lockdown life may have restricted our options, but it also reintroduced many of us to nature. With indoor spaces closed down, we strode out into the great outdoors, whether a hike up a mountain or a stroll around the local park. And this renewed relationship with our environment is influencing contemporary web design too.

Up and down the web, we're seeing designers choose muted, calm, and earth tones in terms of background colours and illustrations. Giving us something restful to look at, it's a recognition of just how much we stare at screens these days.

This is a modest approach to design that's easier to look at and doesn't strain our eyes too much. If you're hoping to increase the time visitors stick around on your websites, you could do far worse than follow it.

In some cases, this approach also helps with Google's new algorithm – again following a less-is-more approach. More fundamentally, it's a nod to our higher societal awareness of the environment and our impact on the world.

6. Chatbots

Chatbots are another feature that has been popular for a few years and will continue to be relevant in 2022. As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to get more sophisticated, we expect to see chatbots become the norm for simple customer service requests and “personal shopping.” For example, suppose a customer visits your website, looking for phone support. In that case, the chatbot knows they have an available free phone upgrade. Therefore, the chatbot can let them know about the upgrade. This feature can lead to a positive experience for the customer and save the customer support cost associated with talking to a live person.

7. High-Quality Photos

Some trends never really go out of style, but with the advances in screen resolution and faster connectivity, designers are more willing to use higher resolution images on their sites. People want not only beautiful images but ones that are unique to your product or service.

The trend of full-width design is also here to stay, so you'll see images stretching all the way from one side of the screen to the other. At the same time, make sure your design adapts for smaller screens.

8. Voice-Friendly Interface

There will be over 135 million voice assistant users by 2022 in the US , says Statista. As the trend rises, voice search optimization will become a priority for web designers. These voice-activated websites will use long-tail keywords based on how people speak while using a voice assistant. For instance, keywords like ‘restaurant near me will be replaced with ‘where is the nearest restaurant?'

9. Large buttons

We talked about putting buttons in the middle of everything. As we do, it is time to think about the size.

Button size matters. If you follow the Next Best Action approach, you want a button to be the thing that you spot easily.

Large buttons are easier to click no matter what device type you are using. They are good for accessibility. The size allows you to play around with shapes and details.

How to convert your existing website?

This shouldn't always be about a complete re-design. You can start small by simply increasing paddings and font size.

After, run experiments with Google Optimize or similar tools to see how button size increases your clickthrough rate.

Summing Up:

These web design trends can act as an inspiration for your next web design project so you can stay competitive in the vast world that is the internet. New 2022 styles can give you an edge, giving pages that are proven to be a hit with users.

However, it's also crucial to inject your brand's identity into the web design, giving it the aura that is uniquely your own. It's always a good thing to prioritize a user-friendly experience with a dash of surprise to encourage users to stay on your page and browse through what it has to offer.

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