Did you know it takes users 50 milliseconds to form an opinion about your website? That means in just .005 seconds, a first-time visitor to your site will have already decided whether or not they like what they see enough to explore further. If your site doesn’t make a strong first impression, you could be driving customers away without even knowing it.
While that may seem like a ridiculously short amount of time to make such an important decision, it’s actually not that surprising when you think about it. In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded with stimulation from all sides. We’re so used to consuming information at lightning speed that when we land on a site that feels slow or outdated, it’s a major turnoff.
So, what can you do to make sure your site makes a good first impression? Stay up-to-date on the latest web design trends! Easier said than done, of course, so we’ve handled the heavy lifting for you and put together our list of the top 15 web design trends to keep an eye on in 2023:
1) Thumb-Friendly Navigation
In our mobile-first world, a mouse might not be your most important tool for interacting with a website. In fact, you may not even own a mouse at all! That’s why thumb-friendly navigation is one of the most important web design trends for 2023. As more and more people are using their phones as their primary device for browsing the web, it’s important that your website is designed with thumb-friendly navigation in mind. This means making sure that all the most important elements on your page can be easily accessed with one hand.
How can you ensure your website is thumb-friendly? One way is to make sure that your menu links are large and spaced out enough so that they can be easily clicked on with a thumb. Another way is to use icons instead of text for your navigation items, such as a phone icon for your contact page. Icons are easier to click on and require less precision than text, making them ideal for thumb-friendly navigation.
2) Parallax Scrolling
Parallax scrolling isn’t a new web design trend, but it is one that shows no sign of slowing down as we head into 2023. This trend involves creating a layered effect on your website by having different elements scroll at different speeds. This can create a sense of depth and dimension on your page, making it more engaging and visually interesting.
If you want to incorporate parallax scrolling into your website design, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you don’t overdo it! Too much parallax scrolling can be overwhelming and confusing for visitors, so use it judiciously and only to highlight key elements of your design. Second, consider using it for background images or video instead of text. This will help you avoid any potential accessibility issues that can occur when parallax scrolling is used on text.
3) Accessibility
An accessible website isn’t a web design trend as we head into 2023, it’s a necessity. Making your website accessible means ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can use and enjoy your site. This includes people with visual impairments, audio impairments, mobility impairments and so on.
There are a few key ways to make your website’s design more accessible. First, ensure that all your content is available in text form so that it can be read by screen readers. This includes providing alt text descriptions for images and videos so they can be understood by those who are unable to see them. Additionally, all videos should have closed captioning so they can be enjoyed by those who are unable to hear them. You may also consider having a black/white and color-blindness toggle on your website, as well as the option to navigate using only a keyboard for those who are unable to scroll.
4) Data Visualization
Words may tell your story, but data sells it. Data visualization is the practice of representing data in a visually appealing way, such as through charts, graphs or infographics. In 2023, we can expect more and more businesses will be utilizing data in their design elements to showcase their products, services and successes.
Why use data visualization? Data can be complex and difficult to understand, but when it’s represented visually it can be much simpler to digest. 90% of all information transmitted to the brain is visual, so presenting your data visually makes it more likely to be processed and remembered. Additionally, visualized data can be more engaging and visually interesting than plain text, making it more likely to capture (and hold) your audience’s attention. Plus, it backs up your words with hard evidence, making your claims more credible.
5) Page Speed
No one likes a slow-loading website, and that includes search engines. In 2023, page speed will continue to be an important ranking factor for both customer acquisition and SEO. If your web pages take too long to load, visitors are likely to give up and go to a competitor’s site instead. Google penalizes slow-loading websites with high bounce rates by ranking them lower in search results, so it’s important to make sure your site is as fast as possible.
There are a few key ways to improve your website’s page speed. First, optimize your images by reducing their file size without compromising quality. Second, minify your HTML, CSS and JavaScript files to reduce the amount of code that needs to be loaded. Third, use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve your website’s static assets from multiple locations around the world, so they load faster for visitors no matter where they are. If this sounds overwhelming or too time-intensive, you may want to consider working with web designers that can handle it for you.
6) Minimalism
They say less is more, and we expect that to be true in web design as we head into 2023. Minimalist websites are clean, sleek and free of clutter, making them easy to navigate and use. Additionally, minimalist design can help your website load faster and use less data, which is important for both SEO and user experience.
There are several key elements of a minimalist website design. First, use negative space or white space to focus the user’s attention on your most important content. Second, use simple, clean fonts that are easy to read. Third, use minimal colors and imagery – too much can make your website look busy and take away from your message. Each element of your website’s design should serve a purpose, so if it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s best to “declutter” it.
7) Bold Typography
Website design might be getting simpler in 2023, but fonts will be getting bolder. Bold, eye-catching fonts can help your website stand out from the competition and make a strong first impression. When used sparingly, they can also help highlight important content and draw attention to key messages.
While you don’t want to go overboard with bold fonts, using them strategically can give your website a modern, stylish look. Just be sure to pair them with simple fonts or sans-serif fonts so your website’s text is still easy to read. And as with any element of your website’s design, be sure to use fonts that are appropriate for your brand and will resonate with your target audience.
8) Video
From social media marketing to web design, video will be a huge digital marketing trend for 2023. In fact, it’s expected that 82% of all internet traffic will be video by 2023. That’s because video is an engaging, visually interesting and highly shareable content format that can help you reach a wider audience.
Fortunately, the versatility of video means there’s a format that will work with nearly any website design. From video backgrounds to product demonstrations and glimpses into your company culture, there are endless possibilities for how you can use video to improve your website and connect with your target audience. Just be sure that your video is optimized for both SEO and user experience – no one wants to wait forever for a video to load!
9) Microinteractions
Have you ever hovered over a link on a website and noticed it changed colors? What about a button that animates or makes a sound when you click on it? Those are called microinteractions, and we can expect to see an increasing number of them as we head into 2023.
Microinteractions are small, yet important, interactions that help improve the user experience on your website. By providing a visual or auditory cue, they can help guide users through your website and call attention to important content. Additionally, microinteractions can make your website more fun and engaging to use, which can encourage visitors to stick around longer. Much like with all elements of your website’s design, it’s important not to overuse them – a few strategic microinteractions can go a long way in your efforts to guide users through your website.
10) Dark Mode
Dark mode is a trend that’s been gaining popularity on social media platforms in recent years, and we expect website designers to follow suit in 2023. Dark mode refers to a color scheme that uses light-colored text on a dark background. It’s easier on the eyes and can help reduce eye strain, making it ideal for reading long pieces of content. Additionally, dark mode can help save battery life on mobile devices, which is always a plus for your user experience.
While dark mode might not be appropriate for every website, it’s definitely something to consider if you have a lot of text-heavy content or want to improve the UX for your mobile visitors. If you do decide to use dark mode, be sure to test it thoroughly to ensure that your website’s text is still easy to read and that all of your web page elements are still visible. Approximately 81% of people use dark mode on their smartphone, so it might be worth considering working into your web design strategy for 2023.
11) Illustrations
Every business wants their website to be unique, and one way to achieve that is through the use of illustrations. Unlike stock photos, which can be easily found and used by anyone, illustrations are custom-made images that can help your website stand out against your competitors. Additionally, they can be used to add personality and playfulness to your website’s design.
Another impactful way to utilize custom illustrations in your website’s design is to use them for product demonstrations. This can be especially helpful if you have a complex product or service that would be difficult to explain using text and photos alone. No matter how you choose to use them, illustrations are a great way to add some visual interest to your website and make it more memorable for your visitors.
12) Gamification
Gamification is a website design trend that’s been on the rise in recent years, and we expect it to continue to grow in popularity as we head into 2023. Gamification is the process of using game-like elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, to encourage users to complete desired actions. When used on websites, it can help increase engagement and encourage visitors to stick around longer. Additionally, it can be a great way to encourage people to sign up for your email list or make a purchase.
If you’re considering using gamification on your website, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, be sure that the game elements you choose are relevant to your brand and make sense to your audience. Additionally, be sure to test your gamification elements thoroughly to ensure that they’re actually encouraging the desired behavior from your users. The last thing you want is for your gamification efforts to backfire and frustrate your visitors instead of engaging them.
13) Storytelling
Today’s consumers want more than just a product or service – they want an experience. One of the best ways to create an immersive experience for your website’s visitors is through storytelling. By weaving together a narrative, you can help your visitors feel emotionally connected to your brand and more invested in what you have to offer.
When crafting your website’s story, be sure to focus on the emotional journey of your customer, rather than just listing off the features of your product. Additionally, be sure to keep your story concise – you don’t want to overwhelm your visitors with too much information at once. And lastly, use visuals to complement your story and help bring it to life. Images, videos, and infographics can all be used to great effect in website storytelling.
14) Interactive Elements
Interactive elements are another great way to create an immersive and engaging experience for your website’s visitors, and we expect to see more of them in 2023. Interactive elements can take many forms, but some common examples include quizzes, polls, and calculators. The purpose of these interactive elements is to get visitors interacting with your website and engaged with your content. When used correctly, interactive elements can be a great way to encourage people to stick around on your website longer and explore everything your business has to offer.
Interactive elements can also be used to collect valuable data about your visitors, which can be helpful in improving your marketing efforts down the road. By gating your interactive content and requiring people to provide their contact information in order to access it, you can quickly and easily grow your email list. Additionally, the data collected from your interactive content can be used to segment your audience and create more targeted marketing campaigns. If a user is willing to provide their information to take a quiz or poll, they’re likely to be interested in hearing more from your business in the future.
15) AR/VR
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two cutting-edge technologies that will continue to make their way into the world of web design in 2023. AR is a technology that superimposes computer-generated images onto the real world, while VR is a completely immersive simulated environment. Think of AR as an enhanced version of reality, and VR as a completely new reality.
AR and VR are generally associated with gaming, but they can provide web designers with a new way to create engaging and immersive experiences for a business’ website visitors. For example, you could use AR to give visitors a virtual tour of your office or storefront, or use VR to give them a simulated experience of using your product. These technologies are still relatively new to the world of web design, but we expect to see more and more businesses using them in the coming year to create unique and memorable experiences for their visitors.
Ready to Design Your 2023 Digital Marketing Strategy?
If this list is any indication, there are a ton of exciting changes and trends on the horizon of the web design world. From new technologies to emerging design styles, there are plenty of new and innovative ways to create a website that’s both informative and engaging in the year to come. Of course, the most important part of any web design project is understanding the needs and wants of your target audience. By keeping your finger on the pulse of the latest trends and technologies, you can ensure that your website is always ahead of the curve and providing your visitors with the best possible experience.
Ready to start planning and implementing your 2023 website design strategy? Creative Click Media’s team of expert web designers can help you create a website that’s both beautiful and functional. Your winning new website is only a click away – contact us to get started.
Looking for even more digital marketing trends for 2023? Check out our picks for the top SEO trends and social media trends to keep an eye on in the new year!
