2010: the web design trends | part 1

It’s naïve to be considered that trends in one or another creative sphere change on 1st January each New Year. However, now in the middle of 2010 we can differentiate the most significant trends that are dominating and directing contemporary web design. These are  several current aesthetic approaches and concepts that designers focus on more intensively in order to create products with hot, trendy layouts.

In the list with current designer trends below you may find your own professional inspiration and motivation to get outstanding results. While thinking over how to cooperate them with your own personal style or project, focus on the main idea and purpose of each trend. Don’t be afraid to dive bravely in it and to be influenced by the entire movement.

1. Enormous logos/headers

Splash pages are now old-fashioned. To make a great impression to your website visitors you have to embrace the idea of enormous logos and headers. Those headers can occupy the entire desktop but you should pay attention to the following: users should not click on that header. They should scroll downwards. Many Internet users are really bored of clicking (a result from the bad navigation a few years ago). That’s why such a big header can have the same function as splash page but users will not be forced to click.

Main idea: Enormous logos or headers will make your visitors remember your site.

2. Hand-drawn design

Hand-drawn designs definitely are not something genially new, yet they still are n ot that popular and commonly used. Many designers admire the trend but few dare to draw their own sketches because they are not convinced in their personal drawing talent. Taking a closed look at some of the most popular hand-drawn web designs, you’ll notice that in most cases the designers can’t actually draw. After all, hand-drawn web designs don’t aim to be displayed in a contemporary art museum but to show online users that the barrier between “cold” web and inspiring aesthetic is blurred.

In 2010 sketches and hand-drawn details will be used for web site customization.

Main idea: Sketches and hand-drawn designs are suitable for corporate web site design.

3. Typography

Typography is one of the most difficult trends and it will continue to be on top in 2010. Having in mind all these appeals for user-friendliness and usability designers are afraid to used strange and uncommon types. However, the idea of mixing different types and fonts is not that unthinkable. Types are meant to be explored and modified in order to serve you best for your project. Every professionally designed web site in which typography is a leading trend is more likely to impress users more that an image overloaded site.

Main idea: Typography is still a young but very potential and creative trend.

4. One page layout

One page layout encourages you to get rid of all unnecessary elements and information. In 2010 г. this type of web site will no longer have a strange navigation will be designed in even more minimal style. They should be considered as a business cards.

Main idea: One page layout can be used for personal websites.

To be continued...