5 Web Design Trends to Avoid

There is a lot that goes into designing and developing a website, and paying attention to web design trends is a key aspect. These trends emerge as a response to changing user preferences, technological advancements and evolving design standards. It is important to pay attention to website trends when you’re building a new website, as they can significantly impact user experience, engagement and overall success. Following trends helps your website stay relevant, modern and visually appealing to users. This can attract and retain users, whilst ensuring that they enjoy the time spent on your website. Regardless of the industry, web design trends certainly have a place.

Incorporating current trends into a website’s design demonstrates that your website is up-to-date, trustworthy and aligned with what has become standard in the industry. However, it is crucial to balance these trends with timeless design principles. After all, you don’t want to end up with a website that’s quickly dated and subpar. You need to consider the specific needs and preferences of your target audience when deciding which trends to use, as this will help you to create a website that is both visually appealing and functional for the long term. Remember, not all website trends will work for your industry or your audience.

Though there are a lot of web design trends out there, some of them are better than others. In fact, there are a handful of web design trends that you should avoid altogether. In this blog, we have taken a look at some of the key trends that could hinder your business’ online success.

Unreadable Fonts

There are a lot of fonts out there, but so many businesses continue to choose those that are difficult to read. When you are designing and developing a website, it’s important to pick a font that users can read with ease. Creatively using fonts is a good way to make a memorable brand and it’s something that we encourage, to some extent, but small, poorly contrasting or ornate fonts will make your content harder to read. If your content is unreadable, users are unlikely to be engaged by what you have to say, and they are more likely to take their business elsewhere.

Too Many Animations

There is no denying that animations, when used in moderation, are engaging. They can grab someone’s attention and make a statement, helping a website to stand out and be as memorable as possible. However, too many animations can have the opposite effect. Too many animations can be overloading, confusing and a lot to handle. They can obscure the experience of users’ and slow down their devices. Too many animations also create usability issues on different screen sizes and orientations.

Poor Colour Combinations

When you are having a website designed, your website designer will be able to recommend colour combinations that work. It’s important to avoid colour combinations that clash, and those with poorly contrasting colour choices. Colours play a crucial part in user experience and perception, and the wrong colour choices can create visual discomfort, make content difficult to read. They can also deter users from engaging with the website. When the right colour combinations are chosen, it’s possible to boost brand identity, evoke emotions and guide users’ attention effectively, leading to a more visually appealing and engaging website.

Autoplaying Videos

In recent years, one of the biggest web design trends is autoplaying videos, but it’s actually a design that a lot of businesses should avoid. Autoplaying videos can be disruptive, distracting, and annoying to users who may not be expecting or interested in them. They can slow down page loading times and consume valuable data for users with limited resources. Additionally, autoplaying videos can interfere with accessibility features and disrupt users who prefer to browse in a quiet or private setting. Providing users with the option to choose whether to play a video allows for a more respectful browsing experience, and it enables them to use the website in a way that works for them.

Unintuitive Navigation

There are a lot of websites out there, and so a lot of businesses focus on finding creative ways to engage users. Recently, one of the rising web design trends has seen businesses getting increasingly creative with layouts. However, this can confuse users, as they expect certain things from the interface. For example, they expect there to be a link to the home page in the top left corner. Similarly, they expect that a mobile menu will be hidden behind a hamburger menu. When a website’s navigation is too creative, users can become confused and frustrated, unable to find what they are looking for. It’s understandable that a business will want to defy expectations and offer users something different, but doing this too much will frustrate them. Instead, find other ways to make your website experience unique, and keep the navigation as simple as possible.

At Profici, we have worked on a wide range of websites over the years, so we know what works and what doesn’t work. All of the websites we design and develop are completely bespoke. We take the time to get to know you and your business, before creating a website that ticks every box. Though we pay attention to web design trends and we know what users are looking for in an online experience, we only embrace the web design trends that work. Contact our helpful team to find out more about our website design and development services.