Biggest Web Design Trends for 2017

As 2016 draws to a close we’ve been excitedly researching some of the biggest predicted web design trends for 2017 to see what we’ll be working on and discussing here over the next twelve months. Alongside the usual suspects, there are some truly innovative trends coming to the forefront and we can’t wait to see how they work their way into web design.

Hand-Drawn Graphics

Whether you draw your own graphics or purchase resources from a service like Envato Elements, hand-drawn graphics are going to be huge in 2017. They have a rustic appeal that fits in seamlessly with the simple living lifestyle trends that are set to boom next year, so precision is out and handmade is in.

Microinteractions

Steadily growing in popularity in recent years, microinteractions are ready to come to the forefront in 2017 and are all set to take centre stage. These miniature moments are a great way to delight your audience and more and more brands are finding ways to integrate microinteractions into truly innovative website design.

Drone Videography

Drones are something you’re likely to see cropping up on every 2017 trends list, whether it’s related to design, photography or television trends. We’ve seen the impact of drones throughout this year and it will be exciting to see how brands harness this new technology to enhance their website designs. With videography also predicted to be huge for web design in 2017, these two trends are sure to go hand in hand.

Age Responsive Design

Responsive design has been a huge talking point for a long time now but it’s time to focus on a different type of responsive design: age responsive design. It’s still early days for this trend but 2017 promises to bring with it examples of brands offering different user experiences and content based on age, rather than solely on device type.

Mobile First Design

Has there been a year since 2010 when mobile responsiveness hasn’t been a predicted trend? Probably not, though things are a little different this time around. The focus is shifting towards mobile first design, with websites being built around a mobile screen first and then scaled up to suit larger tablet and desktop screens. China adopted this method of design years ago and we’re starting to see it trickle into the mix over here.

Emphasis on UI

When you look through this list it might appear as if there’s little cohesion between 2017’s trends. Microinteractions, depth of field, geometric shapes – what do they have in common? Aesthetically, not too much. However, each and every trend on this list exists to enhance user experience and we’re set to see an emphasis on UI that’s more imaginative and immersive than ever before.

Rich Neutrals

While Pantone have yet to weigh in with their official colour of 2017 (though the fashion and interior palettes have already been released), Benjamin Moore have released both their colour of the year and their full palette for 2017.

As you can see above their colour of the year is Shadow, a deep, rich amethyst that’s set to be featured heavily in web design colour schemes over the next year. Perfectly suited to lifestyle brands but diverse enough to work with a variety of industries, the rest of Benjamin Moore’s predicted palette is similarly deep, luxe and neutral.

Next Level Animations

This trend could be seen as the umbrella that reaches over both microinteractions and age responsive design, as animations are going to reach a more sophisticated level in 2017. Everything from loading screens to full screen introductions will be experimented with and intricate, detailed animations will be incorporated into site navigation, scrolling designs and interactive headers.

Geometric Shapes

Contrasting nicely with the smooth, rich colours and rustic hand-drawn elements that are set to boom in 2017, shapes are predicted to be angular, cold and rigid. Think harsh geometrics and bold lines. 80s inspired shapes will continue to be popular, so it will be interesting to see how this gels with 2017’s predicted colour palette.

Depth of Field

Google’s material design documentation discusses depth of field in great detail, so we’d recommend it as a starting point if you’re looking to incorporate this design element into your repertoire for 2017. As Google say themselves, ‘motion provides meaning’, and creating interesting layers, textures and illusions is a great way to draw positive attention to your designs and stand out from the crowd.