As technology continues to evolve, so too does website design. We are well into 2015, and so far we’ve seen some interesting website trends. Whether you are a designer yourself, a company just starting out that needs a website, or someone who is interested in what the year has to bring, here are a few trends that we’ve seen so far this year.

Keep these in mind when you are developing your new site:

1. Parallax Scrolling

This new technology can be incredibly fun to scroll through on a website. Take Sony’s new Be Moved site for example: https://www.sony.com/be-moved/. The scrolling parallax design which incorporates different elements with each scroll is intriguing, capturing and fun. It brings a 3D element to websites, which is something that we’ve never seen before.

2. Responsive Web Design

In February, Google announced that it has finally put a date on requiring that websites be mobile friendly as a major factor in their search rankings. From April 21, 2015 onward, customers looking to find your industry offerings on a mobile device such as an iPhone, Android or tablet will be more likely to find your website, or less likely to find your website, depending on whether or not you pass the Google mobile test. You can see if your site passes the test here: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/

3. Scrolling Sites

These sites are not meant to click around, these sites are going to deliver all of the information in a long scroll. With the release of the iPhone 6, Apple led the way in showing us that a long scrolling site can be done in a compelling way that doesn’t burden the user. You can check that page out here: https://www.apple.com/iphone-6/.

This trend looks like it is going to stick around too. Similar to responsive designs, web developers are looking to cater to the mobile user, not the person sitting at a desktop. As a mobile user, it is easier for us to spend time scrolling up and down, rather than clicking on buttons.

4. Large, Storytelling Visuals in Header

Companies have started to realize that a website is an opportunity to tell the story of the company, to show the consumer how the product will enhance their lives, and to engage the website visitor right off the bat. Because of this, many companies are using a large visual on the homepage that tells a story. You can see a great example of this from the restaurant chain Snooze Eatery: https://snoozeeatery.com/.

Keeping Your Website Trendy

These tips can help you understand where websites are going this year, and give you some good ideas about how you might like to create a website for your business. If you are interested in giving your site a face-lift, give us a call today 970-266-0703!