What’s the first thing you notice about a website? It’s design.

Web design will always be important when delivering an impeccable online experience. According to WebFx, 97 percent of first impressions formed about a website are regarding its web design! And design ensures 75 percent of the credibility of a site.

Do you remember the web design of YouTube back in the day? If you can still recall it, you are bound to appreciate just how far web designing has come. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that the sector is ever-evolving. Popular web design trends of a few years ago are now mostly obsolete.

Therefore, it is crucial for web designers to have a futuristic perspective. You must adapt to the next big technology that comes your way.

Here are some of the predictions about what the future holds for web designing. Assess and analyze if you are ready to embrace it.

1. Data Analytics will transform designs

One of the biggest gifts given by the current decade to businesses is the accumulation of data. As per Tech Jury, the data analytics market is set to reach 103 billion USD by 2023! It is influencing various industries of today.

Whether it be advertising or retail, businesses now rely on analytics for forming crucial decisions. For instance, Google relies on data from its users to understand what they are interested in. it then gives them ads specific to their interests.

In web design, big data helps pinpoint the exact user behavior rather than the users’ perception of it.

For instance, when asked about a company’s website, consumers may respond that they don’t like it due to complicated navigation. However, data might reveal that the real issue lies in the way items are categorized.

Additionally, it also allows web developers to gain insights about the website’s users, where they are coming from, what they are interacting with and what is causing them to bounce. They can then alter the web design to offer the best user experience.

Hence, analytics can allow web designers to identify the exact pain points of a website and work towards resolving them. Even today, slowly, analytics are becoming a crucial part of the development of all user experiences. This trend is going to continue in future.

2. Consistent branding will remain relevant

Have you ever wondered why companies bother investing in creating a unique and impeccable web design? Apart from its role in forming consumer’s perception, a web design also acts as a differentiating factor from competitors.

As per Adobe, at least 73 percent of brands invest in design, whether it be product design or website, for the sole purpose of establishing their unique brand identity. And relaying this identity consistently across channels can boost revenue by 23 percent, according to Lucid Press.

The role of web design in communicating a consistent brand will remain relevant in the future. After all, every medium used by a given company must contribute to an increase in brand recall, recognition and equity.

It has always been important to place a brand’s logo in a tactical position throughout the website. The same will be the case in the future as well. And the said logo must be an apt representation of the company. This is why you should seek help from professionals like Logo Design Valley when creating company logos.

3. VR and AI will take the center stage

Another thriving industry that is surely a force to be reckoned with is the Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality industry. According to Statista, its market size is likely to reach 296 billion USD by 2024.

Web designers can make use of AR and VR to enhance the web experience. It can allow them to create a digital world that blends into the real one. One way to do so is by allowing for real-time product visualization.

One brand is already offering this tool for online stores to implement. Vyking uses VR technology that allows users to try on shoes before purchasing them. Web designers who are creating an Ecommerce solution can use such technologies to combat the biggest issue of online shopping – the inability to try on the product.

Additionally, Artificial Intelligence is likely to improve the user experience of the masses. It can be used to automate chat services while ensuring that the responses visitors receive help them in navigating through the website.

How so? Well, AI takes into account a given users’ purchase history and queries to offer quick responses and directions. This prompt service is likely to boost the overall satisfaction with a given website. Again, AI is already being used by websites. In future, one can expect it to further be “human” in its responses.

4. A tribute to the old days

Who would have thought that mom jeans and handlebar moustaches would become cool again, right? After all, most millennials spent a good chunk of their youth laughing at just how uncool the fashion statements of their predecessors were! Alas, it turns out that the world has a knack for going back to old trends.

It turns out web design is no different. While there is no way that modern websites will ever look like those of the past, this doesn’t stop the world from loving some of the web design trends of the old days all over again.

We are referring to the rise of retro fonts. There has been a sudden surge in demand for the stylization and artistry of retro fonts. An excellent example is Spotify’s carnival promotion.

Just like this old trend, there is a chance that other old stylistic designs may become popular once again. It is imperative that designers keep an open mind about them. It is equally important to know how to breathe new life into these traditional design elements.

5. 3D and Multimedia experiences will triumph

As the screens on which users access websites get higher resolutions, the quality of the images being displayed must also increase. 3D elements are being incorporated into web designs, and this is likely to continue in the future and might even be the new benchmark of image quality!

For instance, here is a current example of Sennep’s homepage that features a 3D piano. See how it adds dimensionality to the webpage.

Apart from 3D, there is also a shift towards creating websites that deliver multimedia experiences rather than just static images.

Now, web designers must bring audio, text, visuals and audio together. But, they must do so thoughtfully. There must be a clear purpose of a given media being displayed, and it should not become an annoyance for users.

For instance, when including a background video, it is imperative to allow it to be paused. Nicolas Errera’s site does just this. By giving control of the video to its users, it allows them to direct the site experience as they deem fit.

As internet speeds and the quality of devices improve, both multimedia and 3D experiences are likely to be at the heart of web design.

Final Verdict

Gone are the days when the future seems far-fetched. In fact, you can say that we are already living in the future.

Therefore, predicting and getting accustomed to the coming years is not a daunting task. The future of web designing is not ambiguous. Most trends of tomorrow have already been set in motion today.

All that web designers must do is be alert of current and upcoming technologies and see how they can integrate them into websites. For now, focus on delivering the perfect user experience.

Erica Silva  is a blogger who loves to discover and explore the world around her. She writes on everything from marketing to technology. She enjoys sharing her discoveries and experiences with readers and believes her blogs can make the world a better place.

Find her on Twitter: @ericadsilva1