Website Design Trends 2019: The Ones You CAN’T Ignore
By Steve Grant | June 20th 2019
By Steve Grant 
As we approach the end of another decade, it’s pretty gob-smacking to look back at what’s happened in the world of web design since 2010. So much has changed. Websites look seriously different. User experience reigns and mobile is a major driving force behind the way sites are designed. So, as we near the dawn of ‘the twenties’, what are the website design trends 2019 will be majoring on? If you are about to invest in a new website, what should you be expecting it to deliver to ensure you’re bang up to date? Let’s take a look.
Speed
You have less than three seconds to make a lasting impression with a website visitor. So if that time is spent waiting for a page to load, it’s not going to be good news for your relationship.
We’re all in a hurry nowadays. We don’t like to be kept waiting. And Google is not a fan of slow websites either, to say the least. This is why flat design is taking over.
Last year’s Google Speed Update means that the search giant is prioritising sites that load faster. So it goes that website design trends for 2019 have to be centred on speed. Yes, images and videos will still feature, but they’ll be incorporated in the right way so they don’t put the brakes on loading speed.
Flat Design
Flat design doesn’t sound all that compelling, but it’s just the industry name for minimalism. In other words, the use of plenty of white space; clean, open design with splashes of bright colour, and straightforward illustrations.
Flat design ticks the speed box. Fast loading web pages are an absolute must if you’re looking to net those gold-dust Google top spots, and simplistic design is the ideal way to give users a happy browsing experience, whatever device they are viewing on.
The more simplistic the design, the fewer the data involved, the faster the pages will load. Without clutter, users are able to keep their focus on the crucial bits and find their way around much more easily.
Think less is more. Think of breathing space. Think easy to digest. That’s what flat design and its calming white space is all about.
Organic Shapes
Flat design is being brought to life with the use of organic shapes. Simple, geometric shapes in vibrant colours have the ability to create bold, engaging statements whilst still ticking the loading speed box. It’s a way of bringing a dynamic feel into an otherwise bland design landscape, without over-complicating the website code and slowing everything down.
Organic shapes can be anything that’s irregular. Hand-drawn, natural and even quirky, they have the ability to grab attention and add character to a website. Combine them with imagery or illustrations and you’ll create something really special that’s both approachable and unique.
Simple, geometric shapes in vibrant colours have the ability to create bold, engaging statements whilst still ticking the loading speed box.
Immersive Backgrounds
With page loading speed in mind, you may think that video backgrounds are off the agenda when it comes to website design trends for 2019. But that is definitely not the case.
Video backgrounds are known to boost conversions. They engage in a way that static images and words just can’t. Visitors like videos. They tend to stay around to watch them, which means they are more likely to convert. Sticking around increases Dwell Time, which tells Google that your site is valuable to visitors, which then boosts your rankings.
The modern website of 2019 is easy to spot: it will have an immersive video background. Providing the video is professionally created, is short and optimised and is muted, this is one sure-fire way of elevating your brand.
Mobile First
Mobile has been the most popular method of search since the middle of the decade. This is why Google changed which sites it indexes first: those that are mobile-friendly. This is a massive website design trend that can’t be ignored in 2019.
Websites are now designed ‘mobile-first’. In other words, designers start with how the site delivers on user experience on a mobile device and then work on desktop experience second.
Mobile-first is a massive website design trend that can’t be ignored in 2019.
Accessibility
Accessibility has been an incredibly important aspect of web design for some time now, so whilst it’s not really a website design trend for 2019, it certainly can’t be ignored.
A considerable number of website users have disabilities, and website accessibility is all about making sure these disabilities do not get in the way of a user’s enjoyment of a website. Websites that are carefully designed and built are easily accessible by everyone, regardless of ability.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are a vital reference point. Websites that are compliant with these guidelines are websites that provide equal opportunities and remove barriers to access.
Micro Interactions
It’s always reassuring to know that you’re doing the right thing when you’re browsing online. Sound effects and visual animations better help users understand what they need to do, and confirm that what they’ve done is correct.
Micro-interactions are simple prompts like a button changing colour, a menu expanding or a sound on a click. They all enhance the navigation experience and help to drive visitors towards conversion points. They are like little rewards for doing the right things.
Website design in 2019 is building these interactions in, so be sure to get them factored into your new website.
Machine Learning & Chatbots
Chatbots are becoming an integral part of website design for 2019. Thanks to enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, chatbots have the ability to enhance user experience and take over a good proportion of a brand’s customer service facility.
In a website environment, chatbots enhance user interactions. They help engage visitors and provide an almost-human, personal welcome. What’s more, they gather highly valuable information: absolute gold dust for sales and marketing teams. Thanks to chatbots, it is possible to know precisely what a customer wants by analysing past interactions.
The technology behind chatbots and machine learning really is becoming very sophisticated, making it easier and cheaper to incorporate into a website. Chatbots powered by machine learning provide instant responses and hugely improve efficiency. They are features that really must not be overlooked when it comes to website design trends for 2019.
Chatbots helps you engage visitors and provide an almost-human, personal welcome.
Future Proof Website Design
At Figment, we embrace emerging technologies and the latest website design trends so we can ensure our clients get the very best, future proof platform from which to grow their business and increase their sales. If you are looking to develop a new website for your business, we would be delighted to discuss how we can assist you, so please don’t hesitate to talk to Figment!