Partner Article

The State of Web Design in 2013

The world of web design never stands still, but we’re currently experiencing a flourish of exciting new design trends and innovations. As dynamic and exciting as many websites already are, the possibilities peeking over the horizon offer you visual, creative and audience-response potential that is exciting and nearly unfathomable.

What Exciting Web Trends and Innovations Are Right Around the Bend?

As a dynamic web designer, knowing all the new design tools available to you as well as the expectations of those visiting your website are key components to your website’s success. Following are some of the most important trends and innovations that are percolating for the coming year.

Responsive Web Design Technology is Not Just for Handhelds Anymore. This is the year to make sure your website is responsive to all types of screens available to your web page’s visitors with HTML 5. By using this mark-up language, you embed a translation tool that allows your web design and content’s page parameters to automatically adjust to any screen size or type, whether a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone. Additionally, if you offer a mobile application, you can use the same HTML code for it so that it syncs with your web page design. By learning and adapting this new design boon, you’ll be making your design process more streamlined and your readers’ experience simpler and more pleasant.

Watch Out! Here Comes Retina Display. Apple’s retina display launched in the 2011 release of iPhone 4S. Other technology companies, such as Intel, are following in suit and developing their own retina display technology. Be ready to create sharper graphics than ever before to avoid having designs that appear blurry on such high-res screens.
Making Things Simple to Create Impact. Many websites will rely on fewer colors, but the colors they choose will be bold and create contrast and impact. A clear and crisp design will allow your web design, message and content to speak for itself rather than cause any distractions.

Beyond Design—What Makes the Internet’s Engines Keep on Purring Along

With Google’s changes in the past few years, it’s critical that your website offers content of intrinsic value to your visitors. Otherwise, updates such as Panda and Penguin on Google will reduce your web page’s ranking, making it less and less likely for those entering search terms to make it to your web page, since it may end up on the second page of search results—or worse. As always, creating quality content with a relevant message is your best strategy.

Just What is the State of Web Design and What Does the Career Path Look Like?

With the advent of responsive web design and its need for collaboration, the new trend in website design may be toward designers having more specialties and working within teams with complementary knowledge bases. Be willing to learn everything possible so that you don’t get left behind in your company’s firm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lindsey Harper Mac .