Web Design Trends for 2010
Jacqueline Thomas
http://webdesignledger.com/tips/we
b-design-trends-for-2010
1. Oversized Logos/ Headers
• To make an unforgettable impression on the
visitor, the trend for 2010 will be oversized logos
on an equally oversized header. These types of
headers can take up the entire screen, but with
one important note. Visitors will not need to click
anything, just scroll down. Visitors often having a
clicking phobia (due to years of poor navigation),
so big headers do the job of a splash page
without forcing your visitors to click anything.
Oversized Logos/ Headers
• Main Idea: Huge headers that make your
visitors remember you.
2. Sketch/ Hand-drawn Design
• Hand-drawn design is not exactly new on the horizon, but we all
know that it is still on the fringes of web design. Many designers
admire the style but are afraid to create their own sketches because
of the “I can’t really draw” attitude.
• If you look at the most popular hand-drawn websites (and relative to
other types of trends, there are only a few), you will notice that most
of your fellow designers can’t draw. These designs are not exactly
headed to an art museum, but they do convey a sense of whimsy,
and blur the line between cold web and personal interaction– the
ultimate goal of the internet. If you can doodle, you can sketch for
web design.
• Sketch in 2010 will become more elemental, and not as much the
main focus of a web design. It will be used to personalize standard
web copy in new and exciting ways
Sketch/ Hand-drawn Design
• Main Idea: Sketch becomes an elemental
part of corporate design.
3. Slab Typefaces
• Slab typefaces are relatively new, although they’ve been
around for over 200 years in traditional media.
• To get a good visual definition of slab typefaces, think of
the old Wild West “Wanted” posters. Those bold letters
are slab typefaces. Slab typeface is commonly all capital
letters and are bold and imposing.
• Many designers have shied away from slab typefaces in
the past because logos and headers were smaller and
more understated. However, combined with the trend
toward larger headers, slab typefaces demand the
reader to take notice.
Slab Typefaces
• Main Idea: Slab typefaces is used to
bravely express who you are.
4. Typography
• Typography is one of the most difficult trends to tackle
which is why it will remain fresh in 2010. With all the cries
for usability, web designers are afraid of using new and
different fonts. The idea of mixing varying font sizes
together is completely unthinkable.
• Fonts are meant to be explored, twisted, and molded to
fit your purposes. With the correct placement, a website
that utilizes Typography as its main design element will
be more interesting to a reader than overloading the
same site with tons of photos.
Typography
• Main Idea: Typography is young, but will
continue to be a part of web design.
5. One Page Layouts
• One pay layouts challenge you to edit away
what’s unnecessary. In 2010, this trend will move
away from the quirky navigation and become
more minimal in its approach.
• Think of these websites as business cards.
These websites will be more of a one-stop-shop
for how to locate you and your work on various
other sites– your blog and your social media
hangouts.
One Page Layouts
• Main Idea: One page layouts will be more
about personal profiles and less corporate.
Huge Images
• A close relative to the oversized logo/ header,
the huge image does much the same thing. It
creates an visual impact that the visitor won’t
soon forget. Unlike the oversized header from
above, huge images are not part of the site’s
branding. Instead, these images draw the visitor
into your site, if not for their content then for their
humongous size. In 2010, web designers will find
themselves more comfortable using these big
statements in their design to convey the site’s
tone.
• Main Idea: Huge images will be used to
invite visitors in.
7. Change of Perspective
• As we’ve discussed before, the desktop
perspective has been done to death. 2010
will see a definite change in perspective to
a more realistic view. There may also be a
move toward side-shot aerial.
Change of Perspective
• Main Idea: 2010 will play around with
different perspectives.
Change of Perspective
8. Interactive/ Intuitive Design
• Flash has seen better days. There was a time when you
couldn’t visit a website without running into an annoying
Flash interface. These days Flash is a lot more relaxed
and much more professional. Although some designers
prefer jQuery for forms and popups, Flash still has its
place in design, especially when done subtly. Flash still
has no equal to its interactivity. In 2010, web designers
will move toward the more redeeming elements of Flash.
Because the average visitor is more web savvy these
days, designers will also create sites that are slightly
more intuitive than in the past.
• Main Idea: Interactive design will make a
come-back.
9. Modal Boxes
• Modal boxes are a trend that’s picking up
steam and will be virtually everywhere in
2010. A modal box is like the popup’s more
sophisticated older brother– it’s smooth,
good looking and popular. Modal boxes are
so easy to design and easy to use, making
them the perfect solution for any designer
concerned with usability.
Modal Boxes
• Main Idea: Modal boxes will continue to
pop up in 2010 designs.
10. Minimalism
• Forget the old school minimal websites.
Websites of 2010 will continue to feature
lots of white space but with bold typology
and surprising color schemes. Not all
minimal websites will agree with the notion
of black and white simplicity. Although
minimalism is by nature muted, it will also
showcase fresh colors. Minimalism isn’t
cold, it’s warm and too the point.
Minimalism
• Main Idea: Minimalism will venture into
typology.
11. Oversized Footer
• Oversized footers may be everywhere
already, but 2010 will find them even more
exaggerated. The footers of tomorrow will
be less of an after-thought and more of an
integral part of the design. Look for footers
that feature contain random information,
such as feed updates from various social
media, daily polls, and Flicker feeds.
Oversized Footer
• Main Idea: Oversized Footers will feature
less important, but more personal
information.
Oversized Footer
12. Retro
• Retro designs are here to stay. Although a
lot of the design community admires retro
web design, it can be difficult to fully
embrace this style without coming across
“undone.” The key to retro designs is to be
inspired by its tone and underlying
playfulness. In 2010, retro design will be
expanded as designers find new ways to
honor vintage art.
• Main Idea: Retro is new.
13. Intro Boxes
• Hi, my name is…” will find an even bigger stage in 2010
as designers recognize the beautiful simplicity of
introducing yourself to your visitor. If you’re struggling
with making a creative “About” page, the intro box will be
your best bet.
• It forces you to condense who you are into a relatively
small about of space. In 2010, intro boxes will push its
own boundaries.
• Instead of the boring hello, designers will find new pick-
up lines. And, instead of the left-flanked intro block, 2010
will see boxes in unusual placement, perhaps even in
the middle of a page.
Intro Boxes
• Main Idea: New ways to say “hello.”
14. Magazine Layouts
• As more and more people migrate from the comforts of
traditional press to online infotainment, designers are
challenged to welcome them in with an easy transition.
• There is a move toward the magazine layout, where
information is carefully organized on a single home
page, giving the visitor an opportunity to explore as
interested.
• The familiar layout will appeal to appeal to anyone who’s
ever read a magazine or newspaper, but it will also be
easier to use– no flipping pages! In 2010, magazine
layout will become very huge for blogs in particular.
Magazine Layouts
• Main Idea: Magazine layouts will be used
for infotainment sites.