If there’s a fact known for sure, all the design trends come and go after a certain time, but some trends just hit it right and become an eternal phenomena. Minimalism is the trend that came once, but is here to stay.
Over the time it became more than just a trend; it ensures your website is timeless, classic, universally appealing. This forever gold web design trend allows you to place all the focus on what’s really important; the content. The design just sits comfortably in the backseat while everything else takes the wheel and makes a significant impact on your audience.
It’s all about maintaining that perfect balance to make sure nothing is too overpowering or intimidating to your visitors.
The Ultimate Design
In the early 2000’s we were introduced to minimalistic web design, and recently it has made a comeback with a rather more seamless and refined take on the former trend.
Today we are more advanced and are able to add more complex and versatile visuals to our websites and this often causes the site to crash. With the heavy unnecessary Flash intros and animations of all kinds, some web designers felt it’s about time we resort to simpler times that follow the “less is more” principles.
The best example of efficient and useful minimalist web design has been demonstrated by Google. The Google homepage is exclusively designed with all the focus on emphasizing everything it stands for. Other than branding, every other thing unnecessary to their primal function was eliminated. The major focus is on the brand itself, as there are no other prominent visual elements on the page. The rest of the page is uncluttered, without any distracting characteristics. Google has exhibited a minimalist philosophy like no other as it improves user experience and promotes engagement.
Minimalist Components to Consider
It is important to take the following into consideration whilst creating your ideal minimal web design that ensures to maximize the effectiveness.
1. A High-Contrast Palette should do the Trick!
If you’re up for a fresh, modern and subtle look, then you need to employ a simple high-contrast color palette. The fewer visual elements with a palette of the sort tend to have a greater impact.
It will be beneficial for viewers as it makes the website more readable, accessible and can direct users to important areas of the website.
Remember: The goal of a minimal web design is to believe in the less is more concept; which reflects ease of use and efficiency.
Negative Space is Positive
This is the only place you should consider negative to be a positive. In simple terms, negative space or white space is the empty portion between the visual elements in your design. The more empty space your design has, the more it’ll emphasize on the existing elements making them the star of the show.
While it is referred to as a white space, it doesn’t have to be white. Some sites tend to use a solid vibrant color to get their users energized. This allows you to highlight some major function or vital informational content and it can be easily seen to visitors. Negative spaces assist in preventing your users to be overwhelmed by the information displayed on screen. It ensures a light, less stressful, rather pleasing and more engaging experience for users.
The most important thing to remember is while working with massive negative space; is to not remove essentials to the point where users find it difficult to navigate or find what the features they need.
The Typography that Says it All
This plays an essential role in web design whether or not you choose a minimalist approach. Your choice in typography can make a significant difference to the final look of your design. However, in a minimalist design the dramatic use of typography becomes more influential as there is little to nothing to focus on, because of the reduced amount of elements on the page.
Even though the focus is all on the drama the typography brings to the page, it is also something to be highly cautious about. It is preferred to use ornate fonts sparingly and as center design elements.
Simplicity is Key
When it comes to web design, simplicity is a lot more complex to define than it seems. What matters is the user’s experience while interacting with the website; being a lot more than just about how it looks.
It’s all about finding ways to help smoothen out a user’s experience by simplifying the ability to accomplish a task without them getting distracted by one thing or the other. Intuitive page navigation; this is the biggest kind of contributing factor to the minimalist simple designs. They don’t confuse or distract users, and they seamlessly blend into their experience allowing them to focus and accomplish their goals.
Minus all the flash animations, and unnecessary decorative elements can easily smoothen the simple design out completely. As an added advantage your page will load easily and decrease the chances to crash or face problems.
Is the Minimalist Web Design for You?
At the end of the day, it’s a personal decision you have to make on your own as you know what’s best for you. But, to help you make that decision you should ask yourself “Does minimalism help me achieve the purpose of this website?” Many websites use minimalist designs to focus on the customer’s needs, this tends to convert into more sales as users feel at ease to find what they need and complete the task.
Author name: Asad Mazhar
Bio: Is a professional SEO expert with 4 years’ experience. He is working with a Dubai based company Go-Gulf is currently working on the Web Design Abu Dhabi segment.
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