Web Design Predictions for 2012

With 2011 fast coming to a close, it is time to start looking at what some of the trends for web design will be in 2012. While some of these trends don’t overly differ from those predicted for this year, 2012 will see web design become more exaggerated and focused on clever design elements.

• Oversized Logos and Page Headers: It has long been the norm for web designers to create small and subtle logos for their clients, but with people wanting to stick out and be noticed the time for oversized logos and page headers has come. These logos or headers may take up part of or the entire screen and all a visitor needs to do is scroll down the web page. The incorporation of either of these elements into a website can really make a lasting impression on visitors.
• Hand Drawn Web Page Design: While drawing by hand is not a new web design concept, it is one that has yet to see it’s time in the light. This kind of design is highly useful in blurring the lines between the ‘cold web’ and personal interaction – exactly what is needed when it comes to effectively engaging with potential customers. The hand drawn concept should not, however, be the main focus of the website and should just be used in an elemental capacity.
• Typography: Web designers have long avoided the use of typography as anything other than content for fear of distracting or deterring website visitors. But this should no longer be the case – designers should further explore the use of typography on the web as a means of attracting visitors to read on. Some designers have even found that well-placed and creative typography is more interesting to web page visitors than a page full of images.
• Oversized Images: This trending web design element aims for much the same effect as the oversized logos and page headers mentioned above, except that they are separate from the branding of your business. Oversized images should be related to either the business itself or to the content on that particular web page. They create a visual impact that visitors won’t soon forget, helping to draw them in and get them to read on.
• Magazine Layouts: People who have already jumped onto this web design prediction have been extremely clever as the layout works to appeal to visitors who are making the transition from traditional print media to the online medium. The layout is familiar, functional and user-friendly, and is set to boom in the world of blog design.

While these predictions won’t take effect right at the start of 2012, on January 1st, over the last year we have seen a subtle shift towards these elements of web design, making them the big ones to watch next year.