Web Design Trends 2009. Part 2
I continue to translate the article about web design trends in 2009. The first 5 new fashion trends look like this:
- Printed letters
- Advanced user interfaces
- Transparent png
- Huge typography
- Replacing the font
Well, let s continue … At the same time, you can read about the trends and trends in logo development that are now popular.
6. Modal windows
Modal (dialog) windows are, in fact, the second generation of Pop-Up s. They are used as a user-friendly alternative to classic JavaScript windows and help focus the user s attention on the most important points of the website. Modal windows always react to user actions (logging in, logging out) and appear on top of the main content just like a window in regular desktop applications. Modal windows often work quite delicately (subtly, so to speak) – they are often semi-transparent and have a close button.
7. Media blocks
With the advancement of technology and speed of Internet access, users can now afford to browse more than a few years ago. Designers (developers) can use this opportunity to present content in a more engaging and memorable way. Not surprisingly, many sites contain media blocks (videos or screencasts) for this purpose. The main advantage of such blocks is that they can present information to the user quickly and efficiently for better perception.
Users just need to sit back and enjoy the video; they will receive explanations step by step, without having to click, search for descriptions, and learn navigation. Videos are usually quite short and contain the main point; Most of them are formal, but they can also be entertaining.
But please make sure the video has an alternate presentation as normal text content on the site. Not every user has dedicated access to the World Wide Web, not everyone wants to watch videos, or not every user has Flash and JavaScript installed.
8. Magazine style
An interesting direction in blog design is the adaptation of various techniques found in conventional print media. The layout of posts on the page, the use of typography, illustrations, and even text alignment often resemble traditional print techniques. Tabular (in the original – Grid-based, I don t even know what to call it in Russian) designs are gaining popularity, although they are mainly used in portfolio, product page or large blogs; they almost never appear on corporate websites or online stores.
9. Carousels (slideshow)
Carousels are essentially slideshow navigation. They rotate content vertically or horizontally. To make the transition, the user must click on one of the two radio buttons – right / left or up / down. Depending on the selected element, the content will rotate in the desired fusion.
Instead of navigating through different sections of the site looking for their favorite stories, users can quickly view new updates without vertical scrolling and unnecessary mouse movements. As a result, it saves time, and the carousel focuses only on the content, instead of distracting from the browser. Such slideshow navigation is often used on entertainment sites and large blogs. Designers also use it to display their own portfolio.
10. Introductory blocks
The top left of the website is the most important block on the page as it gets the most attention from visitors. Therefore, it makes sense to place the most important message (message) of your project there to be sure that visitors will see it as quickly as possible.
In fact, this is exactly what many designers do. Whether it s a web app, a corporate design, an online service, or a portfolio, designers have slogans and a short introduction at the top of the page, using strong, vibrant typography to make a good impression. Some introductions are short, some are quite long; in any case, they usually take up a lot of space; the most popular sizes for these introductory blocks are somewhere around 250-400 pixels high and full width of the page. Note that such blocks almost never appear on blogs and online stores.
That s all for today. Expect 15 more trends in the near future.
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