Website and Application Design Trends 2022

Web design is a constantly evolving industry. Data shows that 94% of users judge a company based on its website design. Therefore, keeping up with the times is vital. You can’t appeal to modern audiences with a website or app designed back in 2012. All major companies regularly update their landing page and app interface, and this factor certainly contributes to their success.

Let’s look at the 20 most noteworthy web design trends of 2022.

One-Page Websites

Often, the simplest solution is the most effective one – at least when it comes to web design. Users favor clear navigation and valuable information without fluff. One-page websites are an excellent way to deliver your message and get the user hooked without wasting their time. The user doesn’t get distracted and doesn’t have to wander among dozens of pages trying to find the necessary information.

Website and Application Design Trends - 2022

Of course, one-page websites won’t work for everyone. They are suitable for narrow subjects – for instance, a portfolio. Such websites resemble flyers or posters, containing all the information in one place. Eye-catching design, copywriting, and good performance are key to a successful one-page website.

Focus on Typography

Web designers more often refrain from photos and illustrations in landing pages, relying on typography. And since there is no image to hook the user, designers use various tricks to make the typography noteworthy.

Oversized fonts make words a graphic element rather than a simple copy. Brutalism is on the surge – think sharp edges, contrasting color combos, and minimum intricacies. Some take it further and incorporate interactive elements in their typography – for instance, make the text float as the user moves the mouse.

Interactive Elements

Interactive elements add a sense of play to your website or application design. From simple scrolling text to puzzles, interactive elements help liven up the simplest page and increase user engagement.

Some interactive element examples include infographics, scrolling text, puzzles, virtual product testing, quizzes, and calculators. While animation can emphasize important elements, it’s vital to ensure that the essential text and call-to-action are readable.

Some create full-blown scavenger hunts, making users collect clues and resolve puzzles to unlock the next page. Naturally, the game shouldn’t be too complex to ensure everyone can find the desired information.

Collages and Abstract Illustrations

Collage and abstract graphics give website design a tactile feel and eclectic touch. It’s an excellent way to incorporate images without shifting focus towards them excessively. Especially popular are fun designs that make people laugh.

Glassmorphism

As the name suggests, glassmorphism mimics the look of frosted glass, combining transparency and blur. This effect works well in most website and application types, making the design seem lightweight and dimensional, and helping to separate and emphasize objects. Glassmorphism can be used to define the top layer of a design or create imagery.

Dynamic Content

Dynamic content is a major back-end design trend of recent years. The term static content refers to elements created individually. Developers can style multiple elements at once using classes, but updating such content isn’t simple for a non-professional. This may not be an issue for some websites but becomes a real problem for blogs, news websites, stores, and other websites where content must be updated regularly. Dynamic content allows users to add and change the content whenever they want to without professional help.

Adaptive Content

Adaptive content refers to content that updates depending on the preferences and behavior of a specific user. We can observe such personalization examples everywhere – think online stores displaying tailored product selection or hotel booking websites showing the most suitable deals.

Pages With a Strong Sense of Place

While some designers refrain from images entirely, others seek to convey a strong sense of place through photographs on landing pages. The key is to keep other design elements minimalistic and shift the focus on the picture.

The photographs aren’t always directly related to the website’s industry. For instance, a photographer may use an atmospheric picture of the ocean to showcase their work quality. Or, a winery may use an image of local nature instead of a vineyard to create real-world connections between their product and a certain place.

Gradients

When Instagram updated its logo from a realistic Polaroid camera to a minimalistic gradient icon, many thought the trend wouldn’t last for long. However, it’s 2022 now, and gradients don’t seem to go anywhere. But gradients aren’t the same as they were back in 2016. Today, they feel more natural, thanks to the grainy texture mimicking print or film. Gradients help to add depth to web elements such as buttons and provide emphasis to text.

Split-Screen Websites

Split-screen layouts are increasingly popular, giving website design contrast and helping to emphasize information. This trend is commonly used along with oversized typography and abstract illustrations. Split-screen designs can also serve a practical purpose, providing two entry points for further information.

Asymmetric Menus and Galleries

Unconventional layouts with asymmetric text and gallery alignment put focus on certain elements and adapt the interface to natural human eye flow. User experience has long been the top priority for web developers, and creative layouts that ease site navigation are the direct consequence.

Multi-Dimensional Navigation

Multi-dimensional navigation makes mobile apps more intuitive and simplifies interaction – think any major social media app, or shopping apps like ASOS and Google Play Store. Horizontal sliders combined with vertical scroll make the interface more interesting and save the user time.

2022 Website and Application Design Trends

Super Apps

Super apps are mobile apps that serve multiple purposes at once, incorporating different tools or services within a single interface. For instance, apps combining taxi and food delivery services or social media with a marketplace. A user-friendly interface is vital – clear structure and multi-dimensional navigation ensure the array of features doesn’t seem overwhelming.

Memphis Design

Web design looks to be moving in two opposite directions – it’s either complete minimalism or maximalism. Memphis design rejects the idea of less is more, combining a multitude of patterns, colors, and shapes to create a somewhat chaotic look. Think of it as a full-scale collage. Granted, a colorful design may not be a great fit for every industry. But Memphis-style websites look more fun than uniform minimalistic interfaces.

Retro Strikes Back

If you owned a computer with internet access back in the 1990s, you might remember the website design of the Web 1.0 era. It was characterized by bright color combinations, robotic typefaces, simplified graphics, and visible table layouts.

Although web design in the 1990s was often overwhelming, it was a time of complete freedom for developers when rules weren’t yet written. If you’re nostalgic, embrace it with unrestricted retro-inspired creativity. Of course, even retro-style modern websites feature much better navigation and performance than Web 1.0 pages, combining the best of both worlds.

Linework

Linework is both a visual and practical element, helping to separate page content and sections. The borders may be practically invisible or serve as a statement design element. Some designers replace imagery with abstract, minimalist linework art entirely.

3D Graphics

Dimensional graphics are rapidly replacing flat imagery, adding depth to website and application design. Some sites and apps take it further with interactive rotating 3D elements. Such graphics are especially useful for stores and other businesses selling products or services online.

Dark Mode

Many users can’t imagine ever using their phone in light mode again. Recently, dark mode taken over the app design industry. Not solely visual improvement, it also reduces eye strain and increases device battery lifetime.

Neumorphism

Neumorphism is a web and app design trend that isn’t particularly new. It originates from skeuomorphism and is aimed at making digital objects resemble their real-world counterparts. We saw it first in iPhones when digital button shadows mimicked physical buttons.

Neumorphism is a blend of skeuomorphism and flat design,, especially modern in recent years. It doesn’t replicate real-world objects but instead has a simplified plastic look. Such design is characterized by a monochromatic color palette, subtle shadows, and rounded shapes.

2022 - Website and Application Design Trends

Black and White

The black and white palette is among the most noteworthy website and application design trends of the year, giving the interface a stark contrast. Without color, there’s no distraction for the user and no restrictions for the designer. While the black and white website idea may seem boring, in reality, it inspires creativity. Unconventional layouts, abstractionism, oversized fonts, and moving objects are trends which pair well with a black and white palette.

Are You Ready for 2022?

Trends come and go, but many web design trends have proven longevity. Neglecting industry changes is an easy way to lag behind the competitors. Make sure you’re ready for 2022 – evaluate your website or app design critically.

The Interactivated team consists of industry professionals with years of experience who constantly monitor trends and know how to appeal to the modern user. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation on how to improve your website design to build brand recognition and improve user experience.