Web design trends are constantly changing, keeping pace with technological advancements as well as shifts in consumer preference. As you consider a redesign for your own business website, it’s wise to survey some of the current trends, and to get a sense of where the design world is headed. With that said, it’s also important to remember that not all website design trends are created equal. While some can be instructive, even worthy of imitation, others function more like Wrong Way signs.
In 2022, there are a few rather unfortunate website design trends that have bubbled to the surface. Here are just a few of them.
Steer Clear of These Website Design Trends
Parallax Scrolling
If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it basically refers to a design flourish in which the background of the page appears to remain static, while elements in the foreground shift either vertically or horizontally.
It’s a neat visual effect, which is why it’s become pretty popular over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it can really compromise the functionality of your site. For one thing, parallax scrolling can significantly increase the time required for your site to load. Also note that it doesn’t work well on all browser and device types, which means you’re likely to bounce more visitors.
Video Backgrounds
Similar to parallax scrolling, video backgrounds look cool but don’t always work as well as they’re supposed to. A video background can significantly increase the loading time for your site… and remember, speed is one of the core factors for determining a website’s user experience, not to mention an SEO ranking signal highly rewarded by Google. Additionally, video backgrounds tend not to work very well on mobile devices.
So, once more, adopting this design trend may result in lower search engine rankings, higher bounce rates, and some frustrated, would-be visitors.
Auto-Playing Videos
We’ve all been to websites that feature auto-playing videos, which means we’ve all experienced for ourselves just how frustrating this design trend can be.
Once again, the increased page loading time is unacceptable. On top of that, auto-playing videos that include sound can disrupt a user’s headphone experience or cause a sudden burst of noise when they’re trying to quietly browse or study.
All in all, auto-playing videos just aren’t worth the trouble.
Hover Menus
A hover menu unrolls website navigation any time the user “hovers” their mouse over a particular area. In theory, this is a cool way to provide website navigation. But in actuality, hover menus require some dexterity to maneuver, and can often leave users feeling frustrated.
On top of that, hover menus are presumptuous. A website visitor is always going to be hovering… that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re looking to navigate to the next part of your website.
Endless Scrolling
It’s understandable why some website designers might opt for single-page sites. But once again, this is a case of form compromising function.
Specifically, endless scrolling can be a frustration for users who simply want to make it to the bottom of the site to access links or other “footer” information.
While endless scrolling can sometimes work well, especially for creative companies or for artists, it’s something we generally recommend against.
Make the Best Decisions for Your Website Design
As you contemplate a new look for your website, it’s important to be judicious and wise, taking cues from the best website design trends while ignoring the bad ones.
At Woland Web, our website design team is here to help you navigate these choices, and to provide you with a website that’s both visually appealing, as well as fully functional. To find out more, contact the Woland Web team today.
