If you are planning on updating, or creating a website, then you may have already come across the term flat web design, as its popularity continues to grow.
For those of you who haven’t, it can briefly be described as a minimalistic take on web design, with many of the excess effects and features replaced with simpler alternatives. This back-to-basics premise has gathered a great deal of followers, and for good reason.
Simple Yet Effective
One of the worst errors that a web designer can make is trying to overcomplicate a design, bombarding it with flashy features and too many moving parts. While certain effects can look great when used sparingly, too many can result in an overpowering feel for the visitor.
A simple design is not the same as a dull design however, as some of the most interesting and creative web pages utilize flat web design to create calming, serene and sophisticated designs.
Channel Attention
Simple design means simple navigation, making it easier for the visitor to find their way around the website and locate what they are searching for. This ensures visitors don’t become frustrated with accessibility, which can result in them leaving the website.
Flat web design is also very effective when used in an ecommerce environment, allowing the company to channel the attention of the visitors to the information or area that is most desired. This allows for basic yet effective marketing campaigns, getting your point across in a concise and succinct manner.
The Elements of Flat Web Design
Flat web design is not only about the design of the page itself but also of its components, too. The fundamental ideas behind flat web design can also be replicated in colour schemes, fonts, icons and images within the website.
Cleaner fonts, particularly those that are sans-serif, have risen to great popularity, providing a clean and stylish approach to website text. Along with this, more natural colours are often used within the design, staying away from the garish colour schemes of previous website styles. Icons are also another area that has adopted the flat web design style, with simple 2D shapes becoming the widely adopted norm.
In summary
In being easy on the eye, simple to navigate and aesthetically pleasing, flat web design is certainly worth considering for your next website creation, or redesign.
