
Logo
Using a circular logo on your site not only gives it a clean and minimalist feel, but it also imparts the impression of sophistication and class. The circle is one of the oldest symbols known to human kind, often representing life itself. This fact is probably part of the reason that so many designers use it to represent their brand and sites. Using a circle has become quite a popular choice for logos these days.


Navigation
Using circles for navigation is becoming an increasingly popular and logical choice in today's growing and evolving markets favoring mobility. With the rise of touch screen devices, now moving beyond just smart phones and tablets, the push for patterning navigation in this way is taking way off. And with good reason. Using a circle for a button intuitively connects with the user, even mimicking the shape of a fingertip; begging the user to press it.



Icons
Circular icons are definitely the most popular and long running circular element used in web design. This is most likely due to the fact that they're usually image based so CSS capabilities didn't have to play a role in their use. They were able to hit the ground running. Some might think that given the length of time that circular icons have been decorating the Web, it might be time to change gears a bit and move in a different direction. But there is a reason that this design aesthetic has lasted this long in regards to icons. It just works.


Image previews
This technique we tend to see a lot in portfolios around the web as round images offer an aestheticly pleasing way of presenting a preview of the work to users. Again, this patterning tends to really draw the eye, so putting your previews in a cleverly cropped circle not only visually directs the user their way, but it speaks to them. And as for usability, circular images given plenty of room to breath between them which can give a site a creative and harmonious look.


Calls to action
Much like with navigation and the prevalence of touch-screen devices and expected capabilities, calls to action are served well by taking on this rounded pattern. Though, if you are presenting both the navigation and any CTAs you may have on the site in similar fashion, then you should try to make them stand out in very different ways. Navigation is necessary, yes, but CTAs are priority elements that we need to be sure get treated as such. And distinguished as such. Creating a visual hierarchy is nothing new to web designers, and this is simply an extension of that.

Rob Bowen
Rob Bowen is an emerging filmmaker, celebrated author/podcaster and poet, and most recently the co-founder and imaginative co-contributor of the creative design and blogging duo at the Arbenting and Dead Wings Designs.
Read Next
30 Most Exciting New Tools for Designers, 2023
As we near the end of 2023, we wanted to take a look back over all the tools we collected over the past year, to pick…
3 Essential Design Trends, December 2023
While we love the holidays, too much of a seasonal theme can get overwhelming. Thankfully, these design trends strike a…
10 Easy Ways to Make Money as a Web Designer
When you’re a web designer, the logical way to make money is designing websites; you can apply for a job at an agency,…
By Louise North
The 10 Most Hated Fonts of All Time
Remember when Comic Sans wasn’t the butt of the jokes? Long for the days when we actually enjoyed using the Impact…
15 Best New Fonts, November 2023
2023 is almost over, and the new fonts are still coming thick and fast. This month, we’ve found some awesome variable…
By Ben Moss
Old School Web Techniques Best Forgotten
When the web first entered the public consciousness back in the 90s, it was primarily text-based with minimal design…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, November 2023
As the nights draw in for the Northern hemisphere, what better way to brighten your day than by soaking up some design…
30 Amazing Chrome Extensions for Designers and Developers
Searching for a tool to make cross-platform design a breeze? Desperate for an extension that helps you figure out the…
By Robert Reeve
Exciting New Tools for Designers, November 2023
We’ve got a mix of handy image helpers, useful design assets, and clever productivity tools, amongst other treats. Some…
The Dangers of Doomscrolling for Designers and How to Break Free
As a creative professional, navigating the digital realm is second nature to you. It’s normal to follow an endless…
By Louise North
From Image Adjustments to AI: Photoshop Through the Years
Remember when Merriam-Webster added Photoshop to the dictionary back in 2008? Want to learn how AI is changing design…
By Max Walton
3 Essential Design Trends, November 2023
In the season of giving thanks, we often think of comfort and tradition. These are common themes with each of our three…