Semi flat design
There tends to be a consensus that pure flat design has passed its prime time in the spotlight. We have entire showcases of flat design, we have mastered the art of flat shadows and we of course have mountains of beautiful (yet often times generic and without purpose) templates to select from. In my opinion flat design can be really gorgeous, but also really generic when used in its purest form. I don't think I am alone in this opinion, given the natural way this trend is progressing. It would seem that the pure flat design phase really was an overreaction. But through that cleansing process we gained something really great — a new found appreciation for minimalism. As we move forward, and this is where we stand today, we find flat design at work but with a dash of realism, dare I even say hints of skeuomorphic design. Let's look at some examples to see what I have in mind.Google Material Design
![01-google](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/01-google.jpg)
TheDash.com
![02-the-dash](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/02-the-dash.jpg)
Images as backgrounds
A simple design element that seems to be entirely out of control is the use of large background photos. In my obsession with web design I have observed this style at work on thousands of sites. I could probably write an entire book on the topic. The biggest learning point I have noticed is to have a purpose. Don't just throw in a photo because it looks cool. Which is actually easy to do with sites like Unsplash.com giving away mountains of insanely yummy photos. And while I agree the results can be really pretty, I think the photos often fail to communicate something meaningful. This is actually a reason that many themes up for sale look so appealing. They rely on gorgeous photos that bring the life to design. Until you replace it with your photos, then all the sudden the design tanks. In many ways it was built on a flimsy idea. This is akin to the pig that made his house out of straw (my kid's obsession with the three little pigs is on my mind). In contrast, we want to build our house out of brick, so it can stand the test of time, content and purpose. Let's review a few samples that accomplish just that.ModernThemes.net
![03-modern-themes](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/03-modern-themes.jpg)
Credencys.com
![04-credencys](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/04-credencys.jpg)
The hipster
The hipster style is another trend that is at a turning point. The hipster style is a close cousin of the two previously discussed styles. Most often it relies on flat design elements, background photos with a dash of mixed typography (multiple fonts used together) and some decorative elements. Since so much of this article is about the evolution of design styles it makes sense to consider how the hipster style is evolving. Let's dissect a few examples to see how it is being put to work.Coffee beans delivered
![05-coffee-beans](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/05-coffee-beans.jpg)
V76.com
![06-v76](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2014/11/06-v76.jpg)
Conclusion
I think the overarching theme, or trend here, is that meaningful and intentional design will never be outdated. Styles and trends may come and go, but we can easily move along. In so many ways the real goals never really change, though the brush we paint them with does.Patrick McNeil
Patrick McNeil is a designer, developer and writer; but above all things he is a passionate educator. He is a Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Missouri St. Louis where he focuses on teaching UX Design methods and front end development techniques. Patrick is also the author of the bestselling book series The Web Designer's Idea Book and the curator of DesignMeltdown.com. For more information about Patrick visit his personal site, pmcneil.com, or follow him on Twitter @designmeltdown.
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