1. Beautiful Connectivity
Web elements that merge and flow into one another can be difficult to design but the payoff is totally worthwhile. This website design trend exemplifies connected elements in a way that’s beautiful and mesmerizing. You can accomplish it with static elements or interactivity; the common theme is that design parts enter the space of one another and merge in ways that are seamless and visually interesting. The thing that makes it exceptionally tricky is responsiveness. To ensure that pieces work well at all sizes when they overlap or encroach on the space of one another takes a lot of planning and testing. Here are a few examples of projects that do it well – and each one does it in a different way. Kirk Whayman’s website uses a floating ice cube over simple lettering. The interactivity is spot on here with hover actions that allow you to move the block with the letters refracting in an expected manner. (It would be easy to play with it all day.) But the coolest interaction happens when you “break it” (click on the cube). The elements continue to merge and interact in a new and different way.![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/kirk.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/kikk.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/nursing.jpg)
2. Almost Brutalism
Brutalism just seems to keep coming back around. For those that love this trend, it keeps evolving as well. The latest styles of brutalism are a little less mono but still pretty sharp with harsh lines, questionable type readability, and a lot going on in a compressed space. These projects also seem to be embracing color and alternative font choices more readily. Fledge uses a split screen – still a dominant trend two years running – with a blue that’s almost too bright with an almost white offset color. The text is big and smooshed into the space tightly. Depending on the breakpoint, you might not even get the whole phrase on the left side. The design challenge is what are you supposed to do here? There are some hover animation cues, but they aren’t very direct.![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/fledge.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/loeven.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/syzmon.jpg)
3. Beige Everything
Is a shade of beige the color of the year for 2020? Or is it just how we all feel? Beige backgrounds are everywhere, making this one of those design trends that you can’t miss. The good news is that designers are playing with different shades of beige as well as warm and cool variations. Beige on its own can take on some of the color from accent hues and imagery, so that’s important to keep in mind when using this in the background. The other variable is how saturated to make beige coloring. Most designs are using some of the more muted options while mostly playing with the levels of green and red. But darker beiges are also an option. Simon Daufresne uses a beige that is the color that comes to mind when you think beige. It’s simple, a hint reddish, and is used with black only to maintain true color.![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/simon.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/discovered-1.jpg)
![](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2020/10/ae.jpg)
Conclusion
Personally, this month’s trends are a mixed bag. I love the lines and interactivity of the beautifully connected examples. It shows that elements can cross and work together well. On the flip side, brutalism and beige just aren’t my style. But apparently, they appeal to a lot of people based on the number of projects using these styles. What do you think? I’d love to know how you feel about these trends. Let me know on Twitter.Carrie Cousins
Carrie Cousins is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience in the communications industry, including writing for print and online publications, and design and editing. You can connect with Carrie on Twitter @carriecousins.
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