1. Comforting Color Palettes Lighten the Load
In years past, bolder color schemes were one of the hallmarks of web design trends. Their purpose was to quickly engage a visitor and prompt him or her to respond emotionally. Given all the drama and turmoil we were subjected to through most of 2020, we’ve come to welcome the use of toned-down colors in marketing instead of the bolder, brasher, and more “in-your-face” color schemes. Bellroy’s website puts toned-down colors to good use. This company’s product line of wallets, bags, and the like, are designed to keep people’s belongings organized, safe, and secure. A wild color scheme simply wouldn’t be fitting.

2. Seamlessly Intermingle and Balance Physical and Digital Imagery
People confined to their homes because of Covid-based restrictions spent many more hours looking at their screens in 2020. Online programming began to take on the appearance of a reality show that blurred the boundaries between the real and the digital. Whereas web designers tended in the past to rely on either photos or illustrations in their designs, these same designers have started to integrate these blurring effects into their designs, with results that range from amusing and quirky to highly informative. Check out this example from fashion designer Constance Burke:

3. Create Well-Organized and Helpful Shopping Experiences
More people spending more time at home has created a surge in online shopping. As a result, many online store owners are now feeling the effects of increased competition. Consumers look for brands they believe they can trust. At the same time, they want their online shopping experiences to be as quick and painless as possible. They look for (and expect) quick and effective product search capabilities, helpful and effective product displays, one-page product descriptions, and the like. Walgreen’s product page design is especially well-suited for 2021 ecommerce shoppers:

4. Take Advantage of the Benefits of User-Controlled Video Content
Once upon a time, video content was “the thing” to incorporate in a website. Hero background videos proved to be particularly engaging, and “how-to” videos presented much more useful information than illustrations or blocks of text could. On the other hand, Auto-play videos, those that started on their own, all too often had a tendency to irritate rather than inform, especially when their content didn’t address a visitor’s immediate concern. Thanks to Zoom and similar video platforms that came into widespread use in 2020 and to website designs that include video “Play” buttons, users have become much more comfortable with the medium. As an example, Shoppers have been given total control over if or when they want to view a given video. This is the design approach Payoneer has taken:

5. Trust Builders Should be Non-Negotiable Web Design Elements
There are various ways in which products are organized or showcased in brick and mortar businesses to instill trust. Helpful and friendly staff also contribute to instilling trust. Some of these trust-builders are easily incorporated into eCommerce designs. Others, though more difficult to fit in, can usually be satisfactorily addressed. Digital trust builders can include.- Logos (familiar, whimsical, innovative, engaging)
- Portfolios and/or product pages
- Customer reviews, product ratings, and client testimonials
- Case studies and product or price comparisons
- Safety and security seals, e.g., Better Business Bureau, PayPal checkout
- Charts, graphs, counters, and other data visualization techniques
- Proof of social, charitable, or community-related actions and contributions




- A satisfied customer counter
- Product usage case studies and testimonial
- Portfolio highlights
- Client and partnership logos
Have You Started to Take These New Web Design Trends to Heart?
We’re not suggesting that you throw the baby out with the bathwater, but some trends will need to be discarded to enable you to adjust to a new normal. Other 2020 design trends, like minimalism and headline topography, are likely to remain popular for years to come. New trends that incorporate calming color palettes, image blending, more efficient eCommerce UX designs, user-controlled video, and trust-building elements should give your customers the feeling of comfort and security they will be seeking in 2021. If you want to implement some or all of these new trends in your 2021 website designs, BeTheme’s 600+ pre-built sites make doing so an easy task. [-- This is a sponsored post on behalf of BeTheme --]WDD Staff
WDD staff are proud to be able to bring you this daily blog about web design and development. If there's something you think we should be talking about let us know @DesignerDepot.
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