The rise of flat design and clean minimalist websites

Clean looking minimalist websites and simple interfaces are in increasingly high demand. When launching a new website what should you consider to achieve business success and what are the design trends that you need to consider?

Web design trends have changed over the years. Some changes have been quite subtle whilst others have been much more drastic. The use of ‘ Skeuomorphism ’ or ‘realism design’ 10 years ago used the idea of creating designs, buttons and icons that replicate the real world so that users would understand what to do in a digital space. However, these sites often appeared cluttered and were slow to respond. Since then, there has been a shift to using ‘flat design’, creating much simpler and more minimalistic designs and simplified navigation icons. So what does this mean for you and what elements should you take into account to design your website?

What is Flat Design?

Flat design was originally developed to facilitate the creation of responsive websites allowing them to adapt easily to different devices and screen sizes such a mobile, tablet or desktop.

Flat design is a minimalist design which aims to improve useability by creating a modern website, with plenty of white space and which is easy to understand and navigate. Not only is the typography bold and readable but the icons and buttons are clear and simplified for the user. Flat design websites are highly functional and give the user a clear interface without added clutter.

Why use Flat Design?

  • Fast load speeds
  • Simplicity and minimalist feel create a modern appearance
  • Clean user experience and navigation
  • Better user engagement
  • Better user interface
  • Simple design which is easy for users to understand
  • Better usability leading to increased conversions.

What should I use?

Decide on what your goals are and what you are trying to achieve with your website. Some critics have accused flat design of over-simplification resulting in some users not seeing the obvious; elements such as underlining or adding text or raised buttons are removed in flat design which means that some users may not see what is clickable and what to do next. Many designers therefore now use elements of both design techniques taking the best elements of both to create a positive user experience.

Clients often have a vision of what they want their website to look like but might not always consider the usability and what the end-user does when they land on their site. Using an experienced website designer who understands your business goals and digital marketing strategy and how to incorporate these into the design of the site is vital to achieve a user-friendly website that ultimately converts into business.

At Eonic we have years of experience of designing websites that tackle these issues and our expert team will always talk through all elements of the design with our clients so that we create a site that delivers on their business goals.

City MHA Website VisualCity Mental Health Alliance

For this site we used flat design to create a simple, clean and inviting aesthetic which complimented the clients brand identity.

Get in touch with our team to discuss your individual needs.

The rise of flat design and clean minimalist websites
Click to enlarge

by

Lead design, UX/CX, UID & brand development