10 web design trends for 2016

1 – Telling a story

It’s well known that everyone loves a good story. That’s why cinema, soap operas, and web series continue to thrive. Just look at the stats for ads featuring kittens, puppies, and babies—they’re undeniably captivating. Websites are no exception. To grab a visitor’s attention, one of the web design trends for 2016 is storytelling. It’s sharing the brand’s narrative in a way that is touching, compelling, and connects with the audience.

2 – Long scrolling

Mobile devices of all shapes and sizes have taught us the habit of scrolling through content. Humans also find it easier to focus on specific elements or grasp the essence of a message when visual clutter is minimized. The myth of cramming as much content as possible above the fold has long since faded.

The modern approach of displaying content on longer pages allows for storytelling with clear steps, a unique tone, and varied pacing throughout the page—without distracting visitors with unnecessary clicks.

3 – A rich alternative to flat design

Last year, Google introduced Material Design, a set of design principles aimed at creating a contemporary style focused on interface ergonomics and navigation. With its minimalist approach, Material Design shares many traits with the flat design trend that has dominated the web in recent years.

However, Material Design adds depth and shadows to illustrate the relationships between graphic elements. Initially used for web applications, Material Design Lite was launched in July to better adapt to websites, utilizing CSS, HTML, and JavaScript for easy implementation.

Combined with Angular Material Design, this approach enhances user experience on websites.

4 – The Impact of CSS3 and Flexbox on Responsive Layouts

With modern browsers now supporting CSS3 and Flexbox, web design is becoming cleaner, faster, and less reliant on coding hacks to achieve desired layouts. Flexbox adapts naturally to browsers without needing popular responsive grid systems.

While it doesn’t drastically revolutionize page aesthetics, Flexbox makes layouts easier to create and maintain. They are potentially paving the way for more creative graphic arrangements on web pages.

5 – Rich animations

Animations are frequently used to enhance a site’s narrative, making the experience more interactive and engaging.

However, animations shouldn’t be added haphazardly. They should enhance functionality and add personality to the story your website tells. Animations typically fall into three categories:

• Large animations: These serve as primary interaction tools, like parallax scrolling and pop-up notifications.
• Hover animations: Designed to provide visual feedback when users hover over elements like buttons, icons, or images, improving site navigation.
• Loading animations: Subtle intermediary interfaces soften the wait time during page loading. Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn have utilized these for a while. They offer users a preview of the layout to reassure them during the wait.

6 – Multi-step forms

Filling out online forms often feels tedious. Enter multi-step forms, where each step features just one or a few fields. Progressing step by step makes the process feel simpler and less daunting.

7 – Saturated colors and Pantone’s social statement

Saturated colors have been making a comeback, with blues reminiscent of early 90s URL links returning to designs.

Google’s Material Design introduces palettes featuring bold, saturated tones juxtaposed with neutral colors. They are inspired by contemporary architecture, road signage, and sports fields. These dynamic palettes bring fresh energy to the web.

Pantone has taken a socially conscious approach by naming not one, but two Colors of the Year: pale pink and light blue. This reflects social movements toward equality and gender fluidity, a new generation’s comfort in using color as self-expression, and the influence of digital information sharing on how we approach color.

8 – The 80s strike back!

The 80s are making a strong comeback, influencing fashion and web design alike. From high-waisted mom jeans to bold, vibrant colors like purples, turquoise greens, rosy reds, and bright yellows, this retro revival brings asymmetric textures and an eclectic style to web design.

9 – Micro-interactions

Highlighted in last year’s trends, micro-interactions remain a key feature in 2016. These small, often subconscious interactions are everywhere—from turning off your phone alarm to liking a photo on social media.

Micro-interactions serve to:

• Communicate status or provide feedback
• Display the result of an action
• Help users manipulate elements

These interactions should be designed with usability and a human touch in mind, ensuring tools are adopted naturally and effectively.

10 – Accessible data and design-driven decisions

Design now holds a place in boardrooms, requiring a business-oriented language of metrics, bounce rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and analytics. Designers must have access to this data to align aesthetic harmony with functional efficiency. A site isn’t just about looking good—it must meet usability goals to maximize performance.

In conclusion

These are 10 major web design trends for 2016, with others sure to emerge as the year unfolds. By staying alert, Kryzalid’s team is ready to guide you through these challenges and take your digital strategy to the next level.