Web design is an ever-changing field. As a small business, staying up with the trends for how your small business website should look, feel and operate can help you stay relevant and increase your conversion rates on your website. This, in turn, helps you continually convert your website visitors into fresh new customers for your business. Let’s take a look at the top 10 web design trends in 2023.
1. Dark Mode Design
Dark mode design has quickly emerged as a leading trend in digital design aesthetics, thanks to its visually appealing contrast and eye-friendly attributes. Many users are choosing dark mode on their devices as they browse the web and interact with software on a daily basis. It’s not only an aesthetic choice but also a user preference as it has been proven to reduce eye strain and can also save device battery life. But don’t fret – this doesn’t mean that you have to go now and immediately convert your website to dark mode! Alternatively, you can simply add a dark mode option for your site to give visitors the option to turn it on.
2. Microinteractions
One of the more popular web design trends in 2023, Microinteractions are subtle design elements that provide feedback, guide tasks, or enhance the sense of direct manipulation. Examples might be a color change when a user hovers over a button on your site, or as complex as a small animation for an entire section of your website. Microinteractions and movement on your site can enhance the overall user experience of your site. Digital experiences are becoming more and more interactive as time goes on, and users expect some movement on your site.
Pro Tip: don’t get so carried away with movement that you cause your website to slow down and thus degrade the user experience! In our opinion, if you have to choose between movement and speed, choose speed!
3. Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences
While still a ways out from large-scale adoption for most website owners, use of AR in web design can offer an immersive experience to users that goes beyond the ordinary. You’ve probably experienced this when shopping with one of the e-commerce businesses that are already using AR to help customers visualize products. Even if your business isn’t product-based, AR can still offer interactive ways to engage with your audience. Apple’s Vision Pro is the perfect example of “where the puck is going,” showing us the future of how users will interact with web experiences very soon!
4. Voice User Interface (VUI)
As voice assistant technology becomes increasingly prevalent (think Alexa, Google, Siri, etc), designing websites with voice user interface compatibility is a growing web design trend in 2023. Using a tool like Accessibee is one example of this, where you make your website accessible for those who are disabled. Incorporating VUI into your web design not only enhances accessibility but also prepares your website for the future of browsing, which will most likely involve some sort of voice interaction from every single human who visits your website.
5. Minimalist Design with Bold Typography
Minimalism has long been a design trend in web design, but when considering web design trends in 2023, in our opinion after building hundreds of websites… it’s close to the top of the list! The main reason for this trend is that when your potential customers visit your website these days, they are in and out in less than 15 seconds if they don’t find what they want. Most users also only read bold headlines (like the ones at the top of each paragraph in this article!). So give the people what they want! Make sure your headlines are carefully curated and provide clear direction and focus for your potential customers.
6. AI and Chatbots
Implementing a chatbot can enhance user engagement and significantly improve customer service efficiency, especially when it’s hooked up to AI! May companies are now experimenting with the use of integrated AI in their customer-facing chat bots on their websites. Some of the leaders pioneering this technology are Drift and Intercom. And yes, this is happening even with small businesses! Imagine if a potential customer visits your website and has a quick question, but doesn’t want to call or fill out a form! Having an AI-based chat bot that can intelligently answer basic questions for your potential customers is a game-changer. And guess what…it works 24/7 for you! AI will change the website game in many ways, and this is just one of the first formats it is taking.
7. Custom Cursors and Hover Effects
When used sparingly and intelligently, custom cursors and hover effects can add a delightful layer of interactivity and uniqueness to a website. This can easily be implemented on your small business website and can provide a uniqueness to your website that your competitors just don’t have. Want to create a memorable experience for your potential customers? Show them an awesome custom cursor when they hover over your action buttons! While it may be one of the lesser-know web design trends in 2023, this one is one of the most creative by far.
8. Neumorphism
Neumorphism is a web design trend in 2023 that creates an effect of elements popping out from the background, giving depth and a 3D-style look to your website. You’ll see this pop up especially on websites in certain forward-thinking industries like Technology and Cryoto. This design trend can give your website a modern and futuristic appeal, thus making it stand out. However, just like with some of the items above, be careful not to go overboard with this implementation. When used, it should be used strategically and thoughtfully so as not to overwhelm users or to use so much that it becomes tacky or worse…slow to load!
Pro Tip: here are some amazing examples of Neumorphism in the wild!
9. Data Visualization
As user’s attention spans continue to shrink, giving your potential customers a visual picture of what you are talking about is more and more important. Visual representations of ideas are more effective as a web design trend in 2023 than trying to explain ideas on your home and interior pages as long format paragraphs. To enhance your website in 2023, utilize tools like infographics, artwork, photos and custom-designed depictions of your ideas and main points you want to get across on your site.
10. Sustainability and Eco-design
As environmental awareness grows, so does the desire for sustainable and eco-friendly design as a web design trend in 2023. Increasingly, your potential customers will be appreciative of an attempt on your part to reduce your website’s carbon footprint. This can be achieved with eco-friendly, design, dark mode (mentioned above!), and many other small tweaks that can be made to your website to reduce the energy it takes to display your website and let users interact with it.
In Conclusion: Web Design Trends in 2023
That’s a wrap! While there are numerous other trends taking hold as web design trends for 2023, these 10 are some of the most prevalent. The key takeaway here is not to get overwhelmed by the list, or try to tackle them all at once! This may often result in no action being taken. Our challenge for you: try to take just ONE idea from this list and implement it on your site! And as always, if it’s time to hire some help for a small business website redesign to take advantage of these trends, reach out to us and we’d be happy to help get you started. We hope you’ve enjoyed this awesome compilation of the top 10 web design trends in 2023!
