The web design industry is evolving rapidly, and if you don’t follow the trends, you’ll get left behind. Try telling today’s generation about flash menus and border ornaments and they’ll stare at you as if you’re some sort of cave person. If you’re thinking of designing a website in 2021, you need to conform to what’s hot and make sure you avoid what’s not. Of course, you can try to get ahead of the curve, but it would be wise to stick closely to mainstream ideas.

Thinking of Creating a Website?

Maybe you’ve just started a business and you want to develop an online presence. Or perhaps you’ve got an established company and you want to modernize or move your pages. Either way, you’ll need to be aware of the design trends in the industry this year.

Anyone can create a free website easily using online tools, with templates that allow you to put everything in the right place and make a professional site that you’re proud of. Experimenting with free designs first could be great for startups, before moving on to paid services to access more advanced features.

Before you begin, it’s wise to do a bit of market research and see what the leaders are doing in your industry. Mirroring the best in the business is a common strategy, and this is how popular trends in web design come about. So, what are the main techniques that seem to be abundant this year?

Horizontal Scrolling

Yes, you read that right. Horizontal scrolling is back in vogue. This was once considered a no-no in web design circles, but the concept is back in style now and proving to be popular. This form of navigating pages wasn’t user-friendly in the past, but it fits perfectly with smartphones and tablets where side swiping is a natural move. It’s also compatible with devices like Apple’s Magic Mouse, which allows users to intuitively move across the page.

Home Societe is one site that has broken the mold in recent times, and its hip layout is one that other designers will want to follow. Instead of navigating down the page, viewers are guided to the right each time. It’s a stunning way to display all the stylish content on the page.

No Set Structure

Square is a perfect example of how web designers are beginning to think outside of the box. This is an incredibly cool page that has introduced a world of new possibilities when it comes to structuring. Instead of clicking on boring tabs, players can navigate around using the cursor and then click on the various links they stumble across on the way. It has gamification feel to it, and it is seriously enjoyable.

Read more: What are the Main Web Design Trends of 2021?