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WEB DESIGN IN 2021
A new year marks the possibility for change and progress.
Are you ready? We are.
The report
Here are the major themes that will dominate the digital design industry this year and the role they’ll play in the work we create.
LIFE ON
screen
IMMERSIVE DIGITAL EXPERIENCES ARE REPLACING IRL.
The screen will surpass our real-world expectations by creating stimulating, immersive experiences that make up for what we’ve lost in real life. Robust platforms will blur the boundaries between real and virtual by creating practical experiences—like attending a concert or lecture—that are spatial and rich with elaborate visual effects.
THE WEB IS WHERE WE LIVE
THE WEB IS WHERE WE LIVE
THE WEB IS WHERE WE LIVE
TREND NO.1
Face
time
OUR REFLECTIONS ARE BECOMING THE STARS OF OUR SCREENS.
A face filter by Aaron Jablonski, a digital artist specializing in AR and face tracking technology.
Sylvia is the first virtual influencer to age over time, created by Ziv Schneider, Halime Maloof, Odie Senesh, ANO Agency, Alex Calderwood and Bethany Tabor.
A variable typeface experiment allowing users to design a font based on their facial features and expressions. Co-created by Overtone and Set Snail.
A tool that alerts users whenever they touch their face using a machine learning algorithm and a webcam. Created by Mike Bodge, Brian Moore and Isaac Blankensmith.
An open video call where a webcam records users’ facial gestures. Created by Daniel Iregui and Studio Iregular, curated by Liette Gauthier and commissioned by Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic.
As human communication moves increasingly online, we're constantly faced with our own reflections staring back at us, placing extra emphasis on the face. Memojis, avatars and cutesy, quirky filters present altered versions of ourselves that impact our self-image. Web designers will focus on human identity as they create experiences that not only appeal to end users, but also feature them.
TREND NO.2
Your UI, by you
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FLEXIBLE INTERFACES ALLOW USERS TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR OWN LOOK-AND-FEEL, CHAMPIONING SELF-EXPRESSION AND INDIVIDUALISM.
Companies are adapting their content to fit individual users' preferences and craft more personalized experiences, like in Spotify’s end-of-year roundups and Netflix’s artwork personalization.
Users enjoy having more control of their interfaces, with choices like light or dark mode that greatly affect the design of their devices. Facebook and Instagram instant messaging now allow users to pick between various color themes.
Companies are adapting their content to fit individual users' preferences and craft more personalized experiences, like in Spotify’s end-of-year roundups and Netflix’s artwork personalization.
Users enjoy having more control of their interfaces, with choices like light or dark mode that greatly affect the design of their devices. Facebook and Instagram instant messaging now allow users to pick between various color themes.
FLEXIBLE INTERFACES ALLOW USERS TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR OWN LOOK-AND-FEEL, CHAMPIONING SELF-EXPRESSION AND INDIVIDUALISM.
Designers will create modular and modifiable assets and interfaces, while considering different types of users and how various UI options could benefit them. This will result in interfaces that are singular to each user, reflecting their taste, style and identity. Customizable interfaces will also lead to more inclusive design. Users will be able tweak interfaces to match their varying needs, from enlarging typefaces to choosing a high-contrast palette for better legibility.
TREND NO.3
DESIGN
DESIGNERS EMBRACE BOLD, ICONIC VISUALS TO STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE.
ACTIVISM
Many designers have lent their creative skills to causes they believe in, making everything from protest graphics to campaigns calling for racial, environmental and political justice. In 2021, design will keep serving as a tool to educate, empower and raise awareness on the new issues of our time. The need to convey a powerful, radical message with the hope to effect change will lead designers to create bespoke design assets, such as custom-made typefaces, illustrations and icon sets.
TREND NO.4
Nostalgia is not new to web design, and neither is the constant pendulum swing from flat to 3D and back again. After a long reign of the flat aesthetic, we’re now in search of new and contemporary ways of adding depth to our online experiences. Websites and apps will simulate leafing through the pages of a book or magazine, creating a more material, print-like experience.
Retro
touch
TACTILE DESIGN IS BEING REINTERPRETED FOR THE SCREEN.
TREND NO.5
Happy
& healthy
The RX for healthcare:
sensitivity, optimism—
and a dose of humor.
Values
Calm
Uplifting
Happy
Comic
Playful
Healthy
Diagnosis
Addressing the health and mental health crises through design
Prescription
Covid-19 resulted in a major health crisis, followed by a similar state of emergency in the mental health field. Designers are addressing the severity of these issues by prioritizing healthcare and emotional wellness. Soft, happy and even funny visuals will replace the familiar clinical-looking ones. The use of illustration and energetic color palettes will send a friendly, positive message to patients who need it, fostering a sense of optimism and wellbeing.
TREND NO.6
Free
STRATEGY AND COMPETITION DISTRACT US FROM REAL LIFE. HAVING FUN DOES TOO.
play
Spending too much time at home and online sets the perfect stage for digital escapism. Designers and brands have been quick to respond this year, creating websites that serve no functional purpose but to pass time—and make people feel good in the process. We’re seeing a lot of designs that feature a retro, arcade-inspired aesthetic. Other games look a lot like early screensavers, with simple and repetitive visuals. They carry no hefty message and celebrate nonsense instead.
TREND NO.7
BRANDS
TAKE
A
STAND
COMPANIES REALIZE THEIR POWER TO DRIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.
A new generation of customers expect brands to own up to their position of power, and do more than provide a product. Brand language will evolve in response to current events. Designers will react in real time, creating strong visuals that send an unequivocal message of solidarity and support, as was demonstrated after the killing of George Floyd and the racial justice initiatives that followed.
TREND NO.8
KIND TECH
KIND TECH
KIND TECH
KIND TECH
Most people are well aware of just how addictive and manipulative tech can be, but the benefits of engaging in our digital society can outweigh the drawbacks. Web and UX designers will utilize digital wellness and calm tech principles to create safe web spaces for truthful conversation. Designers will also place a greater emphasis on data protection and the carbon footprint of online platforms, to help make the internet a better, safer environment for both people and the planet.
TREND NO.9
Hope by design
Let’s paint a future we can look forward to.
As we work toward a healthier, more stable society, design will become a source of inspiration and confidence in what’s to come. Optimistic visuals of blue skies, open landscapes and other natural elements will fill our designs with hope and opportunity. A prominent use of soft, pastel hues or bright, vivid colors will liven up the monotony of our days. We'll also see a rise in dreamy mesh gradients and playful typography. This joyful aesthetic will serve as a reminder that the future, if we’re so lucky, can definitely look bright.
TREND NO.10
