There’s no denying that the internet has become the go-to source for people for a variety of tasks. Whether you’re looking to learn about a particular topic or purchase some product, people head to a website. This major change has happened thanks to how the internet has evolved over the years, with a major emphasis on accessibility and better user design to help the average person make better use of the resources available.
Here’s how websites and web design have changed over the past decades and made monumental changes for a better internet:
A Shift Towards UX And Design
One of the biggest distinctions that many people might not notice is that UX and design have come a long way. In the past, websites weren’t as flashy as they are now. Even the tech giants like Facebook and Amazon had fairly basic-looking sites. While these were the foundation for what was to come, the older designs are barely a shell of what their modern iterations look like.
With more websites available on the market than ever and more people using these platforms, the competition has gotten stiff. Companies are forced to create websites that not only are great to look at but also offer a great experience. If someone has a difficult time browsing a website and finding the relevant option that they need, they’ll more than likely switch to another website.
What Changed?
The role of web designers became more prominent, especially concerning front-end developers. In the past, websites had passages upon passages of text to give information with very few images and HTML elements. Compared to that, we have options like Java and CSS to help us design more creative layouts that are appealing to the user and use more colors and elements in general.
Designers use more graphics and assets to add life to their websites, which is great from an accessibility standpoint as well.
Providing a Customized Experience
The internet has evolved, and the biggest focus over the turn of the century has been providing a more customized experience for the user. Numerous algorithms focus on learning about the user, their various habits, what motivates them, and what they value. Not only does this have a major impact on attracting customers, but it also engages them to return to the website based on a satisfactory experience.
The Way About It
Modern businesses are heavily invested in hacking into the ecosystem to understand user needs, and an engaging design is a core element of that. According to various surveys, users positively react to a well-designed website, which could be why one platform might be preferred over another.
The Switch Towards Mobile
Mobile phones are more cost-effective as compared to desktops and laptops, which has led to exponential growth in the mobile market. More people use the internet using their mobile phones compared to desktops since 2016. Because of this, designers must consider the kind of device that users might view their content on. Essentially, you can’t have a desktop-oriented design and hope to enjoy it on a screen with limited real estate.
Responsive Design
Because of this, the mobile-first approach, also known as responsive design, is becoming more prevalent in the design industry. It’s harder to design for mobile users because it introduces some unique challenges. Once they’re carefully thought out and executed, the designers move towards making a large form factor version for bigger screens. Designers also need to focus on how touchscreens will interact with various elements, which also brings a variety of new challenges and design questions that designers need to get around.
Speed and Optimization
As previously stated, there are more websites than ever on the internet. With more options, people become pickier. If your website doesn’t load fast enough, you can bet that users will switch away. If a user visits a page without heading to another page on your site and moves to another website, this increases your bounce. One of the biggest factors for a high bounce rate is a slow loading page.
While websites have taken on more on-site visual elements and functionalities to become more like web applications, it’s also necessary that these aren’t too intensive that they hinder loading times. Developers are working towards writing cleaner code and lowering response time through the server while using optimized images for a swift website loading experience. It doesn’t matter if the website looks great or if it takes too long to load it.
The E-Commerce Boom
In the past, people were afraid of buying products online. Nowadays, many brick-and-mortar stores are closing down as the e-commerce industry has become a mainstream element in many people’s lives. The E-commerce industry relies heavily on the shoulders of designers, allowing them to create intuitive designs that attract customers and easily give them information at a glance about products.
Condensing down large pages full of information into a briefer format, developing pages that are easy to browse through for the user without being overwhelmed by all the information at their disposal. It’s one of the biggest industries in the world, and it rests on many fundamentals of design to help create a more robust and easier-to-use system for the average person.
Work With Custom Design Services in Miami
Having a great website is not only necessary for setting a great impression but also for making the overall experience convenient for users. The NetMen Corp has been in the industry for over 20 years, helping businesses make the most of digital resources to grow.
We’re providing a host of corporate design services in Miami and to clients in various parts of the world. Our suite of solutions includes social media post design, custom web design, digital illustration, packaging, and many other online and graphic design services. Reach out to us today to start working on your designs.
