Minimalism: Web Design Trends for 2020 | Iceberg Web Design

Minimalism: Web Design Trends for 2020

Image with white space and leaves to the side, representing minimal web design

There are beautiful websites splashed with color and images that catch the eye. These colors, images, and typography work together to convey the message that the site is trying to send. Sometimes, less is more. That’s today’s focus as we look at minimalism in website design and how it can offer more concise communication of their message. Let’s examine three different sites and see how they are making most of less.

Minimalism reduces cognitive load

If you have too many programs running on your computer at the same time, it can’t handle the load and will slow down or even crash. Our brains are like computers; We have limited processing powers, so multitasking or just looking at something complicated can be frustrating. It slows us down. Unfortunately, we can’t upgrade our brains to the latest model, so when we get frustrated, we often just quit.

Web designers can solve this problem by prioritizing content and features and eliminating anything that interferes with the user’s attention to them. Websites with a sleek design, fewer choices, and more concise content are so pleasant to use. They are cognitively soothing.

Strip away the unnecessary.

Minimalism focuses attention on the content. Because the site will have fewer objects, it will usually load faster. It will also be more compatible with all screen sizes. These things add to the user experience and will often enhance your search engine optimization. While you strip away the unnecessary, that which is necessary must remain. Use care not to oversimplify to the point that the site becomes unusable. That defeats the point of minimalism.

Keep these things in mind:

  • Because visitors will choose to leave or stay on your page based on the first content that they see, place the most relevant content should at the top of a page.
  • When selecting imagery for your design, always look for photos or illustrations that follow the principles of minimalism. There are no stock photos or unnecessary details.
  • Imagery should have a purpose and act as a focal point, creating balance.
  • Use videos only when they have a real purpose and help the user understand the site, the product, or the company. Never auto-play videos.
  • Minimalist sites use white space wisely. It can draw the user’s attention to the object that is surrounded by this negative space.
  • Choose colors should carefully. Use colors with enough contrast that they are legible.
  • Typography should be simple, clear, and readable. Sans Serif fonts are best. Select only one or two fonts. When you think you need more than two fonts, play with the font size and weight of the existing two fonts.
  • Keep the site usable. Don’t make it so simple that it gets complicated (such as hidden navigation).
  • Even the words are combed through and culled.

Color Theory and Minimalist Design

Color Wheel

Don’t be afraid of color when creating a minimalist website. While many designers stick to a monochromatic color palette, it’s fine to use two contrasting colors or even three colors that follow the principles of color theory. Color theory is heavily based on Isaac Newton’s color wheel. The color wheel shows three categories of colors:

  • Primary colors (red, blue, yellow),
  • Secondary colors which are created by mixing the primary colors (for example, yellow and blue make green)
  • Tertiary ones (created by combining primary and secondary colors)

Examples of minimalist websites

Feed the Orca Website Screenshot illustrating minimal design

Website: https://www.feedtheorca.com

Orca’s website is beautiful and innovative, reflecting the product itself. It is also simple. The soothing video of the moving water acts as a moving picture. It doesn’t require anything from the user. Instead, it shows you what orca is all about. The site very read and draws you beneath the fold to learn more. Orca’s website is easy to navigate and uses color sparingly but skillfully.

The Mauler Institute Website - example of minimal design

Website: https://www.themaulerinstitute.com

The Mauler Institute has a beautiful website with lots of white space, creating a clean, professional look. Contrary to some misconceptions about minimalism, the image is the highlight of this site. Oliver, the dog, complete in his bowtie, makes the page memorable. His gaze draws the users’ eyes to the menu. The call to action “Become a candidate today à” is a clickable link that brings you to the Amazon page where the user can purchase the Mauler Institute’s system. Below the fold is an explanation of what the institute can do for students planning to enter a competitive university. The colors are simple but pleasing to the eye—blue and yellow, two of the three primary colors. This site is an example of minimalism done right. It’s incredible how much you can accomplish with such simplicity.

Minimal website design can be hard to implement

Even though minimalist sites appear simple, they can be tricky to do right. Iceberg Web Design has experts that can create minimalist websites that are better at converting users to customers. Contact us today to learn how we can help you!

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