Get That Web Development Edge With These 2019 Trends

We’re only a quarter in 2019, but a lot of things have already happened in the realm of digital marketing. It’s important to not just be aware of what’s “in” and what’s “out,” but also how to use these trends to give your brand an edge in the long run. In terms of web development, things work pretty much the same way. A lot of trends exist out there that you can use to up the ante on your web development game, but not a lot of them are compatible with what you’re looking for and what you need. If you’re specifically looking for local web development trends, especially if you’re targeting a local audience such as that in Hong Kong, then you might need to consider the top trends first before applying them to your needs.

Responsive Websites Show Seamlessness

Responsive websites are extremely “in” not just because of being a trend, but because of just how practical a strategy it can be. Responsive websites don’t just mean websites that “responds” to what a user needs in terms of how they can access and navigate a site, but also on how they view the site and use it overall. Websites need to seamlessly integrate from desktop, to tablet, to mobile views in order to show smooth and fluid transitions to users.

• Dedicated mobile friendly designs. If possible, make it a point to get your website to use mobile friendly designs and concepts. Not only does this make your website more compatible with mobile devices, but also makes you habitually make your site as responsive as possible. This is good practice, especially if you want to reach a wider demographic across a wide range of media.

• Make use of CSS variables and your themes. Website builders and frameworks have options to make you themes for a reason, and don’t hesitate to use them. Sometimes, relying on the tools frameworks give you to make your own themes can pave way to more streamlined and straightforward websites. This improves not only the consumed bandwidth of your site, but also on your site’s overall organization in terms of code. In speaking of,
• Make your code as seamless as possible. If it’s possible for you to make your site’s overall code as organized as possible, do so. This will really save up your time in the long run, especially once you look into ways of reorganizing your website. This is also especially helpful for troubleshooting, given you’ll eventually get to a point where you’ll modify your site’s overall designs.

Minimalism Shows More Despite Being Less

The idiom “less is more” makes sense now more than ever in the trend of minimalism. And this isn’t just something you can use in art, but also in your website development. The less complicated something is, the more organized it seems and the more appealing it becomes. Make effective use of white spaces, plain colors, and straightforward designs in your web development approach as this gives your website that added “oomph.” The less unnecessary details in your site, the less bandwidth it consumes, and the more fluid your site becomes to viewers.

• Typography can be creative. Don’t be afraid to go all out with your approach to typography. A lot of brands have begun getting a much “bolder” approach with the way they present their logos, especially typography. Some resort to outlines, others rely on Helvetica-esque fonts to appear more “cheerful” but also “professional” to your users.

• Depth isn’t all that bad. If you want to get your “groove” on and use a more unique approach to presenting your website, you can actually get yourself a team to get yourself an improved approach to graphics. These can be in the form of 3D artwork, photography, or graphics with added depth. This “bridges” the gap between customers, who are in this 3D space, with your product.
• Vibrancy gets you that “punch” to your site. When it comes to choosing your website’s colors, don’t hesitate to use contrasted and saturated colors to “boost” the appeal of your images. This also goes for your design choice. Don’t hesitate to get out of your comfort zone, but at the same time maintain a consistent and straightforward approach to your graphics. Use minimalism here in a sense that you use one consistent design element throughout your graphics, despite how crazy the approach you want to take.

Progressive, Flexible Web Pages Appeal To Users

Aside from making websites “look” good and be “responsive,” we need to make sure they’re functional and speedy as well. A lot of companies have resorted to progressive web apps (PWAs) when making their websites, as this allows them to make their sites load easily and offer more features in a handier and more practical setup. This, combined with things such as single page applications (SPAs) can allow your website to be more accessible to all sorts of users, regardless of their network conditions.

• • Radical designs can generate appeal. Don’t just rely on making typography unique, but also your entire website design. Mix and match design principles and take everything up a notch. Just be sure to make one element noticed, so things don’t get too clunky. Do you want to give your site a more surrealist approach? Do you want to focus on animations? All of these can work – point is, the more unique and practical the website, the more stunning it looks. Of course,
• Flexibility counts in navigation and exploration. Don’t just push your website to be “pretty” and nothing else. Make sure design principles you apply to your web pages are actually useful for your audiences. Be sure that these lead to better navigation and exploration for your audiences to maximize appeal.

Humanize Your Approach To Web Development

When you want to appeal to your audiences, you’ve got to appeal to their emotions and not just their desires. Make sure your web development approach remains consistent with the rest of your branding. Your vision and message should show not just in your content, but also your site. Are you catered to a local market such as young professionals in Hong Kong? Then your website should follow their aesthetic, use the local language, feature young professionals, and even use photography that feature them.

• Artificial intelligence, chatbots are in. Don’t neglect on the kind of help AI-powered chatbots can do. They’re extremely worth the investment, especially if you want your website to be more accessible to more users, regardless of the time and place. If you’re handling a shop or a service, an integrated chat service allows your users to easily ask questions and get answers to what they need in a speedy manner.
• Amp up on cybersecurity whenever possible. When you make a powerful and functional website, don’t hesitate to beef up your cybersecurity. This is especially the case if you’re the kind of website that handles a service or an online store. It’s important to be able to store the details of your users in a secure environment. Not only is this an extension of trust, but this also ensures malicious entities won’t be able to tamper with your website.

Web Development in 2019: It’s Practical, It’s Minimalist, It’s Functional

Web development is no easy feat to accomplish, especially given how a lot of today’s web development trends actually rely on more responsive, more minimalist, and more functional websites. With these in mind, it helps to combine these concepts with other important considerations such as location, target audience, and even the intent of your website in the first place. For instance, if you’re planning to focus on audiences based in Hong Kong, it’s not enough to make a responsive and minimalist website, it’s important to make a website that responses specifically to their needs. These considerations, combined with the above trends, can make for a powerful and effective website in the long run.