Want to know what's hot in the world of web design? Here are the most important web design trends for 2022 that you should definitely know about. Have fun!

Some companies opt for a traditional style. Others want to stay up to date in terms of design. Regardless of which group you belong to and for whom you are designing your website, it never hurts to know which web design trends are currently in demand. 

In recent years, a good user experience has been one of the web design trends par excellence. And a focus on a better UX should and can always be integrated - regardless of which branding strategy your customers pursue.

Headers: Large videos & strong typography

Cinema style videos 

Videos as full-screen headers are in vogue. With new, more web-friendly formats (such as WebM), large-format videos can be implemented without exceeding the loading time. The special thing about Cinema Style Video: Anyone visiting your website not only sees an appealing video, but is immediately immersed in the action. The company 11coffee has done this well. 

Watching the video makes you feel like you're sitting in a café. You get an immediate impression of the hustle and bustle. And also an idea of the products that are offered on site. You can establish a personal relationship with the employees and the brand before you get to know them.

The special feature of this style is that visitors to your website are immediately integrated. This helps to reduce the distance between website and visitor, or product and customer. It also minimizes the use of text on your website.

A video that is used in such an important place must be provided with a fallback image. This way, in case of doubt, visitors are not greeted by a screen-filling error message in the event of a poor internet connection, but at least see an image.

Oversized typography

This approach offers the opposite of full-screen mode. Oversized fonts can be supported as a slogan for visuals, such as Best Boutique Hotels Worldwide.

Web fonts can also be used as the sole visual element in the header of your website. In the Onomatet example, the typo is not used as a headline, but as a navigation element.

This style can be very minimalist under certain circumstances. In this example, it focuses on the essentials and prevents visitors from being overwhelmed.

Let's compare this with the video header from before: the video creates closeness and personality. We develop an empathy with the product and the employees. The sober and minimalist use of typography creates a cool distance. And at the same time a kind of elegance. The design generally feels more pragmatic. 

Layout & visual elements in web design

Diagonal lines

Lines have long been one of the most popular visual elements in web design. You can make your design more interesting by using diagonal lines. In contrast to horizontal lines, diagonal lines appear more "open". This is because diagonal lines connect content instead of separating it. 

These help enormously to navigate through your content. With the help of diagonal lines, you can guide the eye of your target group. And navigate them to the relevant areas of your website.

A somewhat jerky approach in my eyes can be found at Kris Real Estate. I find the red line that the mouse pointer leaves behind visually interesting. However, it distracts from the important content - and I don't (yet) see any added value.

Scrollable text elements

Scroll effects can be integrated well with oversized headlines. There are many different approaches here.

The Peppasauce website consists almost exclusively of large typography that moves as you scroll. This gives the otherwise rather static feel of the website a sense of movement.

With Dot To Dot we see a menu that scrolls horizontally.

Unlike its two predecessors, Pierre Grosjean uses scrollable text as a background element. This allows you to give your website more dynamism without visually overloading your visitors.

Shadows and floating elements

Flat design has endured and still finds its place in web design today. Flat design later evolved into flat design 2.0, where flat graphics are given more depth through the use of shadows.

This style will continue to accompany us in the future. By using different shadow types, you can also give your 2D design the feeling of different levels. This allows you to draw important elements into the foreground. This can be combined well with floating objects. 

This allows you to create the depth of 3D spaces through the arrangement and use of 2D elements. Two good examples of this are My Mortgage Hub and Luminous.

Elements that overlap

We saw how you can create depth with different layers and shadows in the previous section. Another way to play with 2D design is to layer elements on top of each other. 

This may override the physical properties of your elements. Background elements then lie in front of a foreground element. This effect may be intentional, but it can also lead to confusion.

We find a well-sorted approach at The Stylist Group.

When overlapping objects, you should make sure that none of your content is lost and that all text remains legible. You can implement this style wonderfully with the help of CSS Grid.

Interactive web elements

Another way of bridging the distance between visitors and website operators is to use interactive elements.

It doesn't have to be complicated. The first question would be: What offers your target group added value? Offer a questionnaire to adapt your product to the preferences of your target group.

However, interactive elements can also be humorous and offer no direct added value, as on the How Many Plants website. Here, the mouse pointer turns into a watering can and you can hover over the plants.

Clear and prominent call to action

Here is another web design trend that addresses the user experience. In future, calls to action should be clear and prominent. Buttons should also remain large and bulky so that we can reach them easily on mobile devices.

Progressive forms

This web design trend also serves the user experience. Progressive forms are forms that have been divided into several clear steps. They ensure that your users don't immediately give up when they see larger forms. 

Once some information has been entered, it is also more difficult to leave the progress made than to complete the form.

Conception & strategies for your website

Show donʼt tell

A principle that I have known for some time in the field of creative writing will also have an impact on web design in the future. With the "show don't tell" principle, you make your brand or product understandable through the structure and use of visual elements. Instead of juggling with lots of words, you let your target group know what you offer and who is behind it through the look and feel. If you implement this successfully, you eliminate the need for a lot of text and your website becomes more manageable and innovative.

We often pursue this concept with scrollytelling. Here we tell stories that unfold visually and in words - similar to a digital journey through the website. 

The use of videos in full-screen mode supports the visual representation of your brand: you tell a story about your brand or your product without using words.  

Google has developed an appealing website to explain and attract Local Guides. It emphasizes each step with an animation and clearly explains which actions are possible. 

Positive design with a humorous twist

After two years of worrying news, we are looking for a balance. Web design is becoming more humorous and easy to digest. Even supposedly serious companies can rely on positive design.

Small surprises make us smile during our journey through the web. In Luminous, for example, we are visited by a shy cat that peers out from the right-hand side of the screen. 

Local SEO

If your brand has a physical store, then stick to keywords and content that are related to the local area. This will help you to be found and listed in a search for "Service XY near me". 

Local SEO has been around for a long time. In the beginning, however, it was mainly used on desktops. Nowadays, it also plays a major role for mobile devices. The Local SEO Guide offers you a comprehensive insight.

Further web design trends 2022 

According to a survey by GermanUpa, chatbots, artificial intelligence and AR/VR are at the top of the list of the most annoying trends. Especially when it comes to new technologies, you should always consider who you are designing the website for. Depending on your target group, it may be worth foregoing some trends in web design.

Old but gold: trends that are here to stay

What we will continue to see in 2022: 

• Personalized content
• Light and dark mode 
• Minimalism 
• Accessibility
• User-centered design
• Page Speed Optimization
• Micro Interactions
• Mega Footers