Web design has been evolving ever since its conception. The advent of modern technology has brought forth several revolutionary changes to web design, and new elements of web design are being introduced with each passing day.
Consequently, websites are becoming increasingly functional, aesthetic, and accessible. This article will explore some of the latest elements of web design being used today, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
Motion UI
Motion UI is a powerful library of user interface (UI) animations and transitions that allow web developers to create visually stunning websites. This modern design tool enables developers to easily add layers of interactive features and animation to a website, making it more engaging and entertaining. Users can customize their site in different ways with this library, including creating animation sequences, lightbox overlays, and customizable buttons.
Advantages of Using Motion UI
• Enhances the user experience on websites. Motion UI provides smooth and enjoyable user experiences, making it easier and faster for users to interact with a website.
• Improves the aesthetics of a website. By adding visual elements to a website, Motion UI makes a website more pleasing to the eyes and more inviting to users.
• Makes a website more accessible. Motion UI allows web developers to create dynamic elements for a website that are optimized for different devices, and thus makes a website more accessible for a wider range of users.
Disadvantages of Using Motion UI
• Can be slow loading. Depending on how Motion UI elements are implemented on a website, they can slow down website loading times.
• Requires a lot of coding knowledge. Motion UI requires an expert understanding of HTML and CSS coding, as well as other languages such as JavaScript.
• Can be difficult for users to navigate. Motion UI elements can be confusing for some users, and can lead to a complicated and confusing user experience.
Material Design
Material Design is another form of web design that has gained popularity in recent years. This modern design trend focuses on optimizing a website for devices such as tablets and smartphones, as it provides a grid-based responsive design and a ‘material design language’. This design language employs a combination of colors, shapes and textures that give websites a more aesthetic and contemporary look.
Advantages of Using Material Design
• Enhances the aesthetics of a website. Material Design provides a visually appealing and modern aesthetic to websites, boosting visitors’ interest in the website and its content.
• Makes a website more user-friendly. As the design is optimized for mobile devices, websites designed with Material Design can be easily navigated by users on the move.
• Provides support for a wide range of devices. Material Design is designed to be responsive and can be used on different devices and screen sizes without compromising the appearance and navigation of the website.
Disadvantages of Using Material Design
• Requires a good understanding of coding. To implement Material Design, web developers must have a good understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Has a steep learning curve. Because of the complex design language and requirements, mastering Material Design can be quite difficult.
• Can be detrimental to legacy websites. Material Design can require major changes to the layout, design, and code of legacy websites, making it difficult to integrate with existing codes and designs.
Flat Design
Flat design has been a popular design trend since its emergence in 2013. This design trend is characterized by the use of flat colors, simplified shapes, and a minimalist appeal. Unlike earlier web design trends, flat design uses less textures, layers, and gradients, resulting in simpler and cleaner designs.
Advantages of Using Flat Design
• Enhances the clarity and focus of a website. Flat design removes any unnecessary elements from a website, resulting in a lighter and easier to read layout.
• Makes a website easier to navigate. As flat design has no shadows and gradients, its easier for users to find the navigation elements due to the clear contrast between the foreground and the background.
• More efficient for mobile devices. Flat design has a minimal number of elements and graphics, resulting in a faster loading website on mobile devices.
Disadvantages of Using Flat Design
• Makes a website look plain and less enjoyable. Flat design can be too minimalist for some users and might lack the visual appeal that other design trends offer.
• Can be difficult to distinguish between different elements. Since flat design uses only flat colors and minimal textures, different elements on a web page can be difficult to differentiate.
• Using too many flat colors can be overwhelming. Flat design should be used with moderation, as websites with too many flat colors can become confusing and difficult to follow.
To summarize, new elements of web design such as Motion UI, Material Design, and Flat Design have drastically changed how websites look, perform, and behave. While these elements are advantageous in certain situations, it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each element before deciding which one to use. Ultimately, it is up to the web developer to decide which element of web design is best suited to the requirements of the website.
