The School’s Guide to

Modern Design Trends P R E S E N T E R : C O R W I N B E R M U D E Z

Why Are Modern Design Trends Important?

MOBILE DEVICES Modern design trends are built for responsive design

EVERYONE USES MOBILE DEVICES

Modern design trends create the best possible user experience for all screen sizes.

TURN YOUR WEBSITE INTO A MOBILE APP

Modern design trends create sites that maximize usability on all displays

RESPONSIVE SITES PERFORM BETTER IN SEARCH RESULTS

Designs that utilize responsive, clean design are deemed more user-friendly by search engines, and are promoted to higher search listings

Of users say they return to a website that works well on a smartphone or tablet

RESPONSIVE SITES HAVE

FASTER CONVERSIONS

FROM USERS ON MOBILE

DEVICES

A well designed site that looks and performs well on mobile devices helps the user identify what they want and act faster

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Employing modern design trends will make your site easy to use, approachable, and engaging

DESIGN TRENDS ALWAYS EVOLVE TOWARD IMPROVING THE USER EXPERIENCE

As design trends lean toward simpler, cleaner, more organized designs websites provide a better resource

for their users

SIMPLER, CLEANER SITES ARE MORE EFFECTIVE

Web design trends also evolve to help organizations

accomplish goals and drive users to action

MODERN DESIGN MAKES WEBSITES EASIER TO NAVIGATE

Simple and direct design helps both new visitors and existing users access the exact information they need

EVERYTHING HAS PURPOSE AND SPACE TO SHARE THAT PURPOSE

Site elements all have plenty of space to maximize impact for all site users

BEING CREATIVE Modern trends facilitate infinite possibilities in web design

LIKE ANY INDUSTRY, INNOVATION DRIVES

DESIGN TRENDS

Modern design trends are born from finding better ways to do things, from both creative and functional standpoints

BOUNDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNIQUE DESIGN EXPERIENCES

Design trends are all about pushing for the most creative ideas to set sites apart

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD (AND SEEN) THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE

The flexibility modern design can convey the unique mission and identity of every organization

CONNECT EMOTIONALLY

WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

Newer design trends seek to identify site

users as individuals and communicate

based on their needs

STAYING RELEVANT The cultural impact of web design changes rapidly, and it’s too important to fall behind on

AN OUTDATED SITE DESIGN IS AN INSTANT TURN-OFF TO VISITORS

Keeping up with the competition, especially in terms of presentation and visibility, is crucial for the success of any organization

STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Organizations that establish themselves as thought leaders, especially in something as universal as web design, are always rewarded

SHOW HOW YOU’RE EVOLVING

Adopting modern design trends to fit your branding shows growth and competitiveness

BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE

Leverage modern design trends to create bold, vibrant web experience to broadcast yourself

Looking at Modern Web Design

LARGE DESIGN ELEMENTS

•  Contradicts “above the fold” but gives more attention to content

•  Bigger typography = impossible to ignore

•  Simplicity: less but bigger means more engaging

•  Tie into other mediums: print, tv, etc.

LONG SCROLLING SITES

•  People are willing to scroll, why not make it exciting

•  Longer, larger regions give more space and importance to content

•  A linear experience is easier and more enjoyable

•  Easier to change look, and therefore feel, per region

•  Strategize, make an impact with your long site

LARGE DESIGN ELEMENTS •  Concerned about “below the

fold”? Remove the fold!

•  Make navigation do the work

•  Leverage banner detail text

•  A one-page site can’t be boring

•  Simplicity is still key, don’t overcrowd

HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY

•  Never underestimate the importance of well planned photography

•  Beautiful engaging photos reduces need for text content

•  Let photos convey emotion and personality

•  Create the experience through photography

•  Photos, like content, can get crowded.

MINIMALIST DESIGN

•  Minimalist design removes distractions and gets straight to the point

•  Simplicity looks clean, organized, and driven

•  Leverage negative space to give more impact to minimal content

•  keep your design balanced, aligned, and high contrast

FIXED WIDTH LAYOUT

•  Design trends come full circle - used to be dated, has been revived

•  Maintain users focus with boundaries for content

•  Maintain the linear experience

•  Old school doesn’t mean boring - Take an old classic and find ways to make it engaging

STORYTELLING LAYOUT •  Use a linear structure to

create the perfect first impression for your school

•  Create a “ride” the user can get off any time they want to - provide links to other content in each section

•  Show step by step why your school is perfect for the user

•  Less of a site, more of an experience

•  Strategize, tell the story in the best order, don’t give too much or too little

GRID CONTENT

•  Everything easy to find

•  Maximize use of page real estate

•  Interface design is more engaging

•  Redirect items to individual pages

•  Mainly appropriate for sites that don’t need as much functionality on hp, instead need portal to rest of site

Let’s Talk About Things

MODERN TRENDS KEEP YOU ON THE FOREFRONT OF DESIGN

THEY BALANCE CREATIVITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND EXPERIENCE

BUT STRATEGY IS THE KEY TO MAKING MODERN DESIGN WORK

COOL DESIGNS MEAN NOTHING IF THEY CAN’T BE MANAGED EASILY

Fin L E T ’ S H A V E S O M E Q U E S T I O N S !