We digital marketers just can’t help it; we obsess on surfing the crest of the latest wave of WordPress (and website) design trends. But design currents shift rapidly, and some waves crest and fade far from shore. So how to choose the wave that takes us all the way to success?
Here are some of the latest WordPress design trends to consider to help your business achieve its goals.
Minimalist Layouts: Embrace Simplicity and Elegance
The top responses we receive from marketers regarding the design they want on their new website are always the same:
- Simple.
- Clean.
- Uncluttered.
- Colorful.
- White space.
They all envision a new website with the simple, beautiful elegance of the Apple and Tesla websites, but most don’t realize the amount of brand awareness needed to create such an engaging experience.
Their heart is in the right place because the shift toward minimalist layouts is no longer a trend – it’s a necessity for user engagement.
An uncluttered, visually appealing site marked by clean lines, ample white space, and prominent essential content is a must for good user experience. Minimalist designs are both visually and practically sophisticated. They enhance readability, raise user engagement, and spotlight key content.
Key Elements of Minimalist Layouts
- Negative Space: Strategic negative space draws attention to your core messaging and visuals.
- Typography: Clean and legible typography choices, often paired with sans-serif fonts, ensure optimal readability.
- Color Palette: An appealing color palette with strategic accents adds depth and a subtle emphasis on the content you especially want users to see.
WordPress out-of-the-box themes and its Gutenberg block builder toolset have fully absorbed the minimalist design trend. The most popular themes available in the marketplace also lean into minimalism.
An example of a minimalist website design from Twenty Twenty-Four.
The key thing to understand is that to get to this minimalist point, marketers must know their brand to create the same experience as Apple or Tesla. My recommendation is to review your brand first to determine if you have the imagery, colors, and content to fit the minimalist approach. If not, you should focus on your brand first. If you do, then move ahead with your website.
Simplicity in your website design not only keeps the attention of your users, it also makes the site work on small screens.
Responsive and Mobile-First Design
Think about the various devices you use on any given day and their varied display sizes. The advent of smart phones forced B2B and B2C marketers to build websites that fit within a smaller screen. The screen size issue has intensified in the last five years. Now, sites must adapt to phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and televisions of every size and dimension.
WordPress themes and plugins are meeting the challenge. Designers and developers offer responsive layouts and mobile-optimized features that adapt to different devices without compromising functionality or aesthetics. But that’s just the technology side. B2B and B2C marketers must also consider the user experience side – that’s where minimalist design becomes even more valuable.
Notice how the white space and font force the user to focus on only what’s important in the example below.
Desktop View
Mobile View
Tablet View
This design readily expands and contracts to screen sizes. But adaptability alone would not be enough to serve the user well from screen to screen. The designers resisted the temptation to bombard the user with information. The clutter-free discipline delivers nothing but the most relevant info. The site does not ask the user to stop and read, read, read; it invites the user to move swiftly through the introductory experience, land on a call to action, and act – i.e., purchase a product or make contact.
It’s nice that minimalist sites look good. It’s great that they raise conversion rates.
The last piece to consider is touch friendliness. Build intuitive navigation and touch-friendly elements with an eye toward easy, accurate contact. Clicking on a link on a desktop is one thing; doing so on a phone is another. Make buttons, links, and other interactive functions easy to use on smaller displays.
User-Centric Design Principles
We all know better, but many B2B and B2C marketers still fail to put user experience first. All too often, we focus on the cool look and the hottest business jargon. But we’re not here to express ourselves or impress our fellow designers. Everything we do is for our users, and we succeed when we serve them well and give them a seamless, intuitive experience.
B2B and B2C marketers who truly understand their users’ behaviors can craft websites that guide users through a friction-free journey that fosters trust and conversions.
But what if you have multiple types of users who need different things?
The design must deliver excellent user experience to all its audiences. It sounds daunting, but it can be done. For example, the image below shows a website aimed at two distinct user types. The homepage serves as an immediate filter that drives users to their appropriate experience.
Of all the many factors involved in user-centric design, three have trended heavily in recent years:
- Intuitive Navigation: Clear and logical navigation structures help users effortlessly find the information they seek, thus reducing frustration and improving overall satisfaction.
- Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding elements, such as color schemes, typography, and visual styles, across all pages, to reinforce brand recognition and build trust with your audience.
- Accessibility Considerations: Designing with accessibility in mind ensures that your website is usable for individuals with abilities.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
The factors above might not seem cutting-edge in 2024, but they are the substance and intellectual energy surging beneath the wave. They drive and guide the minimalist look-and-feel on the surface.
The minimalist wave is rolling in. WordPress is providing every tool B2B and B2C marketers need to succeed. Ride it to create online experiences that resonate with your target audiences, drive conversions, and help your business succeed.
Need help developing a WordPress website or managing your current one? Reach out!