Minimalism is a pretty trendy concept. It’s become common in many industries, including fashion, interior design, and architecture. It’s also become a very popular approach for web design.
So, if you’re a business owner or a website designer, you may be curious about minimalism. You might wonder if it’s a style that you should adopt. You may also want clarification on what defines a minimalist design and why it could benefit your site.
Fortunately, in this post, we’ll walk you through what minimalist web design really means. We’ll also discuss how minimalism relates to other trends in web design, like accessibility and sustainability. By the end of this article, you’ll know whether minimalism is a fad worth following.
In simple terms, a minimalist approach will be guided by the principle of “less is more.” Minimalist designs cut down on unnecessary or distracting features. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, then it isn’t included.
However, this does not mean that minimalist designs are boring or unattractive. Instead, minimalism often uses simple yet striking visuals. Images are typically very large and feature high contrast. They also are usually surrounded by minimal text.
Alternatively, a minimalist site may feature impactful copy to engage visitors. If the design leans more heavily on copy than pictures, designers might play with different fonts. They could also vary the size of the text to make the design more compelling.
Another common feature of minimalist designs is negative space. This tactic makes use of what isn’t present on the page to make existing design features more eye-catching and pronounced.
Web designers might also use a small selection of colors in a minimalist design. This can help to make the overall aesthetic look less busy. Plus, colors are often chosen strategically. Certain choices can reinforce brand identity or express specific information and emotions.
A minimalist approach is a great way to add accessibility features to a website design. Many components of minimalist designs also act as fantastic ways to make a web page more inclusive for those that are disabled or impaired.
For instance, minimalism emphasizes a lack of distractions. This can be very beneficial for those with dyslexia or ADHD. People with these conditions may struggle to focus or read the text on a page that is very busy or cluttered.
High-contrast images and text also are core features of both styles of design. They can help people that are colorblind or visually impaired view your page more easily.
Additionally, a minimalist approach to content can promote accessibility. Writing clear and concise text can help people that struggle with literacy. It’s also beneficial for those who do not speak English as a first language.
Sustainable websites are designed to use less power when loading or being displayed on a user’s device. The idea is to lower the internet’s impact on the environment by reducing its carbon footprint. However, in addition to being a good strategy for the planet, practicing sustainable website design is also a good method of boosting SEO and improving the user experience on your site.
This is because sustainable website design and minimalism have a lot in common. After all, minimalist sites feature fewer elements and tools that might require more energy to load. Loading times increase when there are more visuals, widgets, content, etc., on a site, and longer loading times mean more energy is consumed.
That means that when you pare down the aesthetics of your website and use negative space and other tools to emphasize some key design points, your site will be more sustainable because it will load more quickly. But that’s not the only benefit of quick load times.
Users tend to be impatient, and they don’t always stick around to view sites that are slow to load. The longer your loading times are, the more infuriating that can be for those visiting your site. This means that you may lose them as potential customers. Plus, since this hurts your bounce rate, your SEO ranking can be impacted as well.
Minimalism is a major trend in web design currently for many reasons. Clean and simple aesthetics are associated with luxury, class, and high-quality goods. Therefore, users tend to be impressed by a minimalist website design, which can help sales in the long run.
Furthermore, in 2023, more website designers are focused on making their sites accessible. It’s important to make your site as inclusive as possible for all people, but it’s also good business sense. When a design prevents some people from accessing the site, it limits your customer base.
Another major trend right now is practicing sustainability. This is true in all industries, as consumer concern for the environment continues to grow. So designing your website with sustainability in mind will positively impact the world. But it can also help your business’s reputation and endear your brand to customers.
Accessible and sustainable website design practices have a lot in common with minimalism. So, taking a minimalist approach is definitely a good idea. Plus, there can be other benefits that come from these approaches. For instance, you’re likely to lower loading times. This will improve the user experience and your SEO rankings, so there is really no downside.
Minimalist websites display simple designs. They use a small amount of content to make a big impact. The minimalist approach also has a lot in common with accessibility and sustainability. Furthermore, minimalist designs are able to promote a better experience for the user. This can additionally help improve a site’s SEO ranking. Therefore, everyone should think about using minimalist designs on their web pages.
