Over the past year, many trends came and went. Succulent nails, the unicorn braid, furry nails—and I couldn’t be happier to see them go! Graphic design trends have come and gone as well! This isn’t surprising, because graphic design is very time sensitive. The website you designed a few years ago, or even just a year ago, is likely no longer modern and as pleasing to the eye. There are elements and themes of design that can stand the test of time, but there are others that benefit from periodic updating and care. Adding some new design elements to your website, content and brand can help improve the image of your company and give it a modern look (which is beneficial for gaining prospective clients!).

That being said, here are some of the top graphic design trends for 2017:

Material design

Material design is the use of separate boxes, which ask the user to do one thing per box. You may have seen this this tactic in the form of cards, and it is otherwise known as “container style.” A website that successfully uses cards, and a site we use daily, is Trello. Websites become easier to navigate when using material design and container style layouts, where simplicity is an overall goal. This is because they make it easier for the user to complete the task they came there for, whether it is clicking on a piece of content, entering in their contact info or purchasing an item.

Visual storytelling

In 2017, there will be an increase in the amount of videos used to deliver messages. People comprehend videos thousands of times faster than text alone. Users respond extremely well to video content, and are 64% more likely to buy if you provide a video for them to watch. Try adding some videos to your site this year and see how users respond.

Bold photos paired with sleek text

As far as aesthetics go, bold images and sleek text are in. Using these two simple elements together can significantly update the look of your site. Straying away from smiling stock photos will do you nothing but good. Use photos on your site that draw you in and leave an impact with the viewer. Layer it with the message you want to get across using a sleek and modern font. Update your standard image with a caption underneath (to something like the below) and see how it freshens up the look of your website.

Minimalism

Minimalism will be a big part of 2017 as well. When people are on your website, they are looking for answers. Make these answers easy to find without distractions from filler text or images. Not only will your content be easy to digest, but the minimalistic design also comes across as more modern than a website crammed top to bottom with information.

Remember, if your website doesn’t look good, it reflects poorly on what you are selling. 38% of site visitors will stop looking at your site if the content and layout aren’t attractive. Put the most important details out there, and format your site to have a form for viewers to fill out if interested in more details.  

It’s a new year, and the perfect time for you to update your website and content. See what some of these trends can do for you!

While some trends come and go, others will stand the test of time. Implement the lasting trends in the video below!