Although 2014 is underway, there’s still a lot of time until we make it to 2015. Since competition among ecommerce companies of all sizes has really heated up over the last few years, let’s look at five different ecommerce design trends that are going to be significant throughout the rest of this year:
Flat Design
While flat design is actually a trend that can be seen on many different sites, it has several features that make it an especially good fit for ecommerce sites. Because this style of design eschews many decorative elements, it’s a great way to put the full focus of a site on products. It also makes it possible to use large product pictures and still allow sites to load quite quickly. Another advantage is it’s a nice complement to the next trend we’re going to discuss.
Responsive Design
More people are using phones and tablets to shop online. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is abandoning their desktops and laptops. Because all of these devices are regularly used by ecommerce customers, retailers have to find a way to deliver a consistent experience. While mobile apps make sense in some cases, responsive design can work extremely well and eliminate the need for users to download another app. By utilizing this type of ecommerce website design, retailers can provide customers with a consistent experience regardless of what size of screen they’re using at the moment.
Less Sliders and Larger Navigation Elements
Because online retailers want to ensure that visitors can use any device, designers are making a conscious effort to alter or remove elements that may not work as well on smaller screens. The two best examples of this design trend are sliders and navigation elements. With the former, many designers are choosing to remove sliders as a result of them not working all that great on phones and tablets. And with the latter, a lot of designers are opting to increase the size of those elements so they’re easier to click.
Utilizing Multiple Fonts
It can be hard to use multiple fonts and create a cohesive look. But when done correctly, this technique can add a lot of visual appeal without distracting from the main focus of a product page.
Increasing the Number of Relevant Elements on a Product Page
By opting for designs that include as much relevant information as possible on a single product page, most retailers find that they are able to reduce the number of visitors who leave and ultimately increase their overall conversion rate.
Even though not all of these ecommerce design trends are going to be the right fit for all retailers, utilizing at least a few of them are likely to provide a competitive advantage. If you feel that your ecommerce business needs to do something to ensure you stay ahead of the competition, you won’t regret working with a web design company that understands the best way to utilize any or all of the design trends we covered.
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Original post published at Web Strategy Plus.