Wix Team
Jul 11, 20133 min
Updated: Sep 21, 2023
Flat design is probably the biggest web design trends this year. The latest popularity is made greater by Microsoft’s daring leap forward with Windows 8 and the new Google design, which strides even deeper into minimalism.
Unlike the realistic 3D look we have all been used to in the past few years (coined skeuomorphic design), flat design focuses on simple two-dimensional appearance, removing the drop shadows, gradients, and textures. This creates a new challenge in graphic design, where the features of the interface have to appear clearly to the user, while maintaining a pure and fundamentally minimalistic look.
Have a look below at some of the elements that define flat design.
We’re moving away from web 2.0 sensibility, and this means that design elements like glossy buttons, shiny surfaces, flashy gradients and unnecessary textures are becoming outdated. Graphic design in Web 2.0 centered on “touches” that made visual interfaces feel more solid and real. Realistic effects of water droplets, shiny plastic surfaces or glass reflections were popular then, because they reminded us of aesthetic qualities in real-world objects. Things had to look visually interactive.
“Flat design”, on the other hand, is exactly as it sounds, it makes everything look “flat”, rather than beveled, bulged, clickable or otherwise realistic. Every element – from boxes, to image frames or buttons to navigational tools – is clear-cut, utilizing simple user interface elements with an emphasis on usability. Designers often stick to simple shapes and allow each shape to stand alone. While flat design has not been crowned “web 3.0” yet, more and more websites are now following this trend.
Typography is an essential element in flat design, especially in the age of skim reading. Words are used to communicate a message, provide navigational tools and tell users what to do on your site. A strong textual copy could even replace the use of images altogether and the design will include only a few words to maintain a simple flow and feel. In many sites, elegant typography becomes the centerpiece of the design. Of course, since the flat scheme is often simple and minimalistic, the typography has to resonate with that. Additionally, uppercase text for navigation items and key headlines is often used.
Flat design is also a move towards the colorful. Designers are expanding palettes from just a shade or two to a variety of colors, often bold and bright. Many of the traditional rules about color pairing and matching are let go of, in favor of palettes that span the rainbow. Bright colors typically work well against both light and dark backgrounds, creating contrast and engaging users by making the design elements clear and readable.
Flat design has an overall minimalist design approach that uses large elements and lots of spaces, avoiding a cluttered, busy look. This approach emphasizes usability, enabling a straight forward view and a clear flow that doesn’t fight for the user’s attention. In flat design, ornamental elements are viewed as unnecessary clutter. If an aspect serves no functional purpose, it’s considered a distraction that will not be included. To summarize in one well known phrase: “less is more.”
Icons and illustrations have a two-dimensional appearance. Icons keep to a simple, flat appearance, often indicating universal actions or purposes in web design that everyone can easily understand. Even stripped away of details, shadows and textures, you can easily see how icons maintain a distinct style and form. The meaning of any icon is quickly perceived as they are made to be solid-color and attention grabbing. Illustrations are minimalist, lacking the light and 3D effect that were prevalent in earlier web eras.
Frunatic
The Umbrella Group
Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.