Nothing attracts visitors like a fresh website design. As the landscape of the Internet evolves, new trends in layout, style and accessibility are changing the way people consume information.

Quick Interface Response

Example: http://sundaybestdesigns.com/

Now that people are accessing the Internet from a variety of mobile devices as well as computers, ease of use has become of paramount importance. The fewer clicks a user needs to find information, the better. Instant dropdown menus, large buttons and links that are easy to manipulate on touchscreens allow users to interact with a site from any device without hassle.

Minimal, Intuitive Interfaces

Example: http://studionudge.com

Simple, minimalistic website designs take ease of use one step further by providing all their relevant information on one page. Rather than looking cluttered, these sites employ clean layouts with geometric shapes, highly visible links and variations in font to separate information into different sections. When businesses give visitors the information they want without making them search through page after page, those visitors are more likely to turn into customers.

Big, Visible Images

Example: http://www.gruny.net

Large background graphics are a bold way to make a website design pop. Whether it’s a static photo with text layered over the top or a prominent “mascot” image that appears throughout a website, visual content makes an impact. Consistent images provide a cohesive user experience and can work to build brands by keeping business logos in the forefront throughout a user’s entire visit.

Eye-Catching Typography

Example: http://futureofcarsharing.com/

Fonts can be just as stunning as images when it comes to website presentation. Services such as Typekit host unique fonts across a network of servers, allowing for integration on websites of all kinds. This reduces load time, ensures consistent uptime for all text and gives webmasters an enormous variety of fonts to choose from. Well-placed text draws the eye and gets users interested in a site from the moment they arrive.

More Infographics

Infographics pop up on social media all the time, and with good reason. These large images curate bits of important information and put them together in an easily understandable way. Through infographics, webmasters and users can share statistics, relevant industry data and a host of other information almost instantly across a variety of platforms.

Parallax Scrolling

Example: http://playtend.com/

Parallax scrolling allows objects on a website move in different ways or at different rates. The most common use of this is in the combination of a static image and scrollable text. This is another trick that webmasters can use to place a large amount of information one page while maintaining a clean, user-friendly layout.

HTML5 & CSS3

New standards in HTML and CSS are making it easier than ever to create highly interactive website designs. Integration with JavaScript and other types of coding gives users a whole new way to experience the Internet. The more the Internet changes, the more users are looking for an experience over and above the passive act of viewing site content. Websites that can engage visitors on a deeper level are will see more return visits and perhaps even an increase in search ranking.

These attention-grabbing design elements help to create websites that stand out from the crowd. The easier it is for users to interact with a site and find information, the more likely they are to come back. Adding stylistic touches enhances the experience, giving visitors something to tell their friends about, thereby spreading the word to a wider audience.

Written by Allison Hanfield: Allison Hanfield is a graphic designer and product manager, you can see her designs on Bubba brand mugs and kegs.