A digital renaissance has taken place in recent years in website design. Website traffic is at a historic high as physical stores and in-person work transition to online. Web designers are working hard to meet the influx of new customers online and transform user experience with innovative features found on the world's most visited websites.
Philip Pignato is a UX consultant and web designer and below he relates several notable web design trends that will stay relevant throughout 2022.
Motion Graphics and Animation Are Standard Design Features
Philip Pignato explains that web designers are getting more playful. Designers are using motion design so commonly that's it's more likely you'll
encounter it than not.
Motion design is based on a user's action; scrolling and cursor movement initiate the animations. The movement works subtly to guide a user through the content seamlessly. Plus, the professional look of innovative animations builds a user's trust for the website.
And today's motion graphics represent exciting contemporary techniques that are on their way to being a staple in web design. For example, Philip Pignato says that web designers are currently using subtle changes that elevate a visual space. Techniques like locomotion scrolling, also known as smooth scrolling, gradually start and stop scrolling instead of a traditional hard stop and have become more common in recent years.
Parallax in animations is another common and rapidly growing trend. With this technique, visual effects and animation combine with scrolling to create depth and layers on a website. The concept uses opposing background and foreground that move separating to convey a harmonious story.
Animations are a slight shift away from the pure minimalism web design trends of the late 2010s. But web developers will likely find a way to keep a minimalist tone while incorporating innovative motion design.
Philip Pignato Reports Rising Demand for Blockchain Developers
Philip Pignato explains that new technology is stirring a demand for blockchain developers to continue innovating this technology.
Blockchain developers help companies or other entities apply blockchain technology to their operations by creating and enhancing code for applications that utilize the platform. On-chain development is commonly known for its applications in finance and cryptocurrency but developers are spreading its use to additional markets, such as for trade and healthcare information. The rapid growth and intrigue for diverse application lead to the high demand for industry experts.
Blockchain development is one of the highest-paid skills in tech. Philip Pignato explains that in the United States, the average salary for a blockchain developer is $157,000.
Glassdoor reported that the demand for blockchain-related jobs increased by 300 percent in one year.
There are two types of blockchain developers, a Core Blockchain Developer and a Blockchain Software Developer. The technical skills required for both are knowing data structures and coding. The coding-capable population is flocking to blockchain positions, not only for the financial benefit but for the opportunity of a rapidly growing industry.
AI Can Write Code like Humans
Philip Pignato reports that in 2022, we're seeing artificial intelligence implemented in industries we never anticipated. In web development and programming, there is a rapidly growing interest in using AI to help automate mundane design work.
In June 2021, a Microsoft company called GitHub released an AI program to help developers, named Copilot. Mircosoft paid $7.5 billion for GitHub in 2018 with a goal to focus on "…developer freedom, openness and innovation.” said Github CEO Satya Nadella. Their new AI program, Copilot, gets its name from the concept that AI will take a back seat and seamlessly assist the developer. It works by predicting the developer's intent and completing their work as they write.
But some developers have concerns that AI presents copy-pasting solutions that the industry has worked hard to get away from. Thousands of jobs could be lost, and there may be a rise in coding errors from the widespread use of copy-pasting solutions.
As a result, No-code AI is rapidly becoming a more popular tool for companies. No-code AI is not capable of replacing human coders. While new technology and AI will become more relevant, coders will still be needed at some stage of the process.
Philip Pignato says this type of coding AI is intended to not only protect coding jobs but increase them since it was designed with widespread use in mind. No-code disassociates from programming languages and takes a visual approach, allowing anyone to create and edit an application, not just an experienced professional.
Bottom Line
Web design is moving us into the future. Developers are cross-training and educating themselves on new techniques and new technologies. And designers are using no-code tools to enable them to do it all faster and easier than ever before.
Philip Pignato expects even more developments in web design to continue throughout 2022. However, you have to stay on top of the trends as they happen, or you'll quickly fall out of the loop!
