Chances are, if you are reading this blog you have an interest in staying on top of ongoing trends, keeping a pulse on what is modern and fresh, and most importantly, are looking to gain insight into anything that will give you a leg up on the competition. Lucky for you, you are about to get a breakdown of actionable information that can make a huge difference for your hotel website as we progress into this year.
Trends Broken Down
2019 was certainly a year. Full of a lot of high and low points — open to interpretation of course depending on your glass’ water level. We watched the Game of Thrones series finale, saw the first ever picture of a black hole, enjoyed memes like lady yelling at confused cat or the storming of the gates at area 51. But 2019 also marked a significant time in website design and development, especially in the realm of hospitality. As we progress into 2020, things are starting to get interesting. We are moving away from pure design trends, and we embrace this change. Therefore, we are going to break down the real difference makers in 2020 and give you insight on how to take direct action to ensure you get a piece of that sweet, sweet, decennary pie. (Foreshadowing: It is not all about looks. Jon Snow will tell you that.)
Visual Design
I know I was just on my high horse about hotel web design and website visuals in general, but that is for a reason. Design is only a sliver of what makes your website successful. Say it with me, “Design is only a sliver of what makes your website successful!” (Remember that for later) Is it important, YES; in fact, it is often times is your first impression with a user. Given, first impressions are incredibly powerful and as subjective as they are, 2020 web design trends are pointing in a particular direction, especially in hotel web design. Here is what is on Blue Magnet’s radar and some actionable takeaways and examples.
Soft Shadows, Layers and Floating Elements
Locked into battle like the Heat and Snow Miser, flat web design and layered, shadowed design have seen surges in popularity. 2019, seemed to sway a smidge in flat designs favor, but fear not texture fans; shadows, overlapping, floating & layered elements are battling back. The key to this design technique is creating depth by giving the user an experience of spatial indulgence. Design-romantic sentences aside, adding soft drop shadows and overlapping elements on each other give the user the feeling that your website elements are real. They play by the rules of physics and giving them tangible texture solidifies them in your brain. In many ways this tangibility is what hoteliers are searching for in their websites. How do I convey what a stay at my hotel is like to someone on the internet? Layered, depth-driven design is a step in the right direction.
Tips for creating layered design:
