5 Big Web Design Predictions for 2022
Blogs like this one try to predict the future every year. It's a way to draw a line under the archive and start afresh. It's a rejuvenation that we humans find life-affirming.
These predictions would have been very confident ten years ago. After all, I was finally right about SVG adoption, even though it took a decade. The last few years have proven that web design is closely interwoven with the muggle universe and that the world is unpredictable.
As we consider what may happen in the next year or five, think of it less like a list of predictions and more like a wishlist.
Predictions for the Last Year
Every January, I look back at previous years’ predictions to be honest about my predictions.
Last year, I predicted that the long-term trend toward minimalism would end. WordPress would decline, and cryptocurrency would become mainstream. Then, I hedged my bets and said we’d make more and fewer video calls.
We have moved away from minimalism through the advent of maximalism, gradients, and the revival of the nineties. It is still trendy but not as dominant.
WordPress remains the largest CMS in the world and will remain so for some time. WordPress is now at its lowest point, with no-code site builders and outperformed by better CMS, but it has not reached its peak.
The over-hyped predictions of BitCoin reaching $100k in December 2021 proved false. Bitcoin’s value only tripled between 2021 and 2021. However, the digital currency was a new concept in 2021, thanks to microchipping and the entry of major tech companies.
How could I possibly be wrong about not only more but also fewer video calling? This is my first ever clean sweep. Let’s now take a look at the twelve months ahead.
What to Expect in 2022
The Metaverse is not expected to be anything other than marketing talk. Although the hardware is becoming more accessible, the Metaverse in 2022 will be like playing an MMORPG with PS5: the Metaverse is theoretically great, but once you find out that no one can afford a console, it’s not going to be a popular choice.
Blog posts that predict a retro trend for the noughties are not to be believed. They looked at the craze of the nineties and added a decade. Fashions aren’t mathematical; they’re poetic. Retro is when people find a period that rhymes with their current hopes and fears. Looking back at a decade over the past few years, it is likely to be in the late forties.
Don’t expect any seismic changes. Material design, parallax scrolling, and jQuery remain relevant and valid options under the right circumstances. Trends don’t always look neat. They don’t begin in January and end in December.
5 Web Design Predictions For 2022
Predictions are often self-fulfilling. We have chosen five trends that we think are either positive or, at best, harmless. There are no guarantees. However, if they do, we will be well-positioned for 2023.
1. Blockchain is here
Blockchains are the backbone of cryptocurrency. They are a collection of data that can be added to but cannot be edited or deleted. It’s like version control for data.
The first wave of technology was a way to make a quick buck. The exciting aspect of blockchain technology and its transformative nature makes it unique. Medecins Sans Frontieres, for example, reportedly stores refugee medical records on the Blockchain.
The Internet can be considered a collection of data that can be edited for a small fee and accessed by anyone, anywhere. Instead of millions upon millions of websites, there is one secure, independent source of truth. Someone is working on it.
2. Positivity and Playfulness & A11y
Before the world descended into a constant stream of bad news, there was still time for boring, corporate sans-serif design.
We have added personality and gradients to our business, as well as humor. Contrary to what is expected, we still make money. Designers and developers have made extraordinary efforts over the years to champion accessibility. Thanks to these efforts, the inclusive design does not rely on the lowest common factor.
You can be experimental in 2022 without having to obstruct 10%+ of your users.
3. Everything Green
Green is a beautiful color. It is the primary that isn’t (except in RGB when it is).
Green is the same visual weight and flexibility as blue. Yet, digital design has radically underutilized it.
Green is a culturally significant color that has been associated with the environment. Marketing companies will undoubtedly promote a color change to green for tech companies in an effort to highlight their ethical credentials.
Already, earthy colors are gaining popularity. Neons are also popular. Both approaches can be used in green, with everything from calm sages and acidic neons.
If you are looking for a color that captures the moment in 2022, then look to green.
4. Hero Text
Although a picture should have 1000 words, I don’t think anyone has ever tried to measure it. Sites increasingly rely heavily on stock images, so the 1000 words we get may not accurately reflect our message.
A handful of carefully chosen words will have more value than an image in 2022. Large hero texts will take the place of hero images. Many minor trends are helping to make this happen, including the willingness of businesses not to use the traditional sans-serif font and to adopt a more expressive type of typography.
Most predictions posted on other sites seem to agree that large hero text should replace images. This almost guarantees that it will not happen. This seems to be the direction that we are heading at the beginning of 2022.
5. Make Noise
Unexpectedly, the last couple of years have seen a renewed relationship with nature. Nature’s infinite complexity is captivating.
We have already started to make gradients more popular — there aren’t flat colors in nature. Now, we can add noise.
Noise is the visual term for the grainy texture found in vector illustrations. The increase in file size has made noise a bit more prevalent over the years. Fortunately, noise can now be used on production sites thanks to the WebP and Aviv file formats.
When in doubt, make some noise about designing in 2022
