Web design in Carlisle – how it has changed over the years

Web design, over the last couple of decades, has changed at an astonishing rate. You only have to take a look at the official Space Jam website, which hasn’t been altered since 1996, to really put the pace of this change into perspective.

In today’s world, where we find ourselves firmly planted in the digital age, it is important for agencies, web designers, creatives and clients to keep up to date with the latest and most prominent developments in web design. To help with this, what follows is a quick look at how web design has changed over the years, and how that change has impacted on today’s digital society.

Mobile responsive

First and foremost, the move to mobile responsive websites is one of the most significant events to have impacted on web design over recent years. Nowadays, over 80% of us own a smartphone and it’s got to the point that the majority of first-time internet users, today, lose their internet-virginity via a mobile device! This means that, for web design, websites need to automatically adapt and rescale themselves so that they can be viewed just as easily on these smaller smartphone and tablet devices.

The significance put on the importance of mobile responsiveness for web designers is highlighted by it being a new permanent fixture in Google’s Algorithm (the process which Google follows to rank your website). In fact, those websites that are not mobile responsive are finding themselves being significantly penalised and pushed down the rankings.

The capacity of visuals

Another key element that has changed with web design over the years is the role, quantity and appeal of visuals. Where previously visuals, typography and design elements have been used to make a website ‘prettier,’ today they play a far more central role.

Today, a website’s visuals – images, videos, graphics, icons, colours, designs, layouts, etc. – play a vital role in guiding the user journey. While engaging and aesthetic images and videos draw users in, clever use of design and colours are used in modern web design to direct the users to convert and click. As opposed to simply serving as the finishing touches, visuals today are the signposts of web design that work together to secure higher rates of conversion and ROI.

Emphasis on organic content

Last, but certainly not least, over the last decade – or even the last five years – there has been a sharp and apparent move towards organic content. Not only the quantity of it but the quality of it. This has predominantly been premeditated by another shift in Google’s ever-dominating algorithms, but also by our need and want for quality information.

The average internet user’s attention span, over the last eight years, has plummeted from twelve seconds to a mere eight seconds. This means that we are no longer willing to read through reams and reams of copy online, instead, we want instant information digestion. We want to find what we are looking for and fast. This shift has encouraged web designers and copywriters to sharpen their game, by providing clear-cut content that is both simple to digest, appealing to read and above all easy to find!

So there you have it, a quick whistle-stop tour of the most significant changes that the past few decades have brought about for web design. The above list is by no means exhaustive and if you wish to discuss any of the above and how it may impact your web design in Carlisle, please get in touch.

Here at Mintcake Digital, we offer a range of services including web design in Carlisle and the surrounding areas. If you would like to discuss how we can help bring added value to your business, please contact us, or call today on 01539 900 020.