When Less is More - Why Minimalism STILL Rules the Web

Core points

• Simple web design continues to dominate due to its focus on clarity, functionality and user experience, proving that in effective web design, less is more.
• Simple web design methods can help companies improve information, highlight their unique sales propositions (USPs), and improve conversion rates. In addition, simple designs make it easier to achieve responsive design of mobile devices, thereby providing a better user experience.
• In addition to being beautiful, simple web design also has practical advantages, such as less resources required, which reduces server space usage and faster page loading, as well as reduces maintenance workload. However, it must be remembered that while minimalist design may be beneficial, it may not be suitable for all businesses or scenarios.

Design trends are rising and falling, but some trends are eternal. Minimalism is one of them.

The technology behind HTML5, CSS3, and all other websites has developed significantly over the past decade, making web pages more complex than ever before in history.

However, I think the minimalist design is still excellent.

"...Your scientists are only concerned about whether they can do it, but they do not stop to think about whether they should do it." — Dr. Ian Malcolm—Jurassic Park (1993)

In the early days of the first "Jurassic Park" movie, Jeff Goblenren played The vague hippie scientist used the above lines to question the creator of the park. Again, in web design, just because the technology allows you to add fancy decor and all the features to your website doesn’t mean you should. In fact, when you go all out to adopt the latest technology and add all possible elements to your homepage, the following happens:

Yes, this is true—Possible's home page contains sliders, animations, and parallax scrolling. Go and have a look. Maybe you will find your favorite elements there too.

It is difficult to find the core theme. On the other hand, it is still much better than being torn apart by a velociraptor. So that's it.

Apart from bad design, here are some specific reasons why minimalist websites are actually good for the business.

Business and Marketing Reasons

1. It forces you to perfect your information.

What is the purpose of your website? What are you trying to convey to your users? Focus on this. Don't let it drown in the clutter on your website.

With the simple design, you have no space to play at will. Every element on the page is thoughtful. Each element has its purpose. You cannot be vague about your information. You can't write thousands of words and hope that the audience can understand the information. You cannot use universal stock photos and graphic fillers. You are forced to consciously choose only the content that is absolutely necessary and reinforces your message.

2. Better communicate your USP

You have a chance to make your USP (unique sales proposition) stand out and shine because of the reduced clutter on the page. Check out HelpScout. Their homepage design is very simple and elegant. Above the visible area of ​​the page, there are only about 10 words in total (except the menu), and a clean background image that cleverly shows people working hard – perhaps the support team that will manage your desk.

See some other excellent examples about good and bad USP here. Pay attention to commonalities in the "good" USP example? Most of them are simple and simple designs.

3. Reduced mess = Increased conversion rate

Yes, this should be obvious. But that's not the case. Just check out this screenshot from Threadless website a few weeks ago. Can you find the subscription button?

Or better yet, look at the comparison between Yahoo and Google. Can you guess which user's search button is easier to find and use?

or...

Simple minimalist design helps highlight your call to action in a clear and clear way.

4. Responsive design is easier to implement

Mobile devices highlight the “less is more” experience more than any other device. Those who first do mobile-first design understand the limitations of small screens and are used to some degree of minimalist design. On a 3-inch screen, you can’t stand the mess at all.

But it also works in the other way around. It’s much easier to make responsive designs for minimalist websites, or even port them to mobile devices. Just because the layout is simpler, there are fewer elements, and the overall content is less and more meaningful.

User Experience

5. Space. Leave blank space. Breathing space.

I don't know if I'm the only one, but the blank space brings a sense of peace. It's like it's okay. I don't have to worry. Effective use of blank space-leaving sites conveys this sense of calmness and authority. They know what they are doing. They know what matters. They won't bury you with a lot of stuff. You have room to be yourself. The ZenHabits blog captures this perfectly, and exudes Zen.

6. Navigation is easier

The minimalist agenda to reduce clutter also applies to navigation menus. Like everything else, the menu is forced to contain only absolutely necessary elements. Similarly, HelpScout did it right. Their top menu has only four elements. They highlight the important content that visitors want to know most—products, pricing, blogs.

Everything else, such as about pages, legal information and help documents, is hidden under "More". It won't mess up the top title space. There are no levels 3 and 4 deep menus. This just makes it easier for users to find the right page.

7. Elegant, exquisite

Somehow, the simple website exudes elegance and sophistication. You are confident enough. The company is full of confidence in itself. You are not afraid to stick to what you believe. Review ZenHabits. Or take a look at TruthLabs.

Unexpected side effects

8. Less resources. There is less server space. Faster download speed

A side effect of a minimalist website that may not be expected is that it requires less resources. This means less storage space is required on the server. This means that the server will not be overloaded by large videos, Flash or other gorgeous content. There is no slowdown due to a hundred plugins, and the overall page loads faster.

47% of consumers expect the page to load in 2 seconds or less.

Kissmetrics has a good infographic showing the impact of page loading time on business revenue. Even Google punishes slow-loading sites.

9. Less maintenance workload

Simple design not only reduces resources that need to be saved and downloaded, but also reduces resources that need to be maintained. Just updating all plugins, libraries, and frameworks for making websites can be a nightmare. Then you have to make sure that all updates do not cause any compatibility issues.

For minimalist designs, you may have skipped the gorgeous decor. You don't have that many plugins, etc., need to be updated.

Conclusion

Some of the opinions I wrote are good design principles anyway, but are usually skipped for convenience or time/price pressure. Simple design forces you to make conscious design decisions. It makes you question every element, every resource on the page—many of which we usually take for granted. Each resource must win its own position. Every element that is not absolutely necessary for is deleted.

Please note that a simple design may not be suitable for all scenarios and businesses. You need to decide how basic or minimalist you want to achieve in a particular design.

Also, remember that just because we can do fancy designs doesn't mean we should. Just because new features, elements, and queries are added in CSS doesn't mean we need to use all of these features.

At the end of the day, it is important not to lose focus on the real purpose of design. Minimalism ensures that you focus on your customers and on your information.

Staying simple can lead to a huge ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions about Simple Website Design

What are the key elements of simple website design?

Simple website design is characterized by simplicity and functionality. Key elements include a limited color palette, often with a lot of white or neutral space. The layout is simple and clear, and the layout is neat, focusing on the content rather than the decorative elements. Images are used with caution and purpose, usually in black and white or pastel shades. Navigation is intuitive and easy to use, focusing on user experience.

Why is simple design very popular in website design?

Simple design is popular because it focuses on content, making it easier for users to find what they want. It also loads faster and is more mobile-friendly, which is becoming more and more important as more people use their phones to browse the web. In addition, the simple design has a modern and professional appearance that is attractive to many businesses.

How to make my website simpler?

To make your website simpler, first remove all unnecessary elements. This includes decorative images, excessive text and complex navigation menus. Stick to simple color palettes and concise typography. Make sure your content is concise and easy to read. Finally, make sure your website is easy to navigate and has a clear call to action.

Will simple design affect SEO?

Yes, minimalist design can positively influence SEO. By reducing clutter and focusing on content, you can increase the loading speed of your website, which is a factor in search engine rankings. In addition, a simple and easy-to-navigate website can increase user engagement, which can also improve SEO.

What are some examples of successful minimalist websites?

Some examples of successful minimalist websites include Apple, Google, and Airbnb. These sites use simple color palettes, simple typography and plenty of white space to create a user-friendly experience.

Is the simple design suitable for all types of websites?

While a minimalist design can work well with many types of websites, it may not work with all websites. A website that requires a lot of information or functionality may not be suitable for minimalist design. But even complex websites can benefit from incorporating simplicity principles such as simplicity and functionality.

How to balance simplicity and functionality in website design?

Balanced simplicity and functionality involves focusing on user experience. Every element on your website should have its purpose. Use blank space to highlight important content and ensure your navigation is intuitive. While you want your design to be simple, you also need to make sure that users can easily find what they want.

Can a simple website still have visual appeal?

Absolutely. In fact, a key principle of minimalist design is that form follows function. This means that a well-designed minimalist website can be very visually appealing. Use blank space, limited color palettes and simple typography to create a sophisticated, modern look.

How does a minimalist design help create a mobile-friendly website?

Simple design helps create mobile-friendly websites by reducing clutter and increasing loading speeds. Simple and clean design makes it easier to navigate on a small screen, and faster loading speeds can improve user experience and SEO.

What are some common mistakes that need to be paid attention to in designing a simple website?

Some common mistakes that need to be avoided in minimalist website design include: oversimplification to the point of deleting necessary functions; using too low contrast ratio, which will make the website difficult to read; not using enough blank space, which will make the website even if it is adopted The simple design also looks messy.

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