28 Mar Understanding the Evolution of Website Design and User Experience
Back then, websites looked the same, with only a few choices in the font. Now, we have billions of websites containing more complex codes. These websites have eye-catching visuals and professional layouts.
The divide between websites from three decades ago and the present is astounding. Can you imagine how we got here?
The evolution of website design and user experience didn’t happen without a hitch. Read on to learn what websites had to go through to get where we are today.
Text-Based and Column Design
The first websites were entirely text-based, with some scattered links. They had a single-column design using the initial versions of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).
Subsequent versions introduced images and tables. These additions allowed for more structure in the design.
Table-based designs then became popular and grew more complex over time. They enabled web designers to create multi-column layouts with background images.
Dynamic Websites
With the invention of JavaScript in 1995, websites became more dynamic. Soon after, Adobe Flash gave designers the option to add video, audio, and animation.
All designers started experimenting with various designs. This move attracted casual internet users, as well. For a time, websites focused on aesthetics over user accessibility.
Due to bulky scripts and little attention to semantics, websites were challenging to navigate. It wasn’t until later that the evolution of user experience (UX) began.
Responsive Web Design
Responsive web design keeps users in mind. With the introduction of mobile phones, designers began to think of a way to make their sites accessible via any device.
The immediate solution was to create another version that would fit smaller screens. These mobile versions had a more simplistic nature with a different layout. In the initial stages, they resembled the first websites.
By the early 2010s, however, web designers had started exploring a responsive layout.
Google was one of the driving forces behind UX’s popularity. As technology progressed, achieving both UX and a great design became the standard.
Interactive Websites and Chatbots
Interactive website designs use standard GUI for interacting with visitors. For example, weather forecast websites allow users to type in their location.
Web developers use various software for interactive websites, depending on their purposes. For example, it could have chatbots to imitate conversations with real people. Most businesses nowadays make their website more interactive using this feature.
Lead-Driven Web Design
When businesses first entered the online realm, they began strategizing customer influx by utilizing web design and user experience.
Web design in 2022 has strategic navigation, image placements, and prioritizes overall design. Every business website’s goal is to convert visitors into customers.
Since there are plenty of websites now, they risk losing a potential customer because of bad design.
Learn More About Website Design and User Experience
Web design evolved as the goals of websites changed. Today, it focuses on user experience to increase sales and conversion rates. This trend will continue for a long time, so expect current web design practices to persist.
What does the future look like for website design and user experience? Contact us today to discuss how you can stay ahead of competitors.
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