1. Increased Web Accessibility
On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice published a set of guidelines on website accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act, an antidiscrimination law passed in 1990. According to the updated guidelines, commercial websites fall under Title III of the ADA. Title III applies to businesses that are "open to the public," such as banks, retail shops, hospitals, restaurants, and performing arts venues. It also applies to e-commerce businesses and other "online-only" ventures.
Although the DOJ guidelines don't include hard-and-fast rules businesses must follow, they do offer some guidance on eliminating barriers to accessibility. As a result, one of the biggest web design trends of 2023 is the demand for accessible designs. For example, websites with embedded videos should offer captions to help users with visual impairments understand the content. Accessible websites also make it easy for users to perceive information and navigate their user interfaces.
2. Nostalgia
If you have fond memories of the '80s and '90s, you're not alone. Nostalgia is taking the design world by storm, influencing everything from product design to website graphics. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials issued stay-at-home orders that prevented people from visiting family members, hanging out with friends, or grabbing after-work drinks with colleagues. To cope with lockdown-related loneliness, many people started reminiscing about happier times, jump-starting the nostalgia trend. And brands have started to catch on.
By leveraging nostalgia, brands can create an instant connection with customers that is both powerful and meaningful.
By evoking a feeling of nostalgia for past times, brands are able to highlight their values in a subtle way that resonates deeply with customers. A common technique in web design is to incorporate classic color schemes, fonts, and imagery that remind customers of themes that have stood the test of time.