What You Need to Know About Storytelling
What is it? – Storytelling-focused design uses visual presentation and content to draw users into the website. The whole point is to provide a story-oriented setting and use progression to engage users deeper throughout the browsing experience. A good example of story-oriented content is infographics. It uses graphics along with content to draw people in and provide a structure for them to consume the content.
How it’s being used – Companies like Yahoo! Personals have used stories to sell prospects on their dating subscription. Other companies have used it to explain concepts, products and services which would otherwise be too complex or tedious for users to consume. Some companies are using stories to connect people to their brand message.
Results – Designing via stories is one of the hottest web design trends for a reason. It doesn’t hard sell consumers on a product or service. Stories are used to inform, entertain and educate people, which can often translate to higher sales numbers and engagement than traditional direct selling strategies.
What You Need to Know About Brand-Oriented Design
What is it? – Gone are the days of stale corporate websites with no personality. Brands are now incorporating their identity into the foundation of their websites. Not only are these websites more visually appealing, but they are also engaging, interesting, valuable and impactful.
How it’s being used – Companies are now integrating the visual elements and core message of their brand into the design itself. It’s not just about leading with the brand logo and expecting people to be impressed anymore. The web design encompasses the brand and does it in a way that users can understand and relate to it.
Results – This design approach is helping consumers identify more with the brand. It’s increasing user engagement and helping brands differentiate themselves from their competitors. It’s also leading to more social shares, referrals, and press.
There are other design trends that you should be aware of, such as minimalist design, “hero board” design, big visual backgrounds, and multimedia-centered presentations. While the old approaches still work, companies that are willing to experiment will reap huge rewards in today’s digital arena. People are becoming receptive to these new design approaches because they are being engaged in unique ways. So the question you need to ask yourself is, “What design approach should my company try?”