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Anticipating Post Pandemic Web Design Trends

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Is a design revolution on the way? History says yes.

A new decade tends to usher in new design trends, but 2020 is turning out to be much more than just a new decade. As we look forward to finally breathing a sigh of relief, once Covid-19 heads for the history books, now is the time to prepare for what’s next. 
 
Seismic shifts and societal aftershocks stemming from the global pandemic stand to reframe how we view and interact with the world, and that includes websites. Design is inextricably linked to world events and there is no doubt that the economic, emotional, and political impact of Covid-19 has rocked “business-as-usual” to the very core.
 
During stay-at-home lockdowns, websites were catapulted into the primary means of connection. Chances are, the strengthened online attachments made over the past few months aren’t going away. Moving forward, “normal” will look a lot different than how we remember it. 
 
What does this mean for your website? How can you ensure that your site aligns with emerging expectations, current concerns, and new preferences for staying connected and conducting business?

Looking Back to Look Forward

For perspective on the design approach that will resonate with your audience, let’s take a quick look back to the design revolutions that followed major global upheavals from past decades -- starting with the last time that world was gripped by a pandemic that rivaled Covid-19. Of course, web experiences were not a factor for much of the previous century, but many of the same principles apply. Whether we are talking about color choice, fonts, building facades, or refrigerators, design has a powerful impact, even when -- often especially when -- it registers on a subtle or unconscious level. 

From Pandemic to Prosperity

Immediately following the devastation of World War I, which killed 40 million people worldwide and more than 5 million Americans, one-third of the world’s population became infected with the Spanish Flu. More than 20 million people died as a result, including 675,000 Americans. 


It’s hard to imagine a series of events that sparked a more desperate need for optimism and a determination to reshape a vision for the future that was driven by positive energy. 
 
Enter the Roaring Twenties: Modernist designs, marked by innovation and experimentation vs. realism and the rules of the past were the primary influences during this era. It was a time of fun, flashy and opulent design with gold as a dominant color and art deco as the signature style. 

an representative Roaring 20s illustration of a woman1920s design depicted opulence, sophistication, art deco designs and women stepping out of traditional roles.

 

Then: The Crash

The Great Depression of the 1930s marked a sudden and sweeping turn in economic realities. It sparked another design revolution that reflected efforts to lift up a population who was dealing with tremendous loss and uncertainty. Bright colors and positive messaging were intended to spark optimism and hope.
 
Streamline moderne emerged as a new architectural style that emphasized industrial materials such as concrete and glass, along with smooth curves. A lack of ornamentation and sharp angles aligned with the economic austerity of the times, while unexpected colors injected bright spots into the dreary realities of the day. 

The Blytheville Ark Bus station built in 1937The former Blytheville, Ark., Greyhound Station. Built in 1937 and listed in t he National Register of Historic Places. Public domain Photo by Nyttead, Wikimedia Commons.

A signature Depression-era design achievement was the Sears, Roebuck & Company’s decision to hire industrial designer Raymond Loewy to redesign its Coldspot refrigerator in 1934, in an effort to create excitement about the appliance and encourage consumers to shop. Touted as a “single, smooth, gleaming unit of functional simplicity,” the redesigned Coldspot sparked a fivefold increase in sales for Sears between 1934 and 1936, due to both the redesigned appliance and the effective advertising campaign.


Impact on a far greater scale accompanied the graphic design campaigns created to spark excitement about the National Recovery Administration (NRA). Posters with the Blue Eagle were splashed in major cities all over the United States, and Blue Eagle became a widely recognized symbol of the government’s commitment to helping with jobs that would offer much needed food, shelter, and economic security.

NRA Blue Eagle PosterDepression-era poster widely displayed by retailers to show support for the National Recovery Act.

Onward and Upward

During World War II, iconic propaganda posters fueled the war effort with messages that urged specific actions, while conveying unity, strength and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. 
 
As the war ended, the United States was quickly catapulted into the “atomic age,” which encompassed the years of 1945 through 1963. Atomic Age design trends reflected a determination to redirect the world away from one of history’s darkest chapters, while harnessing the war’s massive destructive capabilities for scientific achievements that would have a positive impact on humanity. Abstract designs, bright colors (turquoise was huge) and graphic elements inspired by science and space emerged as dominant design devices that represented a bright future of boundless possibilities.
 
The “boomerang” emerged as a signature motif of the 1950s, as well as designs that suggested galaxies, planets, stars and space travel. 

1950s boomerang pattern1950s "Atomic Age" designs references galaxies, space and the iconic boomerang motif.


 

Radical and Rebellious

Post-war optimism took a nosedive in the late 1960s and 1970s, as the Civil Rights movement, along with opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam, fueled widespread unrest and antagonism toward authority. 

Psychedelic designs that featured bright and unexpected colors, kaleidoscopic patterns, and groovy typography reflected an emerging youth culture noted for rebellion and a determination to be seen and heard. 

A 1960s era graphic design"Psychedelic Dingbats," by Hendrike. Wikipedia Commons.

 

The Next Big Downturn

Throughout the 20th century, graphic design served as an essential tool for shifting societal gears following crises and setbacks. As we entered the age of digital communications, rapid change and heightened competition called for far more rapid response to evolving user needs and expectations. 
 
Let’s fast forward to 2008 and the Great Recession that followed the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the near collapse of global financial markets. At this point, the web had long since entered into the mainstream as a critical component of consumers’ connection to the world. The rise of “Web 2.0” was allowing for widespread sharing, interaction, and connection via social media and commenting capabilities.
 
As the Great Recession sparked distrust in mega-corporations and complicated, behind-the-scenes financial dealings, it fueled the rise of simple, web capabilities that offered transparency, no-nonsense, and value. Digital natives for whom online interactions were second nature, drove the growth of direct-to-consumer brands such as Warby Parker. Casper®, and Blue Apron. 

Successful web designs trended toward unintimidating colors, most notably “millennial pink,” along with minimalism and simple, clean graphics. The elegant simplicity of Apple’s design sensibility is emblematic of this era. 
 

What Now? Post Covid-19 Design

At Promet Source, we are in no way suggesting that Covid-19 is behind us, but as we proceed with hope and caution toward that point, we are devoting a depth and breath of empathy and insight into the types of redesigned web experiences that will effectively resonate with audiences. 
 
While the pandemic had and is having a distinctly different impact on every household and every individual, it’s fair to assume that varying degrees of post-traumatic stress will accompany adjustment to the new normal.  
 
It seems no surprise that the Pantone 2020 color of the year appears closely aligned with the reassurance that post-pandemic audiences will be seeking. Classic blue is described on the Pantone website as, “a reassuring presence, instilling calm, confidence, and connection. This enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

Pantone Color of the year 2020. Classic blueClassic Blue: Pantone 2020 Color of the Year

Calm and confidence is certainly not limited to a single color, but the concept is essential. Successful web experiences will not be looking to further rock anyone’s world. 
 
Confined to their homes, audiences have spent more time on the web than ever before. Chances are, they’ve experienced sites that offered excellent, streamlined navigation, sites that were frustrating to find what they needed, and everything in between. Moving forward, the bar is high, and like never before, audiences will appreciate impeccably designed web experiences. 

As people are confined to their homes and finding online experiences to be their primary connection to the outside world, websites are being called upon to do more heavy lifting than ever before.

Historically, economic downturns, and large-scale disasters of every kind have presented an opportunity for renewal and reinvention. This renewal is reflected in the design of the world around us, from fashion to websites. Our expectation for the post-pandemic era is design trends that evolve towards brighter colors, whimsical styles, and simplicity. For your website, this might mean a fresh, new color palette, bolder fonts with smoother edges, brighter images, and a renewed organization of previously complex menus and data.

At Promet Source, we’re committed and uniquely qualified to work closely with clients to ensure that their websites exceed the expectations of their audiences. Looking to start a conversation on aligning your site with new and emerging realities? Contact us today.
 
 

 

 

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