5 Web Design Myths to Avoid in 2018


Ever since childhood, myths have become such an inseparable part of our lives that it doesn’t matter what you do, there are always some myths associated with it. Our online world is no exception, and since the design of your website acts nothing less than the face of your online business, it is highly imperative to have a clear perception regarding these myths and frame your websites accordingly keeping in mind that they should not only be visually appealing but also easy-going on the customers.

During my long working experience in a website design company, I have come across many myths associated with web design over the past few years. In this article, together, we will explore five such myths which I still see influencing many decisions and how to avoid these in order to improve the quality of our web designs.

Myth 1. White Space is Wasted Space

White space or negative space which is extremely important but often overlooked and neglected is the space between graphics, columns, images, margins etc.

In general, it is the portion of a page that is left blank in order to make it appear more elegant or just to smooth things out. Its other benefits include-
  • White space simply attracts
  • It improves readability and comprehension
  • Gives emphasis and direction
  • It helps create balance
  • Gives an upscale aura to your brand

Myth 2. Minimalism is the Key to Simplicity

Minimalism (reduction in elements) is often confused with Simplicity (reduction in complexity) which is a key to great and innovative design. Though we cannot deny that minimalist design looks appealing, it is, however, not the best choice for every occasion.

For e.g. minimalism may not be the right choice while designing a website if what you’re looking for is driving attention to multiple elements.

So, if you are thinking about opting minimalism for your web design, do consider these following questions beforehand-
  • Are you leaving any key elements out in your pursuit of minimalist web design? If yes, then I strongly recommend not to.
  • Does your web page include all the relevant information? If so, you might consider minimalist approach without impacting its usability.

Myth 3. The homepage is the Most Important Element

For a long time, I myself have believed that homepage was the most important of all elements, way back when homepage used to serve as the main director, but not anymore. Things have changed dramatically since. Nowadays visitors often miss the homepage altogether by landing directly on the product page from the link provided.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are still people who head straight to the homepage or visitors who after navigating through your site for the desired content, go directly back to the homepage.

So, I am not suggesting here that homepage doesn’t matter at all, it sure does but having a consistent design throughout your website is rather more important than putting all the design focus on the homepage alone.

Myth 4. Mobile Users are Always Distracted

When it comes to mobile users, there are almost always certain misconceptions floating around regarding their short span of attention or even them suffering from MUADD or Mobile User Attention Deficit Disorder. The central logic behind this myth being, you should streamline mobile designs to keep things simple since you are targeting distracted crowd.

While that may be true up to some extent but so are the distractions caused while sitting in front of the TV, operating computers or driving cars. Distractions are everywhere these days no matter what you do, and you should simply accept it as a way of life. Here’s what you can do as a web designer-
  • Stripping down your website for mobile users is a big no-no since the myth regarding distracted mobile users isn’t wholly true.
  • Optimize your web design keeping mobile users in mind.
  • Holding back on your web designs isn’t necessary anymore as more and more devices these days provide browsing experience equal to that of smartphones or computers.

Myth 5. Apply 3-Clicks Rule for Maximum Conversions

Another myth circulating about the web design is the unofficial three clicks rule which states that the visitors will leave your site unless they find the desired information using no more than three mouse clicks.

Though contrary to the popular belief, it is found that people do not leave the site after three or more clicks. In fact, getting to relevant information within few clicks is not only impossible to apply to all sites but also misleading as a general web rule.

Though web designers are often directed to follow the three clicks rule, following the criteria listed below will help make sure the usability of the site is not compromised.
  • Provide accurate and relevant results by optimizing site-search tools.
  • Use well-labeled links to inform users exactly where they are.
  • Create a task path to let users know they are getting close to the information.

Wrapping Up:

Above are mentioned five of the most common myths (trust me, there are several others out there) that I have seen many web designers or companies such as web design Los Angeles or elsewhere cling to esp. the beginners.

But what’s important is to understand here is that myths are just baseless assumptions, that’s why they are called myths. 

Original Source: https://www.clapcreative.com/5-web-design-myths-to-avoid-in-2018/

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