1. Moving Beyond Minimalism
For years, minimalism ruled the web design world with its success and simplicity. Yet, design is a reflection of the times, and the once-refreshing minimalist look now appears bland and uninspiring. Although there have been attempts to break from this norm before, the recent pandemic has primed 2021 to be the year we leave minimalism behind—at least temporarily. Pre-pandemic trends hinted at a shift towards brighter, more ornate designs. We’ve seen a resurgence in intricate typefaces and even 3D effects mimicking ink traps gaining popularity. [pullquote]Just as with fashion, design trends are recurring, and in time, the wheel always spins forward[/pullquote] There’s a particular excitement around the evolution away from flat color schemes to gradients, and now even to animated gradients. Notably, tech giant Apple abandoned its hallmark minimalist branding for colorful gradients with its Big Sur release. New web technologies, particularly advancements in CSS like CSS Grid, empower us to design in ways that break free from traditional boxy layouts. Looking to the past for inspiration, such as the 1918 influenza pandemic’s after-effects leading to the vivacious Roaring Twenties, we anticipate a similar renaissance in design following this modern pandemic. While we’ve seen a cyclical trend away from minimalism—the wheel always turns—it’s the anticipation of life post-lockdown that fuels a significant shift.
2. The Waning of WordPress
Something quite unexpected occurred in the fall of 2020: when the W3C made an announcement about its upcoming online platform, WordPress was not among the top contenders, ousted by rivals like Craft CMS, mainly due to accessibility issues. This decision caused both jubilation and consternation in the community. But what does this imply for WordPress’s future? The evidence points to a downturn. WordPress now contends with basic web builders for small-scale projects, newer, more powerful CMS rivals like Craft, and alternative approaches such as Jamstack. However, WordPress isn’t going anywhere soon. A vast number of professionals have built careers on WordPress, there’s an entire ecosystem of themes and plugins, plus countless websites rely on it [WebDesignerDepot is one such example]. With around 37% of the internet running on WordPress, it’ll remain prevalent in 2022. Yet, it’s not expected to expand its hold, and by 2030 its influence will likely diminish. [pullquote]The peak of WordPress may have been reached in 2020[/pullquote] Despite its issues—and there are many—WordPress has helped revolutionize the web, empowering individuals, launching careers, and fostering entrepreneurial spirit. The peak of WordPress may have been in 2020, but it doesn’t mean its end. Even Flash, which was swiftly overshadowed by the advent of the iPhone, survived for years. WordPress will have to adapt and possibly settle for a smaller portion of the web, addressing one of the chief complaints: its overly ambitious scope.
3. The Surge in Digital Currency
Without a doubt, 2021 is shaping up as the year cryptocurrency becomes a staple. Bitcoin’s value soared by nearly 400% in 2020, and conservative estimates for December 2021 suggest it could hit $100k, with some predicting as much as $1 million within five years. And Bitcoin is not alone; Ether, popular among developers, also experienced a surge in value early in 2021. With the anticipated Biden administration’s relief package, it’s expected that younger Americans might invest more in cryptocurrencies. Moreover, significant banks are already investing heavily in digital currencies, and payment services like PayPal and Visa are integrating blockchain technology. The main hurdle for cryptocurrency is its volatility. For ecommerce to fully embrace it, we might see real-time crypto pricing against the dollar or a turn towards stablecoins like Tether, pegged to the US dollar.
4. Duality of Video Conferencing
If 2020 had a software mascot, it would be Zoom, which remarkably surpassed Skype. This past year established two key insights: firstly, in-person meetings foster more creativity; secondly, cost savings are significant when employees work remotely. The consequence is a shift in business culture that favors continued remote work, coupled with periodic in-person strategic meetings. We can expect larger cities to grapple with vacant office spaces, while coworking spaces, particularly those with meeting areas, may boom—if WeWork withstands current challenges, it could see a resurgence. Web professionals are in an advantageous position to capitalize on these shifts, especially freelancers. Whether working on-site or remotely, health, both physical and mental, should remain a priority.
What Do You Think?
No one anticipated the twists and turns of 2020. Sometimes events beyond our control take hold, and we must carry on with hopes of improvement. The road has been rough, and challenges remain, but the technology at our disposal has helped us counter a global pandemic for the first time in history. The year 2021 holds promise for considerable change. Will new design aesthetics emerge? Are we on the brink of adapting our technological stack? Might you find yourself billing clients in Ether soon? Will we ever return to the dreaded rush hour? Featured image via Unsplash
