This Just In! – The Web Design World is Indeed Flat!

Everything comes full circle, even web design. You might not have seen it yet, but there’s a new trend out there, and its called is flat web design. It’s sweeping the industry, and the thing is it’s actually existed since Microsoft unveiled it in 2006.

So why is a design “flat”?

Flat design is seen as simple, bright solid colors, a lot of white space, plus the absence of drop shadows, gradients, and textures which have been a major element of a web designer’s arsenal for a while now. Often typography plays a leading role in flat web design. Flat web design is a “smooth” solution whose aim is to eliminate as many decorative elements of a “3D” type look as possible.

So why the change from 3D to flat design?

There are several reasons why this is happening, but possibly the most persuasive reason is that it’s an invention born out of necessity. The 2D environment that designers often have to work in, in this ever-more mobile world, necessitates economy of scale.
It’s become more and more difficult to cram all you may want onto a 4-inch screen, making a 3D simulation somewhat counterproductive and incompatible with a great user experience. Using a flat design pages load faster, are less bulky and are more responsive. In a very competitive world in which you have a few short seconds to win over and hook your visitors, every second counts.

Is this a fad or is flat design here to stay?

It might be simple to dismiss this as merely another fad in web design, and then leave it at that, Nevertheless, with the next Apple operating system iOS7 rumored to be seeking a more flat design, can the rest of the web be far behind? Although it might easily turn into a trend, its simpleness and user-friendly functionality might help it to stay around longer than most.