Minimalist website design has grown in popularity over recent years. The idea behind the trend is to strip away the unnecessary elements from a design and create something more simple and pleasing to the eye. You’re left with a website that is clean, simple, and uncluttered, with an emphasis placed on white space.
While there are many advantages to this type of approach, it’s not the appropriate approach for every case.
The Pros of Minimalist Website Design
Improved User Experience
With a minimalist approach, your website becomes more intuitive and easier for users to navigate. Users are less likely to become frustrated or overwhelmed while trying to find what they came for. This positive user experience can lead to increased engagement and higher conversion rates.
Your Website Loads Faster
Users are accustomed to instantly calling up the information they are looking for. Minimalist website design results in faster load times since they have fewer images and designs and less code to contend with. A faster load time is also a ranking factor for Google, which can lead to more visibility.
The Emphasis is On Your Content
With a minimalist approach, a greater focus is placed on your website's content. The user is less likely to become distracted by complex elements within the design. They’re more likely to read more content and take action. This can be an important factor for content-heavy websites.
Mobile Friendliness
Because of the simplistic approach to minimalist website design, it often lends itself to being mobile-friendly. Minimalist design can more easily adapt to different screen sizes or resolutions. For this reason, it can provide an advantage for a website that receives large amounts of mobile traffic.
The Cons of Minimalist Website Design
Potential Lack of Visual Appeal
Bright colors and complex graphics can still carry with them a good amount of visual appeal. When a website discards these design elements in favor of a simplistic approach, it risks appearing uninteresting.
It’s Harder to Differentiate
A minimalistic design can make standing out from the competition more difficult. Many websites with this approach have similar characteristics, so creating something memorable is challenging. The design elements you’re electing to give up with a minimalistic approach might be what’s helping you differentiate.
Design Mistakes are Noticeable
With a minimalistic website design, there’s little room for error. Mistakes or flaws in the design become more noticeable with fewer design elements on the page. In the most drastic cases, a minimalistic approach can make a poorly designed website appear unprofessional or incomplete. This is primarily a risk for inexperienced designers who aren’t used to this approach.
It’s Not for Everyone
Some businesses or industries require a more visually stimulating approach than a minimalist website design will provide. Some may have more information, with more content and images to display, than can be done with a minimalistic approach.
Is a Minimalist Website Design Right For Your Business?
While minimalist design offers some significant advantages, it’s not for every business or every situation. If you’re looking for a new website for your business, our team of experienced web designers can help you establish what’s right for you. Call us at (630) 553-0000 today to get started!
