When you’re working on a web design, you want it to stand out from the crowd. So many sites take the same approach and end up looking like cookie cutter copies with similar themes, layouts and elements. Of course, you don’t want to go totally off the rails and have the entire website look unprofessional either. The best way to stand out and still have a great, elegant design is to use the basics and give it a twist of something just a little different.

Incorporate a Touch of Trendiness

Current web trends are often popular for a reason. Animation, for example, helps catch customers’ eyes and draw their attention to different elements on the page. The broken grid layout is being used to change up traditional lines and let elements share space together. These can both make good additions to your web design.

The trick is not to completely swamp your website in the trends. Pick one or two things that are popular and figure out ways to incorporate them seamlessly. Remember that the content on the page is what is supposed to stand out – not the design. If you can integrate trends into your design without them looking loud or out of place, definitely do it. Your site will look cutting edge and like you have your finger on the pulse of the web design community.

Personalize It

Another way to make a design pop is to have areas where it can be personalized with things like fonts, logos, and other client-specific additions. It will help anyone who uses your website to make it their own. If you’re designing a site for a specific client, it’s even more important to make sure to use their colors, logos, fonts, and other types of design that will bring the site in line with things they already have.

Talk to your client about what you might add to help make the site perfect for them. If they aren’t sure, come up with a list of questions to ask to help spark some ideas. Ask them what kind of illustrations or pictures they prefer. Talk about colors, fonts, and layouts. The more information you have, the better.

Don’t Go Overboard

Sometimes you might get the urge to overdesign – to make sure every inch of space is full, that there are a ton of images, colors, videos, and text on each page. The truth is, though, most of the time simple is better. People can only absorb so much information at a time and you make it simpler for them when the most important elements are laid out on the page and separate from other things. There’s nothing wrong with having white space. In fact, you probably want some space that isn’t completely filled so that it doesn’t look cluttered.

When you’re choosing a layout for your site, consider how busy the page is going to look. Decide what the most important element on the page is and make sure it stands out from the rest. Don’t choose discordant colors and images because that’s going to make the final product look too busy. Remember: sometimes less is more because it lets what’s there stand out.

Try Plugins

Another way to make your design pop is to add plugins that are useful and add something to entertain the people who use the website. Plugins that let you add a free quiz maker or social media sidebars, for example, can assist you in creating a website that’s both fun to use a little different from the competition.

If you decide to use customizable plugins, make sure you leave room in your design space for them and that you have something there if a client chooses not to use a plugin. For example, some people may want a Twitter sidebar while others may prefer blank space. Just make sure that there’s something for everyone. That helps make it more customizable too.

Add a Touch of Animation

Animation is popular for a reason. The human eye is drawn to movement and it can help keep visitors to your website on your page. You can use animation to teach people how to use your site or to draw the eye to the most important elements of a page. For example, a floating arrow that shows a person where to click might make it easier for a person to navigate to the right place.

The thing about animation is that too much detracts from the desired effect. If there are five things moving on a page, a person isn’t going to necessarily know which is the most important. Keep your animation simple and always make sure it works with the rest of the page. It should add to the effect you’re trying to create rather than stealing the thunder from the rest of your design.

There are lots of things you can add to your web design to make ti stand out from other similar sites on the web. Having a personal touch in everything you make will not only make your clients more satisfied, but it will make it more likely that you’ll get other clients from your work. Simple, elegant, and effective web design isn’t easy — but there are ways to make your designs pop without having something that looks extremely busy and cluttered. As with any design process, make sure to play around with it and see which elements work for you and which don’t

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