The biggest web design trends of 2021

In the rapidly changing environment of 2021, it’s never been more crucial for businesses to build an online presence. But with so many brands jumping on the digital bandwagon, how can you set your website apart from the rest? Web design is a fast-moving industry and it’s not always easy to keep up with ever-changing trends. Is your website looking a little stuck in the past? Bring it back to life with this year’s hottest web design trends! Or if you need to build a website from scratch, why not hire a web design expert to bring your vision to life? 

Dark mode

It’s safe to say there’s been a lot of buzz around dark mode. Whether it’s on your mobile, laptop, or twitter account, you’ve probably seen dark mode somewhere this year. As a concept, it couldn’t be simpler – an option that lets you change the background colour of your application to black. But don’t let its simplicity fool you – its sleek appearance and modern feel has meant that dark mode has dominated everyone’s screens this year. There’s more to it than visual appeal, too. Dark mode helps to protect your eyes from the glare of computer and telephone screens. Trendy and comfortable – we’ll take that. More web design trends 

Bold Lettering

When it comes to lettering this year, think big, bold, and beautiful. It’s a crowded online marketplace, which makes it difficult for customers to remember your website. One of the easiest ways to be memorable is by simple, oversized lettering. It helps hone in on your core message, drowning out other unnecessary clutter. And guess what – remembering your website makes customers more likely to return to it. A winner all round! If you want to take it up a notch, why not replace images with lettering? Letting the text do the talking is a compelling way to get your message across. 

Lots of whitespace

If you’re wondering what whitespace is, the clue is in the name. It’s the gap between content on a website – so anything filling the space between images, graphics and text. Whitespace might seem simple, but it’s a powerful web design tool. It creates a fresh and tidy looking interface, draws attention to call-to-actions, and highlights the key message of your website. 

Colour blocking 

Solid colour blocking is a classic style that’s made a come-back. Put simply, it uses bright, vibrant colours to separate the page of a website. So if you’ve got lots of messages you wish to convey on one screen, this is a visually appealing and simple way to display it. 

Split-screen layout

Divide and conquer – that’s the idea behind the split-screen layout. It lets your website display multiple bits of information on a single page, meaning that everything is tidied and organised in one place. The result? It’s slick, clear and simple to navigate for users. 

Minimalism

Have you noticed that tech gadgets are getting smaller? With Apple watches and the like soaring in popularity, web designs have had to change to fit the mould of these much smaller interfaces. That’s where minimalist design comes in. It reduces design elements down to the basics to accommodate tiny screens. A minimalist design will typically have very little information on display, making use of the full-width of the screen. For a striking minimalist design, opt for vibrant colours, bold typography and plenty of whitespace. 

VUI 

Voice User Interface is a handy tool that lets users interact with a website using voice commands. It’s a dream for user experience due to the simplicity of browsing that it offers website users. Think of it as an Alexa device for your website. 

Whichever web design style you choose, always make sure that it represents your brand identity and the key message you want to get across. After all, your website is one of the first things a customer reacts with, and first impressions count.

We’re 6th in the Tech Track 100 awards!

We’re starting the week off with some good news!  

Thanks to your continued support, we’re thrilled to announce that with your help, we’ve ranked 6th in the Tech Track 100 awards.

The annual Tech Track 100 is a prestigious league table, ranking 100 of the fastest-growing tech companies, and we’re so happy to make our debut in the top 10. We’re in great company too, appearing alongside some of the most disruptive and innovative leaders in the tech sector. You can check out the full list of all featured companies here 

To top it off, we’ve also been named in the Startups 100 awards, the renowned annual league table of new businesses to watch in 2020.

We truly appreciate having you as a partner and we’re looking forward to helping you grow your business even further in the future. 

Thanks again,

Team Bark

 

 

 

The Top 5 Photo Apps to Download Now!

Set the scene – It’s the 90s. You’re just back from your 2-week holiday in Spain, booked through your trusty high-street travel agent. Spain was beautiful – the sun was splitting the rocks, the food was to die for and the drinks were flowing. Thank god you bought a trusty disposable camera to capture the memories! When you arrive home you will develop your pictures, put them into an album and share them with your friends and family over a cup of tea…

A must have for a 90s Summer holiday
A must have for a 90s Summer holiday

My, how times have changed! We’re more likely to find a travel agent online, to book our trip at the click of a button. We’re also bombarded with imagery daily. People communicate by capturing immediate experiences and moments as photos and sending them directly to their network of friends all over the world, using social channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Digital cameras and mobile phones with built-in cameras have been popular for a long time now. Nowadays we also have the added benefit of high spec cameras and sophisticated photography apps, which can be used while on the go. Not everyone is a skilled or talented photographer, but we can at least try to be!

With thousands of photo apps available, it can be difficult to know the best ones to use. How can you make the most our of your smartphone’s camera? What’s on trend? And more importantly – what will help you get the most likes on Facebook? Whether you’re looking to shoot, edit or share with the world, we’ve compiled a list of photography apps you need to download now!

  1. Facetune

Create a selfie Kim Kardashian would be proud of with this photo-editing app! As per the name, this app allows you to tweak photos of your face, whether you want to hide your blemishes, whiten your teeth, disguise your wrinkles or hide bags under the eyes. It’s really easy to use, and Facetune even provide more than 20 in-app tutorials to help you make the edits look natural. Don’t overdo it though! A little tune up is fine every so often, particularly after a long night on the tiles. But remember your friends have met you in person…

Facetune your blemishes!
Facetune your blemishes!
  1. Instagram

So you’ve got your outstanding #selfie… but where are you going to share it? If you haven’t already hopped on the Instagram bandwagon, you need to do so as soon as possible. Instagram is a photo and video focused social networking service, which allows you to share your life through visual content. Instagram say they “imagine a world more connected through photos”, and that’s exactly what they have achieved. In 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for a staggering $1 Billion and according to recent data released by the social giant, there are now over 300 million people on Instagram each month – including all the celebs – Taylor Swift, David Beckham and Barack Obama to name but a few. There is also a hashtag functionality, which allows you to browse and follow according to your interests. What will your #PicOfTheDay be? One day you could be insta- famous – better get those modelling lessons in!

Become a filter fanatic!
Become a filter fanatic!
  1. FrameMagic

Already on Instagram but want to enhance your #InstaExperience? Then download FrameMagic. FrameMagic allows you to compile your favourite photos and videos into one single artwork; be it a photo collage, video collage or video slideshow. A picture says a thousands words, so why not try 5 pictures in one! It’s really simple to use, with a variety of layouts, colours and patterns to choose from. The creative possibilities are endless, and your piece of work can be easily shared across a variety of social networking sites. Leave the actual picture framing to the experts though. Creating for Instagram and creating for above your fireplace are too different things…

  1. Retrica

Many photo sharing apps have a filter function available, which essentially allows you to enhance colours and tones to customise the photo how you please. Filters are a big hit on Instagram, but the range of filters available is limited. If you’re a filter fanatic, then you need to download Retrica. From 70s inspired themes to a regular black and white, Retrica has got over 100 to choose from. You can even use real-time filters, where you can preview how your photo will look before you even take it. Simple!

Make your photos pop!
Make your photos pop!
  1. Snapchat

There is no app more instant that Snapchat. Users can take photos, record videos, add captions and drawings and send to a defined list of recipents, and even set a time limit for how long recipents can view the snaps! Other functions within the Snapchat app allow you to create your ‘Story’ which can be viewed by your friends for 24 hours* and also the ‘Discover’ feature; a storytelling format which allows you to explore stories from a variety of world-class leaders in media, including Sky News, Cosmopolitan and Buzzfeed. We’re tipping this one to become bigger and better as the time goes on… watch this space.

*Note: when you’ve had a few too many at a party, step away from Snapchat. You don’t want to feel like you were the hired clown entertainment the next day…

Did your favourite app make our list? Or maybe you’re feeling inspired to create your own app? Remember, “the best camera is the one you have with you”. Try out the apps we suggested and share the images with us on Twitter – we’re @barkteam. Let your creativity do the talking!

For more Bark.com top tips, why not check out our other blogs?