Keeping it Simple: Why Minimalist Website Design Could be the Wave of the Future

It has often been observed that brevity is the soul of wit. This is why some of the most successful advertising campaigns have adopted what can only be called a decidedly minimalist approach. Some well-known examples include the "Just Do It" campaign by Nike and the "I'm Lovin' It" slogan commonly associated with the McDonald's franchise. However, we need to keep in mind that a more pragmatic approach can also have a massive impact upon website design as well as the experience of the end user. What are some of the principles espoused by this approach and what benefits might be able to offer.

More Than Physical Architecture Alone

We first need to look at the concept of information overload. Some websites employ entirely too many graphics, fonts, advertisements, and media content. The irony here is that such an approach can actually detract from the product or service being offered. Not only will it become visually distracting, but perhaps more importantly, a breakdown of communication between the site and the visitor tends to occur. Selling points become muddled. Pages become difficult to navigate. The entire presence of the site devolves into a confusing mess of digital clutter.

Minimalist approaches instead rely upon brevity, clarity and ease of navigation. As opposed to separating the digital wheat from the chaff, consumers are provided with the relevant information required to make an important decision. We are not necessarily referring to a "boring" layout in this sense, but rather a streamlined approach that is able to cut through the confusion in order to deliver a powerful message to the end user.

Keeping it Simple

As the e-commerce specialists at Shopify have noted, there are numerous advantages attributed to this strategy. We have already mentioned the fact that less confusion places an emphasis upon the embedded content as opposed to the associated distractions. However, there are other windfalls to mention including:

• It is much easier to establish a solid brand identity.
• The pages themselves will inevitably load faster.
• Clear website design can work in conjunction with devices such as tablets and mobile phones.
• The engagement pipeline is likely to be reduced.

Let's also not fail to mention that the challenges normally present within website design can be dealt with in a timely fashion; important when tackling any bugs within the system.

While every website is different in regards to what it has to offer, there are still some suggestions to keep in mind along the way. Try to prioritise content and products over extraneous elements. Reduce the number of choices presented to the visitor. Include elements such as navigation bars and contact links within the same location on every page. Favour high-level material in contrast to generic content (also known as "fluff").

So, we can see that more is not necessarily better in terms of online advertising and digital sales. Feel free to refer back to these recommendations in order to develop a stunning and straightforward website.