As Manchester’s leading web design professionals, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we work with a wide range of clients and companies on a range of web related projects. From growing digital marketing campaigns to creating stunning websites, we are always working on something new. This includes animation in web design. But what is the role of animation in web design? And how can it be used to increase conversions and sales, and improve the user experience? Well, read our expert guide to animation in web design to find out more.
Animation in web design
Animation in web design can be seen by some as a dated web design tool. That’s because, in the early days of the web, flash animation on websites was common practice. And pointless pieces of animation would be added to sidebars, scrollers and footers to add personality, and show off. But this really didn’t serve a purpose. In fact, if anything, it was a distraction. But since then, web design has come a long way. Making huge improvements in the presentation of information on the internet.
So does animation still have a role in modern web design?
Well, the short answer is yes. In modern web design, subtle animations are used for a variety of purposes. These can include:
- drawing attention to a particular element or zone
- providing visual feedback after a user interaction
- guiding the user through the sales process
- demonstrating the use of a product
- animated video content
- presenting professional images in a gallery
And these can all help to improve the user experience, as well as make your website stand out visually.
However, animation in web design should not be overused. Too much animation, or too many different styles, can cause visual chaos, and make your website look unprofessional and unusable.
In addition, the quality of the animation itself really makes a difference to the levels of success it can offer.
So how can we use animation in web design?
Some of the most common ways to use animation in web design, in practice, is to:
- create load screen animations
- use hover animations
- create slideshow animations
Create a load screen animation
This ties in with providing visual feedback and helps to indicate to the user that their request is being processed. For form submissions or other activities that can take longer than a second, a loading animation can really improve the user experience. And will also prevent unwanted second or third clicks, which will increase the loading time again.
Use hover animations
Some websites have taken hover animations to the next level. Simply moving your cursor closer to the test will cause the text to float gently, up and down, or to zoom in and then zoom out. This can be a really great way to draw attention to your website. And it provides a fun and interactive surprise for users.
However, most websites simply stick to hover animations that alter the colour of the text or the button. This is a great way to indicate to users that they are on an interactive button that can be clicked, and also draws attention to this element. That’s why it’s perfect for call to action buttons. Although it is important to remember that hovering is pretty impossible on mobile devices, and this is something that might not fit with your responsive design.
In summary
Animation in web design still has a valuable place. However, subtle animations will generally work better than bolder animation. And not every website will need animation, or benefit from it. Animation can also be an issue to consider in responsive web design, as animation on mobile devices may not play out the same way as animation on a desktop.
For more information or advice, get in touch with the experts here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.