There have been many developments in website design this year. What are the trends to look out for in the new year?

Website Design and Mobile Websites
More than a fifth of all web searches will be conducted on mobiles in 2012. Businesses will ask their web designers to make sure their website works well on smart phones. Businesses will have to make sure their brand is positioned not only well on personal computers but also smart phones. This will become more and more important as the growth of smart phones world wide continues in 2012 and beyond.

3D Effects
With the growth of 3D technology within personal computers we will see more and more websites utilising 3D web effects to engage readers. Have a think about how 3D effects could enhance the user experience on your website. However bear in mind too many 3D images will be a huge distraction. The images used should be an aid to illustrate, capture attention and guide the user.

The Death of Flash?
Flash technology has been very popular. However, in recent years it has gone down in popularity. The issue with Flash is that it doesn’t work well with mobile devices. Using CSS3 and HTML5 there are far more benefits. By using HTML 5 and other technologies such as this you can get faster loading times and and a better user experience.

Growth of QR Codes
This year consumers have had a chance to explore Quick Response (QR) Codes. For 2012 businesses are looking to use QR codes more. Have you explored the option of using QR codes in your marketing? They can be used effectively in engaging the audience when launching a new product or service. There have been several instances of businesses trialing them this year to increase their brand awareness.