You’ve probably seen it, regardless of whether you know what it is. Flat design is the most popular look if you have visited any website in the last 2 years or used a Mac or PC. Flat design is all about simple icons, low color contrast and large images. Flat design is almost a mandate for both Apple and Windows. It started as a cool, minimalist option.

The Swedish-based aesthetic has many benefits. It is simple and user-friendly ( ideal goal of any website design). These claims are not false, but more people are pointing out flat’s shortcomings. Flat design can have a negative impact on your website’s usability if taken to its extreme.

Flat design is wrong. Let’s start by looking at the reasons it was so popular.

The antirealism

Flat design was in many ways a response to skeuomorphism. Try saying it 10 times fast, or at a normal speaking speed. This term refers to website design’s realistic nature. Sites and apps featured more realistic imagery and used stronger color contrasts. The design was displayed as the beginning of the show in many ways.

Design trends began to shift as Google made providing useful content to users a priority (and so everyone else). Minimalist design was adopted by designers who abandoned realism in favor of minimalism. Instead of distracting people by elaborate visuals, designers now exist to highlight the content.

A simple, clear and uncluttered design was created to make it easier to use, especially for mobile devices, where more people are accessing the internet.

As flat design ages it is beginning to show cracks in its foundation.

These are just a few of the ways that flat design can harm your website.

User unfriendly

Flat design can confuse people. This is the irony of flat design. Flat design can help you focus your content but it can also make desired actions difficult to find. If icons are lacking in color gradation (a common feature of flat icons), they will blend in with the background. It’s difficult to see what icons can be clicked without a clear border or difference in dimensions.

Visual hierarchy also loses its impact. If you don’t have color to highlight an intuitive flow for your eye, users will take longer to find the right place to look at your page.

Too little

Flat design has its visual appeal. Minimalist design can make everything look sleek and modern, which in turn projects confidence. Why overdo it when the basics are fine? ).

Minimalism can look… boring when it’s taken to the extreme. We’re heading towards websites with only text on a single page at this rate. No contrast. No imagery. It’s just a copy. Is that what anyone wants to read? Websites should be focused on content, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make the context compelling visually.

Too mobile-friendly?

Mobile is exploding and brands can’t afford to not have a responsive site. If your website doesn’t work on mobile phones or tablets, you risk losing a lot of business. Flat design is meant to be a visual language that can work on desktops as well as on 6-inch screens.

Windows 8’s first attempt at it proved that this is not always the case. Windows 8’s interface was designed for touch screens and didn’t work well on a keyboard or mouse when it first launched. While drop-down menus can be minimalistic and useful for cell phones, they are not as dynamic for desktops. Plus, flat design.

Less unique

As with any trend, once it is accepted as a standard, it can be difficult to stand out. Your website must be distinct from all the other businesses online. A flat design may make you appear modern, but it will not distinguish you from others. All sites will use the same flat colors and text. No one will remember your brand if you don’t communicate your brand’s personality immediately through catchy visual design.

What’s your solution?

Flat design is the dominant aesthetic at the moment. However, there are many alternatives. More websites are playing with this format. This variant of flat design, also known as “almost flat”, keeps the focus on content and reduces visual clutter. It uses drop-shadows and gradients to highlight certain content elements. You can also create visual hierarchies and cues that improve usability.

Contact Kobe Digital to see how any of these design elements could work on your website. Our expert team of designers can create a highly-usable and visually appealing design aesthetic.