Less Is More: benefits of minimalist web design.

Wondering whether less is more when it comes to web design? Here are all of the ways a minimalist website will help you to achieve your website goals.

Websites have been getting bigger. Many pages are now stuffed to bursting with code, images, videos, animations, forms and stylistic decoration.

MachMetrics says that the average web page size has swelled to more than 2MB. That’s double what it was three years ago.

So is bigger really better? We’d argue that it really isn’t.

Websites have been getting bigger because we want more content, better engagement and improved conversion rates.

But there’s another way to achieve this. A way that doesn’t turn your website into the equivalent of a huge, lumbering internet cruise ship.

Minimalist web design, based around the less is more mantra, keeps things streamlined and speedy (like a nippy little motorboat).

It also comes with a heap of other benefits for your users, your SEO performance and your business as a whole.

So what is minimalist web design? And what are the benefits of less is more web design? Let’s dive right in.

What is minimalist web design?

At some point in our web surfing lives, we’ve all come across a maximalist website. A website so full of cluttered visual information that it feels confusing and overwhelming.

Minimalist web design is the polar opposite. It uses white space, clean lines and pops of colour to create a clean, balanced look.

But a minimalist website isn’t just about aesthetics.

It’s about getting rid of the back end bulk that causes slow load speeds and high bounce rates. It’s also about user experience (UX). And creating easy, intuitive functionality for your users.

The best minimalist websites apply a less is more mentality to design, content and functionality.

Benefits of minimalist web design

Sure, you have a ton of information to share with your users. But here’s why keeping it simple – with less is more web design – will do wonders for your business.

Aesthetics

Minimalist websites look exceptionally good. They use a limited colour palette, bold shapes and contrasting elements to create a modern, branded design.

Users get a clear sense of your brand identity. And they associate your business, products and services with the reassuring simplicity and professionalism of your website.

UX

In minimalist design, every single element counts. Designers have to prioritise what is most important.

This makes life easy for users because less is more web design inevitably incorporates a straightforward user interface (UI) and intuitive navigation.

Conversions

A minimalist website is free from unnecessary design distractions. There are fewer elements competing for user attention. So users know exactly what they need to do next.

Whether you want to improve ecommerce conversions, subscriber signups or lead magnet downloads, minimalist web design helps to direct user focus where you want it.

Responsiveness

According to Statista, the majority of internet browsing is done using a mobile device, with 52.2% of all web traffic coming from smartphones.

The good news? It’s easy to make a minimalist website responsive. Thanks to streamlined web pages, elements appear quickly and beautifully across all device screens.

Loading time

Internet users are an impatient bunch. And if your website takes more than three seconds to load, people are likely to click back to search results and try another site.

On a minimalist website, the unnecessary content, code and design elements that sometimes slow a website down, are stripped back. So you get the very best loading speeds across the full range of devices.

SEO

Mobile responsiveness. Fast loading times. An intuitive user experience that increases the amount of time people spend on your site.

Lots of minimalist design benefits support strong SEO performance. So doing more with less can help you get seen more often in search engine result pages (SERPs).

Evergreen web design

Minimalist design makes your website last longer. Unlike other website trends, this one has stood the test of time. So it will be a good while before you need to commit time and money to a website redesign.

Examples of less is more web design

Want to see minimalist website design in action? Then take a look at these three mega brands for a little inspiration.

• Apple: The tech giant has always promoted sleek, minimalist, forward-thinking designs.
• Google: You can’t really get more minimalist than Google’s iconic homepage.
• Uber: The ridesharing, taxi, and food delivery company keeps things simple with a limited colour scheme and great use of negative space.

Key elements of any minimalist website

If you’re planning to use a DIY template design – or just want some pointers to include in your website brief – remember that all minimalist websites incorporate the following features.

Functionality

Every element on your minimalist website has to serve a function. Nothing should be there just for the sake of it. So question every single addition.

A limited colour palette

Pick up to three contrasting colours as the basis for a minimalist website design. Or opt for a monochrome palette. Either of these options will make your website feel calm and cohesive.

White space

White space (or negative space) gives each website element room to breathe – and to stand out. It’s a foundational principle of minimalist web design. And something that should be considered when implementing any background, including those that feature images, video or animation.

Impressive typography

When you’re doing more with less, make sure your typography says something about your brand. Your font, your words and the size of your text can be used to communicate your core message.

The perfect balance

A website can’t be simplified to the point that it fails to function properly for users. Minimalist website design is a balancing act, functionality on one side, aesthetics and a desire for simplicity on the other.

Looking for minimalist web design in Manchester?

Minimalist web design helps you to get the most out of your website.

It forces you to prioritise the most important content for users, which means better UX. It can also improve mobile responsiveness, SEO, conversions, site speed and site longevity.

If you like the sound of all this – and want to find an agency specialising in minimalist web design in Manchester – then Radical Web Design could be just the team you need.

Want to get started? Then just get in touch to tell us about your business and the minimalist website you’d like us to build.