Top 10 Web Design Trends 2010

Its always tough to predict the future, and that is all the more true when talking about the web.  The internet continues to evolve so fast and in so many directions,  due in large part to  the various social media tools, making the web accessible to  people who never dreamed being part of it.
Here is a list of design trends that I think will play a large role over the next year, well into 2010.
Typography
This trend started over the past year and will continue.  Designs will trend toward the use of typography an integral part of the overall work rather than a liability.  Web designers will start using larger, more exciting fonts in place of system text. Overall, designers are paying closer attention to typographic details such as leading, line height and choice of font.

Typography

Sketches, hand drawn style and illustrations
Easily noticeable on a page.  Stands out from traditional graphics and gives the website a unique, personalized look.

Sketches, hand drawn style and illustrations

Large images/photography

Large Images/Photography

Magazine Layout
With more people going on line who see the web as the source of entertainment and real time information, many sites will be gearing towards this type of look  -  with short concise articles that are  easy to read and concise information.

Magazine Layout

Introduction Blocks
The upper-left area of a website is the most important block on the page, because that is the first place your eye goes when you come to a website.  This spot grabs most attention from visitors.  Therefore, this is the ideal place to get your message out and seen quickly.
You see this done in many types of design, including corporate design, web apps, or portfolios.  They take up alot of real estate, but that is ok.  the message is key.

Introduction Blocks

Single Page Layouts
People are in a rush, they are online to find the info and go, they dont have time to look around and see everything.  This is the solution to get them the info they need.

Single Page Layouts

Social Media Sites and Add-ins/Icons
Of course this has been the big thing of the past two years, and it will only continue to get bigger.  Linking to them, using apps from them helps build communities around products, ideas and causes.  More and more people are spending time online, looking to connect with like minded people and to share their lives and information.  Sometimes too much information

Social Media Sites and Add-ins

White Space
Its cleaner, easier on the eyes and easy to find what you are looking for.  White is a great color to help something stand out…except if its the carpet under your dining room table.  Sometimes simplicity is key.

White Space

Icons and Visuals
Not talking about clip art, but stylistically rendered icons that represent in a small image what the entire section is about.  Easy for people to recognize and people notice them quicker than text

Icons and Visuals

Modal Boxes (Lightboxes)
These guys are great.  Open source applications that are, basically the next generation of pop-ups. They are a cleaner, more user-friendly alternative to the basic JavaScript pop up windows that have been around for years.   Clean, crisp, and focuses the user on the information you are presenting, whether it is a picture, text or a video.  This little tool helps the presentation go a long way.

Modal Boxes