Animation in Web Design

What is Animation?

Imagine that a two-dimensional image is brought to life on the screen. Moreover, it moves in accordance with the laws of physics just like cartoon characters walk across the screen of your TV. That was the simplest explanation of what is web animation. It is often saved as WebGL, SVG, CSS, or GIF file. As with any web design tool, web animation can be impossible to avoid. That is because animations can be anything from a background image or video to simple underline effect.

When to Use Animations

Increased usability is the main reason to use animations. They can help the visitors understand what to go next on your site. Another reason to use animations is aesthetics as they can perfectly decorate any website, keeping the users engaged. Animations create an emotional connection and help you tell your story. Animations can add a great value to your website design. However, their use depends on project nature. Thus, as with any design technique, it is crucial to know when to use animation. It shouldn’t get in the way of the content, while serving a purpose for your users. Also, animations shouldn’t be mechanical or jumpy. Try to make them seamless and smooth. Some reasons why to use animation include:

• Animation directs people/creates flow to your call-to-action
• Animation shows changes on your website (e.g., it highlights clickable elements)
• Animation communicates with your users, explaining them, for example, how to use a button on your site

Read also: How to Improve User Experience of Your Website?

Animation Is a Web Design Trend of 2018

In today’s web design world, with so many minimal/flat style designs, animations are something that we will see more and more every day while browsing the Web. Large animations become focal points in web design. They create beautiful visuals, pulling the users into the design. Simple animations are an element that contributes to the aesthetics and engages with the users to the extent that they might not even notice them at all. When it comes to animation in web design, its realism what makes it trendy. Animation creates a perfect balance between usability and simplicity, adding order to your web design schemes, and providing directions for users. In addition, modern animations do not slow down servers/sites.

Animation Improves Web Design

• The Power of Delight

Some animations are used in their childish appearance to make visitors smile. These small effects keep them happy and engaged with your site. As a result, your users become more relaxed and interested to buy something from you.

• Pacing

Today, changes may happen faster than people’s brains can process. Small animations add the extra milliseconds for them to catch up.

• Scrolling

Scrolling animations create the illusion that the site exists behind the screen. And this is a functional illusion, not just a cosmetic one.

• Loading Distraction

Animations turn a weakness into a strength as they keep the users distracted and entertained while the website loads.

• Enhancing Effects

An illusion created by animation engages users imagination into thinking that they interact with real objects.

• Smooth Transition

This makes changing screens more understandable, improving your UX design.

• Teaching

Animations teach more effectively than any static images or texts. They insinuate a function or show a connection more clearly.

• Drawing Attention

Any movement attracts attention. From this perspective, animations can be used to establish a visual hierarchy and influence what the users see. Use animations to alert your users about:

1. Leave a feedback
2. “What do I do next”
3. New pages or features
4. New updates, messages, notifications

Read also: Microinteractions in Design Animation is a technique that has become standard for many websites and mobile apps. Animations in web design are not optional anymore. More and more industries, such as medical and legal, started to use this technique because it is as fun as it is practical. Therefore, it will become more and more ingrained into the web design world. At Loonar Studios, we know that high-quality animation is what makes the user’s experience better. And we are capable of creating any animations either to make your website easier to use, or to build an emotional connection with your users. Please contact us if have any questions. Creers!