Best Animation Techniques for Your Website Design

In the context of rapid growth in information and computer technology, people are constantly engaged with a huge number of sites and applications. If you want to stand out, you have to prove that you are special. That is why web designers have long realized the need for specific features that will effectively attract users to a site, and keep them engaged for a longer time. This is how the first animations were born.

A website appearance has come a long way in development and improvement. Animation effects are thought to be among the most complex elements of the website design. Despite this, modern websites use lots of animations that make them much easier to use and more appealing to users. Today, they are one of the top web design trends that are here to stay. 

However, some companies are still ignoring this modern solution with the aim to save budget and time. Indeed, animation features are often time-intensive and require a special piece of software. But the result worth all the efforts! In this posting, we will discuss the importance of animation for your website, and introduce some of the animation techniques to help you build an award-winning web design.

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Why Use Animation in Your Web Design?

Animation is the art of drawing movement. It refers to  an approach in which static images are manipulated to provide the appearance of a real movement. Applying animation effects improves the overall appeal of your site, and gives you a competitive advantage against your competitors. The advantages of applying animation effects come down to the following: 

• Animation features improve the overall web experience for users
• Animation builds an emotional connection, serving as a key element of emotional UI design
• Applying animation effects can increase your user interactions by keeping visitors they engaged 
• Animation features can act as a guide for your users
• Animation attracts attention to your website

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Best Animation Techniques for Your Website

1. Gallery

Displaying different images in the form of a slideshow is a great way to entertain your website users. This will make your web design interesting and intentional (but not distractive). However, it is important to keep the golden mean between a boring gallery design and a carousel. The trick is to correctly pick the speed and number of moving images in a cycle.

2. Hover effect

This technique presupposes, for example, having cards or something similar on your website that lists your services. Each time when a user hovers on them, he or she will see a beautiful animation. Hover animation effects are especially effective for commercial and ecommerce websites that always have something to offer.

3. Progress bar

This form of animation uses a linear sequence to display the user his/her progression. Most often it is shown as a classic loading bar, however, a multi-step linear progress animation is also increasingly popular today.

4. Non-scrolling navigation buttons and menus 

Applying various navigational effects, such as sliders and sticky bars, is one of the latest website design trends. Hiding the navigation menus gives them an updated touch of style while saving the space of the screen.

5. Loading animation

Animation does a great job of distracting your users like your site loads. They have fun watching it while waiting, which positively impacts their perception of your design, and improves their experience on your website. That is why it really makes sense to add engaging and interesting animation effects.
 

Technologies Used to Generate Animations

If you are thinking about adding animations to your website, a combination of JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5 provides the opportunity to create high-quality animations suitable for your commercial website that your visitors can interact with, whether they are on mobile or desktop. Never heard about these techniques? Fortunately, we have good news for you. Different apps and tools are available to significantly simplify the process. Let’s explore some of them.

Top Web Animation Tools

Many of the tools below are very similar to one another. They create both opportunities and limitations to users by using technologies that are unique to them. But if you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, you will definitely enjoy them:

1. Google Web Designer

This tool allows you to build HTML5-based animation effects and interactive designs that enhance the experience and improve user interaction.

2. HTML5 Maker

HTML5 Maker comes with numerous functions and a huge pool of pictures that you can use for your animation effects.

3. Animaker

This tool allows you to craft an animated story, including sound effects, music, and pre-animated effects.

4. PowToon

It will take you no more than 20 minutes to create an amazing animation with PowToon. With its simple drag-and-drop interface, even a child could do that.

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Key Takeaways

Whether small or big, animation effects are enhancing the experience visitors receive when they visit your site. However, it is important to give a lot of thinking to decide which animations to incorporate into your web design. Too complex animation effects can cause an opposite reaction. That is why it is best to keep them simple. At Loonar Studios, we will be happy to help you make your website more interactive and engaging. Contact us to get more information on how to build amazing website animations that capture the eyes of your audience. Good luck!