6 Powerful Ecommerce Design Trends to Try in 2022

As competition skyrockets in the online retail space, brands are eagerly looking for ways to stand out. One of the best ways to impress customers is to adapt to the latest eCommerce design trends.

But knowing what’s hot (and what’s not) in the eCom design world isn’t always easy. Differentiating between trends that’ll only last a few weeks and those here to stay is critical to avoid blowing your budget on passing fads.

To that end, we’ve compiled this list of our top eCommerce design trends for 2021 (and beyond). Implement these design trends to wow your customers and boost your bottom line.

Ecommerce Design Trends: 6 things to look out for this year.

1. Cool neutrals are in

Lots of eCommerce design trends this year are about going futuristic. However, perhaps in response, many brands are also toning things way down.

Dull old white is out – what we’re seeing is uber-cool neutrals like warm sandy tones, cool grey shades, delicate browns, and deliciously creamy backgrounds.

Neutral backgrounds are fantastic because they focus attention on your primary visual elements – namely your products, while also providing a more enjoyable experience for your visitors.

Think of your neutral colors like an excellent rhythm section of a band – they keep the solid beat going in the background so your lead guitarist can steal your visitors’ hearts and minds!

2. Navigation Takes Center Stage

Old school thought would dictate that navigation should be made easy to access but largely kept out of the way of other design elements.

However, this year, we’re seeing brands put a spotlight on their navigation – with some brands even making their navigation the centerpiece of their entire site.

Considering that most folks who land on your site automatically seek out your navigation, this trend makes sense. Plus, when it’s done right, it doesn’t have to be boring. 

Use custom color palettes, typography, and other branding elements to make navigating your site a memorable (and efficient) experience that’ll keep customers coming back for more.

3. Dynamic Product Images 

Implementing dynamic product images is a great way to create trust between you and your potential customers. While high-quality images are appreciated, users like to see images in action before deciding to buy something. 

Consider using moving images, gifs, or even videos to show your customers what they are looking for. 

To create a fantastic first impression, you can use dynamic images on the first page to catch your customer’s attention. They work great on product pages too.

But don’t go overboard. The key is to use dynamic imagery sparingly because it can quickly become too much. What’s more, too many dynamic images can negatively affect your site’s speed.

So, find the sweet spot between visual appeal and practicality for the best results. 

4. Virtual Reality Experiences

If you run a clothing business, one way to wow your customers is with an interactive shopping experience. This ecommerce design trend goes beyond the realm of mere design. But the results are incredible.

Customers obviously can’t try on clothing when they are online shopping, so bring the store to their homes! This is especially relevant in 2021 for people who might not feel comfortable shopping in stores just yet. 

Warby Parker provides their customers with a virtual try-on experience to see what they look like with specific eyeglasses. 

However, this approach isn’t just for clothing business – check out how plant-retailer feey leverage VR to let customers virtually test a plant in the home before buying:

Letting customers see how an item will look via virtual reality is a sure-fire way to help shoppers choose the right product and boost conversions.

5. Interactive Elements

Interactive brand experiences are building on their popularity throughout 2020 and are coming to the fore in 2021.

Telling your product or brand story via interactive, scrollable pages is a brilliant way to stand head and shoulders above your competitors.

Check out how Google uses dynamic, interactive pages to deliver one of the most memorable tech shopping experiences on the web.

When a visitor scrolls through the page, it comes alive to their movements. Seriously, there’s little chance you won’t recall looking at one of their phones (if you don’t buy it right there and then, of course!)

6. A Return to Simplicity

On the flipside to the uber-interactive web shop, simplistic and minimalistic designs are going nowhere fast.

Sometimes, less is more, and you can’t go wrong with a clean and straightforward design. Look at how Beats by Dre use straightforward typography and imagery to deliver a powerful visual experience. Logos are not an exception. Use your logo maker in a way that conveys your brand message through a logo in the most uncluttered and uncomplicated ways.

Typically, a minimalistic look involves a lot of white space, neutral colors, and brighter accents wherever you want the user’s attention to be directed. 

It’s more of a simple visual, without the bright colors and graphics that pop out.

7. Colour Pops

You can expect to see more pastel and bright colors lightening up minimalistic designs too.

As we emerge from what’s been a rather gloomy period (pandemic and all that jazz), brands will likely opt for brighter shades to reflect a more optimistic consumer sentiment.

While deodorant brand Myro uses a fresh, buzzing green to make their products stand out here, they’ve done so at the expense of the CTA button (which is all but camouflaged against the backdrop).

Remember to design your core elements using contrasting colors for both the best user experience and the highest conversion rates.

Go Forth & Implement These eCommerce Design Trends 

Ecommerce is a rapidly growing industry that is only going to become more and more relevant. In fact, in 2020, total eCommerce sales were estimated at $791.7 billion.

So, staying on top of the latest ecommerce design trends and constantly improving your eCommerce site needs to be a top priority to claim your piece of the pie

Technology is constantly evolving, and there are so many tools to apply and ways to enhance the eCommerce experience. 

So, take advantage of these tips, implement some of them to create a unique and enjoyable experience for your customers.