6 Interactive Web Design Trends That’ll Wow Your Users

Interactive web design is the name of the game when it comes to creating an unforgettable user experience.

Now you may be thinking, “Isn’t every website interactive?”

It’s true – in a technical sense. But scrolling, swiping, and clicking through static elements is child’s play compared to what browsers are capable of now. Modern design elements are taking the idea of a truly interactive experience to a whole new level.

So, if you want your website to become more engaging, it’s time to learn about interactive design.

What is Interactive Web Design?

Also called “interaction design,” interactive web design creates an environment where site visitors and web application users are actively engaged. It relies on software and features to improve their user experience and, ultimately, establish a unique connection with them.

This may be through simple design choices, like a button that gets bigger when you hover your cursor over it. Alternatively, it may be as complex as turning your whole website into a game.

Interactive elements aren’t limited to visuals either. For instance, sound effects can be added to enhance your users’ sensory engagement too.

The Benefits of Interactive Design Elements 

According to a Forrester report, UX design brings in a ROI of around 9,900%. So, for every dollar you invest, you get back a hundred.

As the next evolution of UX, interactive design will help you stay ahead of the curve. This, in turn, guarantees brand growth, even more than what regular UX has to offer. 

There are even more benefits to using interactive web design templates or custom elements, including –

Keeping Visitors Engaged

Interactive design is a powerful tool for enthralling visitors and reducing bounce rates. The average internet user trawls through over a hundred webpages a day. So, it takes a diamond to keep them engaged.

Immersive experiences that require participation or catch the eye encourage your users to explore what you have to offer. After all, they’ll want to see what other fun features are just around the corner.

Bumping Up Conversion Rates

Engaged visitors are much more likely to do what you want them to do. So, naturally, interactive and engaging features will improve your chances.

Research by Demand Metric shows that shifting from passive to interactive web design will double your conversion rates. You couldn’t ask for a better outcome.

Improving SEO

An important factor Google uses when ranking your webpage is how much interaction your interactable elements actually get. The search engine notes which links are drawing attention and what your users are interested in.

Interactive websites involve so many interactable elements that your search engine ranking will organically skyrocket with traffic.

Creating a Shareable Experience

Users are more likely to share websites they’ve made a personal connection with. Quizzes, for example, are a real hit – it doesn’t get more personalized than the webpage talking directly to you.

The more your website is shared around, the more traffic you’ll get, and the more people will return for your brand.

Making Your Brand Stand Out

The Content Marketing Institute found that B2B marketers consider brand awareness even more important than sales.

When you aren’t like any other brand, your users will remember you before your competitors. That competitive edge is essential in saturated markets.

6 Trending Interactive Web Design Elements to Try Now

If the above benefits seem tempting, it may be time for you to make the switch to this web design style. Here are some interactive web design examples to inspire you as you transition your online presence into a modern website.

1) Parallax Scrolling

This technique is quite popular when it comes to making your screen feel truly three-dimensional. By causing some elements to scroll faster than others (like the foreground vs the background), you create the illusion of depth.

“Tomato Can Blues,” a piece on the New York Times website, shows how parallax scrolling can transform storytelling.

But that’s not all it can do. There are many ways you can use this form of scrolling to direct users’ eyes and give a sense of physical movement.

2) Unconventional Navigation

Familiar layout design is fine when you want to get straight to the point, no frills. But adding a playful spin to your website’s navigation pathways allows users to have fun while exploring.

Luxury goods company Cartier designed its “Time Project” around a unique user journey. With twelve short videos revolving around a moving analogue clock, the viewer scrolls or drags horizontally to see more.

3) Videos, Animations, and Cinemagraphs

Moving visual elements, when well-placed, can convey information or generate interest and exploration. Whether they’re subtle and contextual, like hover effects, or bold and continuous like GIFs, they guide the user’s attention.

Depending on your website builder, you may even be able to find preset animations in interactive web design templates. No coding required.

Cinemagraphs (i.e., high-quality looping GIFs) have also been popular in adding a dynamic feel to websites. Well-known brands like Armani have famously used them in marketing campaigns and as hero images on their websites’ landing pages.

4) Draggable Objects

You can simulate a physical presence by making your website something users can reach out and touch. Click-and-drag interactions give visitors more control over what they see, allowing them to rotate and “pick up” digital objects.

This is a great tech tool for an eCommerce growth strategy. When users can interact with virtual products as if they’re in the same room, your product listings have an added legitimacy.

5) Gamification

Take the interactivity one step further by rewarding your visitors for taking the actions you want.

Starbucks’s Rewards feature has turned ordering coffee into a game where you collect Stars with every purchase. The more Stars you earn, the more rewards you can collect, from free customizations to entire free drinks.

This platform is updated regularly with seasonal challenges that up the urgency. It’s a convincing tactic to keep customers coming in for more, and it makes brand interactions memorable and unique.

6) Real-Time Data

Live data is an excellent feature for interactive webpage design, as it helps users make quick and informed decisions. Visitors benefit from real-time information across a variety of fast-paced industries –

• Ticket and booking prices on travel sites
• Traffic and roadblock data on maps
• Driver tracking for deliveries and transportation
• eCommerce product stock

The dynamic nature of live data shows that the displayed information is not only trustworthy but also popular. Users can see what products or services are getting attention. If there’s a limited supply, that means they have to buy quickly!

Inspired to Build Your Own Interactive Website?

There’s no better time to get started than when the trends are hot. We can help you develop the perfect interactive website for your business needs.

If you’re after more cost-effective alternatives or are starting at ground zero, check out our tips for modern website design.

Whatever you’re looking for, DPL’s web development and design team are on the case. Fill out the form below so we can give your website the attention it deserves.