Consider this a teaser for a soon-to-be-released blog about what we think of design predictions and trends for 2017-2018. Instead of breaking down curated lists of what design brains think is the next big thing, we want to give you an idea of what we already want.

If that sounds good, click through and enjoy the list!

Gradients

We love current implementation of color gradients a lot already. They add a dynamic quality to site backgrounds and seem fresh compared to simple white screens or even vivid flat colors, which are also making a come-up.

The twist: We want to see color gradients in the small details, too! While it might seem like a blast from the past to put gradients onto buttons, we think it’d look even cooler now. Why stop there? Do something wild like adding a color gradient to your text – typography lovers everywhere might shiver at the idea, but hey, never let anyone tell you it can’t be done.

Angled elements

While clean squares and lightly-rounded edges are definitely the ruling champs of site design today, their ubiquity only makes the concept of quirky angled elements even more ambitious. Plenty of sites have started to embrace them with sloping background colors or razor-sharp headers.

The twist: Remember those buttons? Don’t be afraid to angle those too. And we love the way many have adopted the practice of parallax scrolling in conjunction with angled elements. We think angled sidebars, or floating box elements would look just as cutting edge.

Extended width fonts

Wide, almost-boundless type adds a futuristic quality to your content.

The twist: There is none! This element honestly works best in small doses, like with titles only or on your landing page to evoke a sense of grandness and dependability. Definitely don’t try this on body type, unless you’re really adventurous (if you do, let us know how it works!)

Overlapping type

This might sound really out-there, but don’t turn away just yet. When done right, overlapping type can make a site look editorial and refined, instead of like an instance of poorly-implemented scaling. Add a shadow that’s the same color as the background to make your text cut into itself and enhance readability.

The twist: Apply this concept to other elements! Overlapping color blocks is on-trend with cubist, abstract shapes being a staple for 2017 personality.

Color fades

What do we mean by this? It’s not a copy of our previous gradient list item – instead, we mean animation. When you hover over links on most websites, the link will change color for the sake of indicating to you that it can be clicked. Add a new dynamic by having three colors – instead of going from red to white, go from red to yellow to white.

The twist: Apply this to elements with background colors, too. It’ll take a couple attempts with multiple color-ways, but we think you’ll like it. And ok, we said this wasn’t a repeat of our color gradient idea, but it is sort of like color gradient lite.

Monospace fonts

We miss monospace fonts. Well, we don’t really miss them – we see them all the time when we code or fiddle. But we miss them on websites. They’re less popular than grotesque or humanist sans-serifs right now, which means there’s always room to see more.

The twist: Try contrasting with an exaggerated serif or a rounded sans for extra character.

That’s all we have for now!

If you liked this, stay tuned for the release of our reactions to 2017-2018 design predictions and trends. Oh, and leave a comment below or mention us @verarocadigital. We’d love to hear from you.