If we’ve learned nothing else over the course of 2010, design, advertising and technology is in a continual state of flux, and we believe the changes that have taken place, and those yet to come are important to our profession, clients and most importantly, to our client-partners’ many customers.
Here at Designsensory, we’ve asked our team to gaze into the future and share some predictions for 2011. Here’s what a few people have to say:
Technology Sync
Start a checkout or plan on your phone, finish it on the regular website or app later, share your experience with a video from your phone while your friends stalk you with geoawareness.
– Brandon Rochelle
Mobile Contexts
According to an article I read in their in-flight magazine; Someone from Google was quoted as saying 2011 is going to be the year of “mobile” applications. Using your smart phone to decide what can I do right here right now at this moment in this location. Using your phone as a boarding pass is one example.
– Kelly Raines
Web Standards Evolve
From a technical point of view (albeit technology that will eventually effect function of sites in a profound way), HTML 5 and CSS 3 are looking closer to becoming a reality. They still probably won’t become commonplace in 2011, but with the launch of Internet Explorer 9 we’ll get closer to that, and hopefully see an end to wasting countless hours of development time for IE 6.
Something I’m particularly excited about too is the melding of ecommerce and social media platforms. That JC Penny has their entire inventory on offer on Facebook, without the need for the shopper to ever leave the Facebook environment, is astonishing. We’ll see much more of this, I’m sure.
This is a major company apparently talking about how one day they won’t see a need for a website at all, they’ll conduct all their online business via social networks – while I don’t agree quite to that extent, I think this is something we need to keep a particular eye towards: http://vimeo.com/15632643
– Samuel Clarke
Web Design Evolves
This article from Webdesign tuts+ has some great predictions for 2011.
– Sarah Mills
HTML5
More HTML5 use, especially around geo-positioning and video playing.
– Michael Pryfogle
Pervasive Tablet Support
As this Mashable article pointed out at the end of 2010, “more and more web developers are designing their web apps with the tablet form factor and features, like multi-touch, in mind.” This trend will gain more ground in 2011 and will likely bleed into general website design as well. The importance of providing users with custom-tailored mobile experiences will also grow this year, both web and apps.
– Mark Schafer
Don’t Be Evil
So companies are going to be less evil in 2011? Trust me. Google’s unofficial motto “Don’t Be Evil” is something many companies are embracing and sharing. Corporate citizenship and relationships between brands and their communities will continue to grow as an important element in sharing company and brand stories. Communication has long ago moved beyond product differentiators to a world where transparency and immediacy of dialogue can take place between brands, their customers and the community at large.
– Josh Loebner
Innovative, Designed Experiences Lead The Way
Consumers continue to crave and demand well-designed and not only functional but pleasant experiences. These experiences are blurred and pervasive now too:
An engaging conceptual print ad with a QR code leads to a easy-to-use mobile website that facilities an ecommerce order. The user can track on an easy to use website or phone app. The product comes with elevated, easy-to-open packaging. The product is tactile, and pleasant to use. The manual is small and environmentally sustainable deferring to usage videos on the website and Youtube. An email confirms successful delivery and cements the pleasant open-box experience with a human touch. The email also links to Facebook and Twitter to allow the user to open a dialogue not only with the company but other buyers of the product. And onward…
Technology and thoughtful design power this but what remains important is business planning that puts human-centered, empathic experiences first.
– Joseph Nother
By the way, we’d also like to hear from you on upcoming trends, predictions and forecasts.
