Some websites don\u2019t need multiple pages but just work better with single page designs. Single page website are typically portfolio pages, product sites, landing pages, and sometimes company pages too. You always want a site with little content but strong branding and clean navigation. But that\u2019s not it. There are other trends which go into a strong single page layout. Adding to the user experience is one of the critical elements and a lot of thought should go into how can you design a single page that\u2019ll offer the best user experience? There is no absolute \u201cbest\u201d way to craft a single page site, however, here are a few tips and good practices which really work.<\/p>\n
A very common feature you\u2019ll find on single page designs is the automatic scrolling navbar. This is where you click a link and it\u2019ll automatically scroll to that section of the page. It works just like a regular navigation menu except for the custom animation scroll effect which offers a really fancy user experience. But sometimes this animation might feel far too slow to some people and that\u2019s one risk that you face when forcing a custom animation into the navigation. To combat that, you can use something that auto-loads different pages and scrolls down into new sections on the same page. The load times are faster with a much smoother transition. Designing a sleek, auto-scrolling nav effect ensures that page sections load into view very quickly and the navigation is also easy to read.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t want the navigation fixed to the top of the page you can always design vertical navigation. The links on either side follow the user along the page. They act similar to the typical nav bars, except they\u2019re a bit out of the way and more accessible in that space. Side navigation is not the best fit if you have a lot of text or need to support smaller screens with the same vertical menu. Instead, you can try switching to a more mobile-friendly, accessible menu with responsive techniques. Many websites also use dot navigation links. These aren\u2019t great because they don\u2019t tell you which section of the page you\u2019re currently viewing, but they do save a lot of space and look pretty sleek. Many companies use auto-animate through different sections which works well when you\u2019re adding flashy graphics into custom-styled layouts. Vertical navs work well if you can fit them into your layout.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re designing a portfolio site then you need to consider a lot of things. Well, a portfolio site is mostly all about showcasing your work, but a great portfolio also reflects \u2018you\u2019 into the content. This can all be easier to consume if it\u2019s on one page. It\u2019s not necessary that every portfolio is always just a single page. However, a portfolio website design works well in a minimalist design sense. It\u2019s important to keep the page design clean and simple, yet very fun to look at.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re selling a product or digital course then it\u2019s always smart to include a CTA somewhere on your page. This is especially true if you\u2019re designing a landing page where it\u2019s the only page someone might see. Like in single page designs. Try to keep the text as clean as possible, with simple icons and a really smooth design. You really don\u2019t want to distract users, rather you want them to take the desired action. If you\u2019re meeting your goals, then you know you\u2019re on the right track. With great CTAs you\u2019ll notice that font choice, size, position, and color all play a huge role. Those are bound to get people to click at first glance.<\/p>\n
Based on the title of \u201con-scroll animations\u201d you might think this is the same as nav animations. But it\u2019s really its own category and it\u2019s definitely a nice effect. You can easily add page elements that animate themselves throughout the page while scrolling. notice the different page elements animate into view. They\u2019re pretty easy to watch so they don\u2019t move too fast or too slow, but there is clear movement. The idea is to grab people\u2019s attention. It works best with graphics and different page sections, specifically alternating page sections. This effect does not radically alter the page\u2019s behavior or intent. This is mostly an aesthetic trend that just makes everything easier to look at.<\/p>\n