Web Development & Design

Using Curves In Web Design

Posted in Web Development & Design by James on 10th of August, 2010
Tags: effective web design, web design tips, artistic web design, curved edges on website

The majority of web designs use shapes consisting of straight lines, yet there are endless possibilities for curves. Even those sites which mainly employ straight edges are often tempted to round off corners here and there. It all boils down to fashion, with different styles becoming popular at different times. However, curves signify very different meanings from straight edges, and understanding this can lead to better designs being created for websites where a particular feel is needed.

Straight lines themselves can vary in meaning, with a diagonal line appearing unbalanced with a risk of falling, which conveys movement when compared to its static, horizontal alternative. Jagged lines can seem aggressive, or full of energy, while the vertical and horizontal sides of rectangles convey containment, balance, order and stability. Thicker lines seem solid while thinner variations are more sensitive and fragile.

Curves, on the other hand, are sinuous and soft, echoing random forms in nature. They can add a sense of comfort, peacefulness and grace to a design, or more of a feeling of movement, depending on how restless the curves appear. Curves are less predictable than straight lines and can give a web design a more artistic look than a series of regular boxes. Depending on how they are drawn, curves can be used to achieve a web design that is restful to the eye.

At web marketing company Click Consult, we vary the shapes in our designs to stay ahead of the curve, while always making sure that we create a look that suits the client's needs.