We’re coming up on the half-way mark of 2018, and if you’re anything like us, you’re wondering if there is a pause button.  As we near the latter portion of Q2, we like to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. Typically, this involves a hard look at our processes, operations, sales, projections, and more. Today, however, we’re going to take a look at something a bit more ambiguous – design trends.

Google design trends 2018, and you’ll find that a lot of the predictive posts from late 2017 focus on bold typography. Typography will get bigger and better in 2018, they say. Specifically, designers will experiment with typography and negative space. Has that proven true so far? Well, it depends. Yes – it has, but only for appropriate projects. Boundary-crossing, ultra-slick typography can be a great tactic for products, retail stores, and personal brands. Is it going to work for western PA manufacturing companies? Probably not. So, today we are looking at one specific trend that we think is appropriate across the board. 

Bottom Navigation Menu

Most of us are familiar and comfortable with the notion of a standard, horizontal main navigation. It typically stretches the entirety, or at least part, of the top of your screen. And, if it’s done well, it probably sticks with you while you scroll.

A few years ago, they (who is “they”, really?) introduced the hambuger menu. It was a simple, slick, ultra-minimal way of still providing a user with a navigation, but it tucked it away neatly in the top right or left corner of your screen. Most users were ok with this since it mirrored the menu they see on their phone.

In 2018, we are starting to see a new kid on the navigation-block. The bottom navigation. The bottom navigation is just that – it sits at the bottom of your screen (on desktop or mobile), and it typically remains static as a user scrolls. 

Like the hamburger menu, users are largely comfortable with the bottom navigation because it closely resembles the interface that appears on mobile social media apps. There can still be a “main” navigation, but it should be a collapsible and expandable navigation like the hamburger menu. As you can imagine, a traditional horizontal navigation bar at the top would visually compete with the bottom navigation component.  

A strong bottom navigation menu:

1. Pairs well with a hamburger menu, especially if the bottom navigation disappears on mobile
2. Contains 3-5 links
3. Includes a basic icon and one-word description (no text wrapping!)

The bottom menu can be utilized for a number of different content types. One popular way is to use the bottom navigation as a way to take users to different parts of the homepage using anchor links. Worried about users not scrolling through your homepage? This is a great solution.
Bottom menus can also highlight different product or service styles or types. 

There you have it: the bottom navigation menu. It's pretty simple, and we're willing to bet that is will become increasingly popular over the next couple years.

So, what has your team been up to this year so far? The Blue Archer team has had quite a bit going on outside the office walls lately, and we’re continuing to shake it up for the remainder of the year.  New babies, new houses, new cities, new pets- you name it.