Is Your Website or App Stuck in the Past? Why it May be Time for an Update
Have you ever looked at someone's hairstyle or fashion choices and thought, “They seem to be stuck in a different decade?” Or perhaps you've realized that the shag carpeting and floral wallpaper no longer fit your current taste.
Just like fashion and interior design, website and app design need regular updates to stay fresh, relevant, and functional. As trends change and user expectations evolve, a website should adapt to keep things looking modern and aligned with the brand's identity. Keeping your website design up to date makes sure it stays visually appealing, easy to use, and in sync with current design trends—kind of like updating your wardrobe or refreshing your living space.
User Experience
Imagine if a business as large as Amazon, who has over 310 million active users worldwide, had decided to not keep their website and apps up to date.
Users would have experienced a cluttered and overwhelming interface compared to today’s standards. With text heavy pages and only a few small images, this can make it difficult for a user to find what they are looking for. Today’s websites prioritize larger product images, icons and clear visual hierarchy.
It is also worth noting that this design had several accessibility issues, including poor screen reader compatibility, lack of keyboard navigation, and missing alt text for images, making it difficult for users with disabilities to navigate. Staying a design like this would be a major roadblock to retaining customers and maintaining Amazon’s leadership in the digital marketplace.
Keeping up with the Competition
Once upon a time there was a popular social media app called Myspace. It allowed users to heavily customize their profiles with background images, colors, music, and widgets. While this provided a lot of creative freedom, it also led to a chaotic and inconsistent user experience. Some profiles were slow to load, visually overwhelming, and hard to navigate. Meanwhile Facebook, who was their biggest competition at the time, chose to focus on what current users wanted which was simplicity, universal appeal, innovation, and mobile-first design which ultimately helped them prevail against Myspace.
Example of a personalized Myspace profile (Persch, 2008)
Example of a Facebook profile (Zuckerberg, 2008)
Brand Credibility and Trust
An outdated look can give the impression that your brand is stuck in the past or not investing in its digital presence. An updated design helps establish a strong, credible brand image by showing that you’re committed to maintaining a high-quality experience for your users. An example of a brand that has done a great job of this over the years would be Apple.
Apple has continuously refined its minimalist design to align with modern visuals, while also maintaining a sleek, intuitive user experience that reflects its premium brand identity. They have done a great job of evolving with their product releases which reinforces their reputation for innovation and simplicity.
Just like you update your wardrobe or refresh your living space to keep up with the times, your website or app needs regular updates to stay fresh, easy to use, and competitive. Whether you just need a reskin or a full re-design yourself, Moser is here to help! Feel free to reach out to us using the link below to discuss all of your design needs.
Discover YOUR perfect UX package today. Contact MoserUX for more information at marketing@moserit.com.