Color and Typography in Web Design

There are several key factors to using color and typography in websites correctly, all of which contribute to a great website. Readability is one, and within it it requires text to be suitably sized, high contrast, and well organized in a hierarchy. This enables users to actually read, understand, and process the information you're throwing at them. They also need to be able to scan the text effectively with good organizational headers and bolded key points from the text. High contrast text makes the website readable, because you don't want it to end up like this. Size matters, too. Bigger text is more obvious to readers, and indicates key organizational points and sections, enabling faster scanning and more comprehensive reading.
Another key concept is typography, the art of using text to capture attention and interest. For example, which "Advertisement would you be more willing to click on?

SALE! ONE DAY ONLY. BUY HERE.

or

Sale

One day only. Buy here.

The second one is an example of effective typography. Not only does it look nice, but it's not obnoxious and attracts attention to itself. Color and typography are important tools in the arsenal of any web designer, and (when used effectively) can create beautiful, elegant websites.

Works Cited

Cousins, Carrie. "Effective Typography-Driven Web Design." Codrops Effective TypographyDriven Web Design Comments. CODROPS, Inc, 1 May 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Cronin, Matt. "10 Principles For Readable Web Typography | Smashing Magazine." 10 Principles For Readable Web Typography | Smashing Magazine. Smashing MAgazine, 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Snell, Steven. "Color and Typography in Good Design." Web Blog by COLOURlovers. CHROMAom, Inc, 19 Dec. 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Trends in Web Design

Creating webpages with adaptive interfaces that look good on desktop, tablet, and smartphone screens will become a huge trend in the coming years. Adaptive interface refers to the property of a website that allows it to change its size and appearance based on the type of system that is viewing it. For example, a smartphone has a small screen, which requires larger text and a more linear page flow. Also, devices with touch interfaces require larger, easier to hit buttons than desktops, where users have the luxury of a very precise mouse pointer instead of large, unwieldy digits. This creates a better user experience on every platform, improving ratings and sales.
This also serves to improve user feedback. Those using adaptive websites on mobile devices rate their experience higher than those using desktop webpages on mobile devices. This is hugely important due to the high adoption rate of mobile devices into people's daily lives. In the coming years, this rate will only increase as new devices are introduced and catch on. Adaptive websites will look good and function far into the future with very few changes.

Works Cited

"Adaptive Website." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Aug. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Ponchot, Jared. "Lullabot." Responsive & Adaptive Web Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Villalobos, Ray. "Creating an Adaptive Web Site for Multiple Screens." Lynda.com. Lynda.com, Inc, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.