Flat Design
Flat design is a minimalist design style in web design that relies on simple shapes, flat colors, and clean typography, without shadows or gradients. It improves loading times and responsiveness; in SEO, it promotes a better user experience.
Flat design does away with drop shadows, gradients, and simulated materials. It looks cleaner and loads faster because fewer images are needed. The drawback: When nothing has three-dimensionality, it's no longer immediately obvious what's clickable.
Therefore, a hybrid approach has become the norm in practice. Buttons are once again given a clear definition, whether through borders, a solid area, or a subtle shadow. A simple test can be used to check this: Show someone a screenshot without explanation for five seconds. If the person can't say where they would click, the design is too simplistic.
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