But first a few words about flat design:
Is it a ‘flat’ design a fad or something more?
Each person involved in the latest web design, certainly noticed the current trend of making modern websites. It’s about growing minimalist ‘flat design’ trend.
We are all aware of the nature of trends in each, including web design industry. Trends are when design techniques are concerned, very fast transient. But what if a minimalist flat design is not just a design fad, but actually return of a cleaner, simpler aesthetic solutions in evoulving minimalist approach to web design? Back in the era before the design tendencies toward depth and embellishments that dominates the field of industry for years. At its core, flat design is actually a return to the basics of design, while at the same time opens up a space to work in a responsive framework. Focusing on functionality, aesthetic flexibility and speed of loading.
Aesthetics
One of the very foundations of a flat design is aesthetics. This technique is minimalist oriented with a heavy emphasis on typography, color palette and simple icons. Pretty good combination when you need to deliver a simple and highly functional site client. Considering that this style gravitates toward softer aesthetics, allowing the designer to effortlessly switch the emphasis from the design to the content of the page itself. It is an extremely important function of each design, it should be a medium for the transmission of content and should never deter too much attention from it, it must be emphasized.
It can easily be responsive
Another aspect of this technique, which highlights the very simplicity is the ease with which the flat aesthetic shifts to smaller screens such as smartphones and tablet computers. This is another indicator of the flexibility of this design techniques. Focus on 2D environment or abandonment tendencies displaying depth elements help in transferring the images to smaller devices.
The focus is on the design of flat blocks of elements which makes content very easy to switch to a smaller display. This feature opens the door to a very large amount of users.
Loading time
Principally focus of each technique of web design is the speed of page loading. Today, it is especially important since the market is increasingly moving to mobile Internet browsing, therefore, the website should not be large in terms of space occupied. Simple colors (without or with little gradient), buttons, blocks of content, icons and simple images allow flat design effectiveness also economical taking up space.
Generally, if the focus is put on the website loading speed, there will be cases where users of mobile devices leave the site because of the long load times.
Usability and functionality
Finally we come to the most basic rules of design, functionality and usability. Presentation of content must be simple and concise, do not confuse the end user. It’s easy to notice when a designer turned in the wrong direction, focusing on the creation of 3D environments without sacrificing the look for functionality.
Visibility and minimalist layout make the flat design ideal in guidance and support that user to navigate through the website without difficulty. Thus we have a level of user-friendly experience necessary to make an impression better than the competition. Furthermore, the fundamental importance in the presentation of content must not be lost in the fight to reduce unnecessary clutter on the screen. It makes a flat design ideal in underlining the simplicity and functionality.
To conclude
While it is true that even trends can sometimes change direction of aesthetic approach to design, an evolution that takes us back to a clean and simple approach to building web pages could produce a new age of internet design which is something a lot more, and as it seems, this is the direction in which the flat design leads.
Below we have selected the best flat graphics for you:
Flat PowerPoint presentation
Features: 107 HD Slides; 3 COLOR: GREEN, BLUE, RED; Custom Animations and Transitions; Easily Editable; Table Design; Infographic elements and SWOT; 16:9 Slide Format; Many Icons and infographic elements Included in the Presentation; Map World & Globes; Map USA and Canada. Each territory and state can be used separately; iPhone, MacBOOK Flat Images are including. Download here.
Set of Flat Design Business Concepts
Set of modern flat design illustration concepts for business, internet marketing, e-commerce and finance. The set can be used for several purposes like: websites, print templates, presentation templates, promotional materials, infographics, web and mobile phone services and app. Concepts are easy to edit, customize and resize, because of vector shapes and very well organized layers. The file is available in: AI, EPS, PSD, PDF and high resolution 5002×14999 px JPG format. Download here.
Universal Colorful Flat Icons
668 Universal colorful flat long shadow icons. Well organized into 05 categories.Business icons: Science and Research,Document, Web, Human Management, Education, Book, Marketing, Office, Industry. Services icons: Logistic, Real estate, Gardening, Car Service, Home Repair, Medical, Finance. Technology Icons: Computer, Social Network, Space, Cloud Computing, Location. LifeStyle Icons: Shopping, Cosmetic, CInema, Party, Camping, Travel, Weather, Transport. Food & Kitchen Icons: Food & Restaurant, Ice cream, Kitchen, Barbeque, Vegetables, Fruits. Download here.
Set of Flat Design Banners
Set of flat design concepts for mobile GPS navigation, career, and business. Concepts for Finding the right place on the map for travel and tourism, employee selection, big idea in business. Concepts can be used for several purposes like: web banners, print templates, presentation templates, promotional materials. Concepts are easy to edit, customize and resize, because of vector shapes and very well organized layers. The file is available in: AI, EPS, PSD, PDF and high resolution 5000×5000 px JPG format. Download here.
95 Modern Flat Icons
New icon set contains 95 modern flat icons well organized (and named) into 6 different categories: Design, SEO / Web, Strategy / Management, Finance / Money, E-Commerce / Shopping and Others. Icons inside this set are available in different formats: AI, EPS, PSD (smart objects), SVG and PNG (256px – 512px). Thanks to vector files, these icons are easily scalable. You can also change the background color (or simply remove it). Instruction file is included! Download here.
Flat Business PowerPoint Template
Simple and modern PowerPoint Presentation Template. All slides are fully editable. Easy to change colors, text, photos etc. Perfect for business, corporate and personal use.If you like this presentation don’t forget to rate it. Features – 30 unique slides – 5 color styles: blue, green, red, gray, yellow – Change picture easily with image placeholders – Easy customization – Original Shapes & Modern style – Formats: 16:9 and 4:3 – No Photoshop required – Both animated and non-animated versions – Infographics, charts, smart art and more. Download here.
Flat Icons
This is a huge flat icons set of 3 different icon styles that contains as flat icons, long shadows and glyphs. All of each flat icons are fully editable, change colors with one click or go any size. Here’s what you get: EPS: 100% Vector Shapes (Openable in many vector based graphic programs as 100% vector); PNG: 32px, 48px, 64px, 128px, 256px, 512px (per icon); SVG: 100% vector shapes (per icon); PSD: 100% vector shapes. Complimentary Posters: The set contains 100% vector based PSD posters as print ready. The posters have been dimensioned to be 8.5? x 11?. Enjoy the posters! Download here.
3 in 1 Fresh-Flat infographics
This is a set of infographic elements Templates & Vector Kits To Design Your Own Infographic. The color scheme used is of a Modern and Fresh! type but can be changed to anything to match your design preference. Download here.
Flat Phone 6 Mockup
Professional iPhone 6 flat style mockup in high resolution (4000×3000 px). This mockup help beautifully and stylishly submit your work to the client and will simply look beautiful on your website or app portfolio. Easy to customize & edit. Download here.
Flat Mobile UI Pack
Main Features: UI kit inclues 11 PSD file all organized; True Retina; Flat Design; Completely editable layers, all icons, button and shapes are vector. PSD Files Includes: Login Screen; Signup Screen; Profile View; Sidebar View; Feed Screen; Friends List; Chat View; Suggested People View; Statistic Screen; Video player; Different UI Elements. Download here.
Set of Flat Design Concepts for Marketing
Concepts for online advertising, mobile marketing and digital marketing. Concepts can be used for several purposes like: web banners, print templates, presentation templates, promotional materials. Concepts are easy to edit, customize and resize, because of vector shapes and very well organized layers. The file is available in: AI, EPS, PSD, PDF and high resolution 5000×5000 px JPG format. Download here.
Flat Business Card
Features : Round /square corner possible; Easy to edit; Landscape Design; Optimized for printing / 300 dpi; CMYK color mode; 3.5 x 2 inch dimension; 0.25 Beed; Included files are 2 psd (front & back) & help.txt; All PSD files are Grouped & layered; Adobe Photoshop CS4 version. Download here.
Flat Product Catalog Brochure
This catalog is multipurpose brochure print template available in two formats – US Letter and A4. Both formats are super easy to customize to better fit your company, brand or store. Used fonts are free and Help.html file is included with links. Super flat design is implemented in this catalog, to help your products stand out. Paragraph and Character styles are organized and named for quick and easy changes. Download here.