Using overlapping elements in web design

web design manchester

Creating a website that delivers your company message in a clear and concise way, while being visually effective, is a must for any business or company. But designing this with individuality and creativity can be a challenge, and it’s often easier to simply stick to what you know already works. However, this is not the answer. Your company website needs to show personality and flair to really grab the attention of the audience, and drive home your company message. Experimenting with different web design layouts can help you achieve this. One option involves using overlapping elements in web design. But how does this work? And is it effective? Well, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. We create stunning web design solutions, for businesses and companies across the North West. This includes Southport and Wigan. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about web design and overlapping elements.

What are overlapping elements in web design?

Typically, in web design, each element will sit within its own space, surrounded by whitespace (space that has no content). This style of design typically allows users to enjoy each element, one at a time, as they scroll through your website. But unless they are particularly interested in your website content, and what you have to say, the chances are, most of your website users are not stopping to read your text. This is where more visually disruptive web design strategies can be effective, including overlapping elements. This involves layering content, and positioning one element under another.

Tips for using overlapping elements in web design

So, how can you use overlapping elements in web design effectively? Well, you could consider:

  • Positioning typography over the hero image. This is a frequently used web design practice that many people even consider to be minimalistic. But you can take this further by adding colour blocks between the hero image and the typography, to add an additional layer, and really accentuate the text. You could also consider shrinking your hero image and using over sized text to really make a visual statement.
  • Overlapping elements that are side by side. If you have more of a grid layout, you could consider overlapping the edges of each element, side by side. This blurs the lines between the pieces of content, and can make your website look more visually interesting, and less boxlike.
  • Consider asymmetry. One of the other popular design trends right now is asymmetry. This can be used in conjunction with overlapping elements. Simply be sure to not centre your top layer content, and instead to position this on one side or the other, to create a more dynamic website.

Considerations for overlapping elements

While overlapping elements can create a stunning website, it can also be difficult to design for mobile users. When layers are stacked on top of one another, this can be a difficult effect to appreciate on a vertical mobile or tablet device. In fact, it can even result in some of the content being unreadable. You should text your design thoroughly, on all device, and make any changes necessary.

For more information or for professional web design support, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.