What is modular web design?
If you are familiar with WordPress and other Content Management Systems (CMS), you may have worked with website page templates before. Templates are a great way of designing a website, but are rigid and don’t allow for easy customisation of your pages. Modular web design is different from template-based web design in this way. Modular web design involves visually fitting pieces or segments of a design into blocks. Essentially, it is where everything is built using a block grid pattern. Each element of the design fits into the modules in rectangular patterns. The way modules are arranged to create new pages is entirely up to you, and as content needs to change, those existing modules can be adapted.
Changing from templates to modular design allows us to start thinking of our web pages as independent pieces capable of connecting to build infinite possibilities efficiently and seamlessly.
What are the benefits of modular design?
Potential for growth
The online world moves quickly, and with it comes new trends, technologies and opportunities. In terms of your website, this can mean new content, new formats, or entirely new technology to be implemented. The beauty of designing your website in a modular way is that it’s future-ready. Your website has the flexibility to change and evolve over time, without having to do a complete re-design or compromise elements that make your website unique.
New pages can be quickly launched
Developing websites using modular design allows admins to create and launch new pages quickly, without doing any other development work. It’s easy to implement new modules, without requiring a full cycle of design, development etc to launch them.
Budget-friendly and scalable
One of the most appealing aspects of designing a website in a modular way is that it appeals to many budgets. With a modular design, it allows you to create a library of modules, rather than individual pages, and how you use these modules is entirely up to you, and your design vision. As your website needs to evolve, it’s a simple and easy process to change or add modules to refresh and update your content, with minimal expense.
Promotes good design
Repetition and consistency are key principles in good design. By repeating components throughout your website, visitors can easily see content patterns, which makes it easier to navigate, creating a cohesive and better user experience which could create improved conversion rates.
Advanced Custom Fields
Here at Volume, we use a WordPress plugin called Advanced Custom Fields Pro (ACF). Advanced custom fields allow you to have more control over your custom field data. This plugin allows our team to create a bespoke user experience, fit for every client. ACF provides a simple, structured block-based editor which allows our team to create infinite, drag-and-drop modular components, whilst constantly being able to easily alter, and update modules to keep our client’s websites in tip-top shape.
If you would like to find out more about how a modular web design would help your business, then get in touch today for a free consultation.