Parallax
scrolling has recently taken the web design world by storm, particularly
growing in popularity last year. But does the trend have a future in 2015 or is
it just a passing fad? To reach a verdict, we take a closer look at what
parallax scrolling is and then assess its benefits and drawbacks.
What
is parallax scrolling?
Parallax
scrolling is an ingenious innovation in website design that has its origins in
computer graphics for video games. Involving moving background images at
different speeds to foreground images in order to create an illusion of depth
in 2D video games, the concept of parallax scrolling was first applied to web
design by Ian Coyle, who created Nike’s “Better World” site in
2011.
Parallax
websites alter the pace at which a single page site’s background moves relative
to other features on the page to engineer an exciting and enticing visual
effect that has many creative applications.
The
benefits of parallax scrolling
Perhaps
the principal benefit of parallax scrolling is wowing viewers with exceptional
animation and graphics that really intrigues and engages them on a visual
level. The aesthetic appeal of a website is always important, and there are
few, if any, better ways of ensuring awesome aesthetics than through the use of
parallax scrolling.
Moreover,
visitors often thoroughly enjoy the entertaining story-telling approach of
sites with parallax scrolling and are engaged by its interactive nature. As a
result, they are more likely to explore your site for longer and in greater
depth.
The
drawbacks of parallax scrolling
Users
may stay longer on your page, but that’s only if they manage to find it in the
first place. Unfortunately, parallax scrolling arguably makes that less likely
as it negatively effects a site’s SEO. This is because websites with a single
page only have one set of Meta information, one URL and one H1 tag.
Furthermore,
single page sites tend to take longer to load, perhaps putting off less patient
users, and parallax scrolling is incompatible with responsive and mobile web
design, rendering it less effective at engaging users on the go.
Verdict
There
are many benefits and several drawbacks to using parallax scrolling, and it is
crucial that each company considers their own individual circumstances when
determining whether parallax scrolling is right for their website.
However,
it is fair to conclude that parallax scrolling is here to stay and certainly
has a future in 2015. Big and well-known companies, including Volkswagen, Jacob’s Creek and Rimmel London to name but a few, have
produced high quality websites with parallax scrolling and there’s no reason to
believe that others won’t follow suit as more and more businesses realise the
substantial benefits of eye-catching and innovative parallax websites and seek
to show off their creative side to customers.
