Here is Why You Should Choose a Template with depth

Why Using 3D Templates are More Engaging than Flat 2D Templates

Websites have made a transition from being primarily text based to being websites which are focused on media saturation. Whether this saturation is from images, video, interactive walkthroughs, 3D models, or unique call to actions, a site must have depth and aesthetics if they are to make it amongst the rising number of competitive sites. This is especially true when considering a website template.

It’s a Competitive World Out There

According to one source, WordPress has over 70 million sites and counting. It would stand to reason that if a person uses the default template for WordPress that their odds of having a top site in the SERPs would be rather bleak, unless that template was customized to have some serious SEO content. And being that SEO is content driven, having the proper content is essential.

3D templates do not necessarily mean that the overall content of the site is a 3D object but rather that there are 3D elements to be found within the template. For example, if you have a site which is dominated by blogs and information, there would be no need to have it peppered with various models and distractions. You would want to have the text as the focal point.  By using a navigation menu which appears to be in the foreground or by having a simple inverted bevel on a button, the perception of depth can be accomplished.

It’s The Little Things Which Matter

An efficient website template will know how to implement the needed elements to add depth. This is accomplished by having a focus on the little things.  From social media icons which are beveled and shaded to give it some depth, to the gradient shading on the text input boxes, it is the little elements which have the most impact. Sure, you can have a fully 3D template which has 3D models, animations, and virtual or augmented reality. In truth, unless you have an architectural or a real estate site, an ecommerce site which offers the user various options per product, or a gaming site then you will not require a full 3D template. Focus on the primary purpose of your site. Yes, you want to have engaging material on your site so that the users will engage with the site and build up organic content, thus driving up your SERPs, but at the same time you need to ensure that the template that you choose is effective in presenting your information, your blog, or your product without competing with the aesthetic qualities of the site.

Animations and Engaging Content

Perhaps one of the easiest ways in which a website can add a subtle yet power level of depth is using animations and engaging content. For example: If you have a pop-up mail subscription box and that box animates when it pops up and when it is closed out or minimized, then there is a level of depth which is added to the site, especially if the box scales down and goes back in space. Another example would be to have your slides in a carousel instead of a standard slide show template. This will make the image go from transitioning horizontally (x ,y axis) to transitioning in a Z or a depth axis as well.

Why Does Depth in Website Development Matter?

You may be questioning why depth is such a huge part of the design process. The main reason is that we see in three dimensions. Think about this for a moment. Even if you are looking at a sheet of paper on a table, the eye distinguishes that there is a subtle shadowing to the edges, that the paper has a gradient based upon light, and that the table may project the darks and lights through the translucent parts of the sheet. All this is automatic to the eye. The more natural you can present your site the better it will be. Sites should have a foreground, a midground and a background with content layout according to the importance of the material being presented. Granted, the 3D models and the templates which are presented do not have to mimic real world objects (you could easily have a dragon or present a fairy), but they do need to give us a focal point. If you only have a 2D site without even subtle levels of depth, the eye has nothing to do but compete with the various elements of the site. Where should the eye rest? What is the focus of the site? Such may be harder to determine on a flat site (even though color and other elements may play slightly in helping the viewer determine areas of interest) than on a site with 3D elements.