Split screen design is a logical and trendy way to give two contrasting elements equal consideration.

When to use a split screen design?

When you don’t know which of the 2 elements to feature more prominently When the site offers two entirely opposite variations. It is a good practise because users get to make their selection right from the start — and the site does not waste time showing both options needlessly. When you can’t really help having two Call to actions for the website. Communicate a stronger connection between two pieces of content.

Why are designers so adoptive to the split screen trend?

Split-screen designs are a fun, functional, and responsive way to create an engaging design. Here’s why designers love going for a split screen design —

It allows content diversity It adds more visual weight to two categories without overwhelming users. It gives a pleasant aesthetic with a natural hierarchy

Best practices for split screen design

This trend is more likely to be suitable a large screen or tablet, but designers also use it for mobile devices. What is it that then, that the designers can do to execute split designs perfectly across devices?

Play up with duality

This is one of my favourites tips while designing split screens. There’s so much that we as designers can do to make these contrasts interesting and fun! Throw opposite characteristics against each other, opposite and contrasting bright colours, different text sizes and typographies, varies nature of image etc.

2. Have the primary information ALWAYS visible

It’s quite an intelligent move when you know your users needs a constant reminder of a particular information. Also when you want to have a sticky CTA. Sticky headers are a good option for this but, there’s only so much space in a header. Having a relevant image or description in the header is certainly not possible.

Cam Strobel used the same technique in his split screen website.

Cam Strobel’s website

3. Unified navigation

It’s best to retain a single, unified navigation menu — ideally at the top, where it’s clear that it applied to both sides