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Spend some time on web design websites and reading 2015 web design predictions from experts and you'll see one word pops up again and again. That word is interactive. If the predictions are accurate, 2015 will be the year of interactive digital content.What's the catalyst for interactive content growth? Well, HTML5 is certainly one piece of the puzzle, but more importantly, online audiences are responding positively to interactive content. It goes back to the fundamentals of creative writing---show, don't tell.Interactive content shows audiences rather than simply telling them. It gives audiences the opportunity to engage with the content so they have a better chance of connecting with the content. Ultimately, they should be more apt to share the content with other people and return to the site to interact with more content in the future.There are three interactive web design elements that are particularly popular as we near the end of the first month of 2015. These three elements provide online content with the interactivity audiences want:

1. Interactive Infographics

Why share information and data in a static infographic when you can make it interactive? A few years ago, interactive online timelines were very popular, but in 2015, content publishers are creating all kinds of interactive ways for their audiences to get information and data.From real-time data to data over time and every other kind of data you can think of, content publishers are creating interactive infographics to communicate data-related stories.

2. Interactive Moments

Interactive moments became a web design standard with the explosion of social media sites. Whether you're liking a post on Facebook or retweeting something on Twitter, you're engaging in an interactive moment thanks to a bit of savvy web design.In 2015, content publishers in all industries and categories are looking for ways to add interactive moments to their websites and blogs beyond simple social media sharing.

3. Interactive Images

The home page slider is being replaced with the large "hero" image, and that hero image is more and more frequently becoming interactive. If you're not sure what an interactive image is, a great example of an interactive hero image design is the Google Street Art Project site.In an interactive image, the image moves without clicking on it---like a video---while the text layered on top of the image (or above, below, etc.) is fully functional and separate from the image. Interactive images are becoming so popular that you can find them on any page of any website---from a small blog to a global brand website.Are you using any of these interactive elements in your web design yet? Have you seen an increase in digital content consumption since you started using interactive design? Leave a comment and share your thoughts on the interactive web design trends of 2015.Image: Roxie Rampage licensed CC BY-SA 2.0

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