Web design trends 2024

1. Prioritise User Experience (UX)

Combining a modern and pleasing design with a fantastic user experience can be a headache for some web designers. Complex site navigations are becoming outdated.

Prioritising UX ensures users are directed to what they need from the home page, without trying to decipher a designer's intent with an element. A clear structure helps users access information right away with a straightforward message.

2.  Embrace minimalism

Keeping things simple is another trend in 2024, and ultra-minimalist design is leading the way. Just look at my website as an example.

Minimalism in web design means keeping things elegant and straightforward. It should be your go-to style for the next year. Besides looking good, it speeds up the page loading and gives users a fast experience.

3. Bento Grid Layouts

Bento grid layouts aren't a new concept; they've been around for ages. But recently, they've gained massive popularity, partly thanks to Apple using them. The bento grid feels modern and fun. It's a straightforward form of a grid, making it easy for your customer to see information clearly. This trend is just taking off and will keep growing in 2024.

4. Retro Futurism

In 2024, it's not just about futuristic or retro vibes; retro-futurism is a popular web design trend. It's a cool style that makes your site stand out. By blending nostalgic retro style with modern elements from futurism, it creates a unique combination that grabs attention.

5. The parallax effect

Although not new, the parallax effect has definitely made a comeback in 2024. It tricks the eye with depth and perspective by moving visual elements at different speeds. Using the parallax effect for animations can serve various purposes, engaging visitors and keeping them exploring your site for longer.

6. Interactive storytelling

In 2024 another focus is the art of interactive storytelling in your website design. Using animations, video content and 3D elements can enhance interactivity and make your site visually tell a story.

7. AI Imagery

AI imagery has evolved fast and continues to be a big part of websites in 2024. However, as great imagery becomes normal, standing out will require trends like creative typography to position your brand uniquely.

8. Kinetic Typography

Kinetic typography involves animating text to capture attention and convey messages dynamically. In 2024, expect it to become more interactive, responding to user actions for a cohesive and immersive experience. It's not just a trend; it promotes accessibility and inclusivity, bringing simplicity and readability to your website.

As we move forward into 2024, the world of website design is buzzing with exciting new trends. From easy-to-use Bento grid layouts to the cool vibes of retro futurism, there's something for everyone. The parallax effect adds a touch of magic, making your website more engaging, and interactive storytelling turns it into a captivating story.

AI imagery is everywhere, so to stand out, get ready for some creative kinetic typography – it's not just a trend; it's making websites more accessible and inclusive.

Using one or more of these trends can give your website a fresh and captivating look that users will love. So, stay tuned for a year full of creativity, innovation and awesome websites.

‍

Web design trends 2023

1. mproved Web Accessibility

In 2023, there was a growing demand for websites to be accessible to everyone. For instance, websites featuring videos were required to provide captions to assist users with visual impairments. Accessible websites ensure that all users could easily understand information and navigate through the site.

2. Nostalgia

Nostalgia from the '80s and '90s was a major influence on design trends in 2023. Fond memories from these decades inspired everything from product design to website graphics. During the pandemic, people turned to nostalgic elements to cope with loneliness, sparking a trend that brands embraced.

3. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) became increasingly prevalent in design and copywriting in 2023. While AI design tools advanced, they couldn't replace human creativity. Instead, AI empowered brands to connect with audiences in new ways. Even if not directly using AI in work, becoming familiar with AI tools was beneficial.

4. Minimal colour palettes

Website designs using limited colours and only essential elements to convey a message, were prevalent in 2023. While this aesthetic had advantages, maintaining balance was crucial. Too much white space could highlight any design inconsistencies.

5. Microinteractions

Micro-interactions, like clicking a link or writing a comment, enhanced user experience and brand awareness in 2023. These subtle interactions require minimal input, boosting engagement and ensuring smooth site navigation.

6. Mobile-friendly Design

Mobile-friendly design remained crucial in 2023. Responsive websites that adapted to various devices ensured a positive user experience. Considering the size of buttons was important, keeping in mind that many users operated smartphones with their thumbs.

7. Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) blended computer-generated content with the real world, creating immersive experiences in 2023. Brands like Amazon used AR, such as Virtual Try-On for shoes. This feature allows users to "try on" shoes using their smartphones, reducing returns and enhancing the overall shopping experience.

8. Voice user interface

One additional website trend for 2023 was the rise of Voice User Interface (VUI) design to enhance user interaction. This trend focused on creating seamless and intuitive experiences for users who preferred interacting with websites through voice commands, marking a shift towards more inclusive and accessible web design.

‍

Web design trends 2022

1. Memphis Design:

In 2022, the Memphis design trend made a statement with its bold and vibrant patterns, reminiscent of the 1980s. Websites embraced this style, incorporating geometric shapes, contrasting colors, and playful elements to create visually striking and unconventional designs.

2. Typographic Hero Image:

Last year, websites shifted towards using powerful and expressive typography as the focal point of their hero images. This approach aimed to capture attention and convey a brand's message through creative and impactful text, enhancing the overall visual appeal.

3. Visible Borders:

Website layouts in 2022 featured a noticeable comeback of visible borders. Designers employed distinct borders around elements, sections, and images, contributing to a structured and organized appearance. This trend emphasized clarity and separation within the webpage.

4. Engaging Interactives:

Interactive elements took center stage in 2022, enhancing user engagement. Websites integrated various interactive features, such as quizzes, sliders, and animations, providing visitors with an immersive and dynamic experience. This trend aimed to keep users actively involved and entertained.

5. Neo-Brutalism:

The neo-brutalism trend emerged as a counter-reaction to polished and minimalist designs. In 2022, websites embraced raw, unrefined aesthetics, featuring rugged textures, asymmetrical layouts, and unconventional color schemes. This style aimed to evoke a sense of authenticity and individuality.

6. Moving Type:

Last year, websites incorporated moving type as a dynamic element to capture attention. Typography came to life with animated text, creating a sense of movement and energy on the webpage. This trend added a layer of creativity to textual content.

7. Creative Scrolling Experiences:

Scroll-triggered animations and effects became prevalent in 2022, transforming the scrolling experience on websites. Designers leveraged creative scrolling techniques to reveal content, transitions, and visual surprises as users navigated through the page, enhancing overall user interaction.

8. Typographic hero section

Typographic hero messages involve using bold and impactful typography as a central element on your website's main banner or section. This trend emphasises the power of words by making them visually striking, creating a strong first impression and conveying key messages effectively to visitors.

‍

Web Design trends 2021

1. Dark mode

The dark mode aesthetic with black provides the perfect backdrop to make features pop on the page. The dark mode increases the readability of our website and delivers information to users with a higher amount of visual appeal.

2. Content segmentation

Online users scan information rather than reading the whole web page. Scannability to help people find the information quickly. Using eye-catching headlines makes it easier for readers to digest the page quickly, and is more effective.

A segment content container helps to guide people to the exact information they’re looking for. 

3. Use constraint with multimedia experiences

• Keep it simple - too many visuals can be distracting or overwhelming.
• Use different media formats to maximise accessibility of the content.
• Avoid auto playing videos and have a clear play button to give the option to play the video.
• Bold typography is another great way to improve the visual design of any website and creates a hierarchy that naturally guides the eye to import information.

4. Scrollytelling 

A growing trend in 2021 was telling stories through web experiences, to encourage the user flow on a site. The best application of scrollytelling can be found on the old Caria Watt website on the home page where the services scroll as you hover over the text. When you clicked on a service it would click through to the relevant internal page.

To apply scrollytelling you need to:

• Keep the motion within a small area. 
• Provide interactions on the user’s terms. Include a pause and stop when a person scrolls on the page. 
• Make sure scrollytelling elements help emphasise your brand, instead of  distracting the user. 

Use this strategy to create an introduction to your services, and help structure your website to lead users to internal pages.

5. Element consistency 

Element consistency tells us that all the functions and the visual elements act in similar ways on each web page. This helps users feel familiar and more comfortable with your site. 

The easiest way to have consistency is to have a formal set of guidelines to follow. For example, make ‘buttons’  and links consistent design and colour across every webpage. This will help define elements for web users and be easier for them to interact with. 

6. Muted colours 

Natural muted and subdued colours are the theme for this year, although in 2021 I believed in using the black backdrop with bright colours, to reflect our client’s personality - creative with serious intent. The use of subtle light and dark backgrounds make the designs feel more alive.

7. Gaussian Blur

There is the trend of using Gaussian blur to provide a swirl of soft focus to images and gradients. This effect has been around for a while but it has appeared more in prominent spaces in web designs.

8. Geometric grids

Grids are always good for simple designs and provide flexibility in structuring a layout with a clean and bold look. There is a growing trend to use geometric grids which could become outdated quickly.

By incorporating one or more of these design trends into your website, you can give it a modern look and make it more engaging for site visitors. This not only enhances accessibility by eliminating confusion for users but also attracts more attention to your business. When you need advice for your website, feel free to reach out and we can have a conversation.