Web Design Trends 2022

2021 was another crazy year, but web design is all about looking to the future. Because of its relationship with technology, the digital realm can be a showcase for new innovations in animation, interaction and overall immersion each and every year. Let’s pause for a moment to wrap things up and see what the future holds by taking a sneak peek at some of the top graphic design trends for 2022 and exploring why they're on the rise.

The top 10 web design trends

Every day, an estimated 500k new sites are put online—so, when you create a website in 2022, how will you make sure yours stands out? Here are some of the trends in web design we anticipate making an impact in the upcoming year.

1. Clean designs

2. Symmetrical layouts

3. Serif & lightweight typography

4. Earthy & primary colors (with a touch of neon)

5. Images of real people

6. 3D motion elements

7. Surrealistic visual combinations

8. Blur effect

9. Fluid gradients

10. Surprising interactions

01. Clean designs

Web design trends this year will push busy concepts like maximalism to the side. Compared to the demand for more in 2021, we’ll start emphasizing minimalistic characteristics and websites with a more delicate visual weight.

But don’t mistake this for all-out minimalism. It’s not the same minimalism we’re used to. 2022 will hold onto dynamism in web design, but sleekness is important, and we’re cleaning things up this year. We anticipate that the web will still see sophisticated effects—just more refined, less crowded and aiming for a smoother browsing experience.

Web design example by The Blue Denim Project

02. Symmetrical layouts

One thing’s for sure—a good website needs a harmonious composition. According to the principles of design, balance can be achieved in two ways, using symmetric or asymmetric website layouts. While asymmetrical designs ensued from last year’s obsession with organized chaos, this year's website layouts are embracing the theme of simplicity.

Like DaVinci’s Virtuivian Man, web design trends in 2022 will inspire perfectly symmetrical balance. From split pages and grid layouts, to balancing designs with imagery and text.

Symmetrical website layouts allow you to draw attention to intentional places, which is one reason why this is trending. For example, if a webpage is divided into two content blocks—half visual and half text—it’s a clean way to split the focus and tell a complete story.

Web design example by Tumult

03. Serif and lightweight typography

Offering a juxtaposition to modern vibes, serif fonts are making their way into 2022 web design trends. In the framework of typography, serif typefaces are those that include a tip at the edge of the letter’s shape, such as Times New Roman, Garamond and Georgia.

As we look around, we see more brands taking advantage of the elegance these fonts have to offer. There’s also a tangible aspect to serif typefaces that remind us of print, bringing a classic tone into this year’s design trends list.

In continuation with the minimalist trend, we can also see more designers implementing lightweight fonts into their designs: Texts are appearing big—but sophisticated. In line with the concept of colorful minimalism, the new version of boldness will come from color and typeface choice this year.

Web design example by Suvelle Cuisine

04. Earthy & primary colors (with a touch of neon)

Nature is in vogue again, and so are primary colors. Bringing a subtle tone to this year’s round of web design trends, earth inspired website color schemes are making an appearance in 2022.

Influenced by a cultural emphasis on sustainability, we’ll see an overarching focus on nature-forward designs. Society’s pursuit of sustainability and the preservation of our climate have also permeated the web design industry. What we anticipate is a mix of nature inspired hues with basic primary colors to create harmony.

Stylish neon palettes will work their way into the mix, adding a fun edge without being the leading aesthetic.

Web design example by Mikaela Rubin

05. Images of real people

Beauty ideals change every decade. Motivated by culture, history and society, it's clear that a new standard has reached the web in 2022—and diversity is it.

Inclusivity is the new normal, both in and outside the web design world, with more brands embracing images that speak to diverse backgrounds, races and ages and emphasize inclusivity.

The new set of standards resonates with everyone, and websites in 2022 should include images representing individuals from all walks of life: the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, elderly, diverse skin tones, body types, and more.

These days we are seeing many fashion houses and leading brands bringing real humans—not models and professionals—into their shows and advertisements.

By using images of real people that are similar to customers, or their friends and families, brands become relatable. Especially when it comes to eCommerce, this web design trend is a smart branding decision since more people can envision themselves using your products.

Web design example by Amber Magazine

06. 3D motion elements

Despite its already blossoming popularity in the past year, running the gamut from text components and abstract visuals to transparent videos—3D elements will be used as a design element of their own to create an effect that’s truly unusual.

It’s a trend that’s evolved. The hype around maximalist ideas in 2021 resulted in web designs using many styles of motion elements and transparent videos. But in 2022, motion will be synonymous with 3D visuals, and it will be applied with more precision.

Web design example by Yonson

07. Surrealistic visual combinations

Many websites will produce something completely out of the ordinary in 2022, going for the surprising effect of surrealistic visual combinations. Picture online stores in space, strange virtual settings and other Dali-esque imaginations.

These “out-of-this-world” compositions have major potential to capture visitors’ attention and let them get lost in your design. We’ve seen this recently with big fashion houses who are developing this trend into editorials. A good example is Balenciaga's SS '22 campaign below—the impressive creativity makes their collection stand out even more.

When thinking about how it will be applied to web design, it's important to say that it doesn’t have to be made using video. These surrealistic experiences can be created by using vibrant images on your site and combining them with interactions to create an unexpected impression.

08. Blur effect

Blurry elements are appearing everywhere, and we love this emerging web design trend for its versatility. Whether it’s blurring part of a visual, stretching or bending an image, or applying a dose of glass morphism—the blurred effect can vary in intensity, adding a subtle surprise that blends into a composition.

Using this effect this can add a sophisticated dimension to a website design, and for the adventurous web designers out there, you can level it up by using it with color.

This is really the edge of the edge, and it won’t fit just anyone. Brands that are really high end or edgy will benefit from surrealistic design, but it is very delicate and needs to be treated carefully.

09. Fluid gradients

Prominent throughout print and digital design alike—such as posters, logo design and website backgrounds—gradients are a trend with no end in the horizon. By blending multiple colors and distortions into one composition, this versatile effect continues to give brands on the web an edgy look.

10. Surprising interactions

From “scrollytelling” to animated effects that react to visitors’ actions on your site—there’s no better way to establish a sleek tone than using website interactions. In 2022, we’ll see many website designers using movement as a tool for drawing attention, but what’s truly trendy is the use of animation to achieve a minimalistic and unexpected web design.

Information can be hidden behind a certain visual element until a visitor hovers over and reveals it. This game of “hide and seek” can help maintain a website’s clean layout, hold on to information, and facilitate a surprising effect.

Pages will continue to be more minimalistic, yet dynamic and smooth. Even when it comes to the spread of animation, the movements will be clean and aimed at consuming information easily.

Web design example by Molton Brown

Happy 2022!

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Web Design Trends 2021

The 2021 web design trends review is here! 2020 wasn't easy. With its gallons of hand sanitizer, awkward Zoom meetings, and the looming anxiety of uncertainty, we're all feeling a bit frazzled. Despite the circumstances, we all did our best to move forward through it all. See how distinguished designers are designing their websites and how their trends are becoming best practices for web creation in 2021. I hope this list not only inspires you but makes you approach the web in a more inclusive and accessible way.

2021’s web design trends appear to share a common theme: rather than aspiring to hi-tech fantasy, web designers are seeking new heights of realism. They are blending the digital and the ordinary like never before, and it reflects just how much a part of everyday life websites have become. Here are 10 web design trends that will also help make 2021 a bit brighter.

1. Parallax animation

Image from Pinch Studio

From micro-interactions to particle backgrounds, we’ve witnessed the rising popularity of web-based animation trends year after year. 2021’s web animations are getting even more complex through the separation of page elements into foreground and background extremes, creating a parallax effect. Remember that too much movement in parallax effects can be harmful to people with vestibular disorders because the illusion of depth and movement can cause disorientation and dizziness. Parallax is the optical illusion that happens when objects near to the viewer appear to move faster than objects farther away. Although we see this in everyday life—when viewing passing scenery while driving, for instance—the effect on web pages comes across as equal parts real and surreal. The depth created through the use of foreground and background also has the added benefit of immersion, transforming the computer screen into something closer to a theater stage. As users navigate the web page, they are drawn into its convincing performance as if by magic. And at the end of the day, isn’t magic what the internet is supposed to feel like?

2. Retro fonts

Image from Spotify

The old belief of using sans serif fonts as the go-to font style for web design has been changing with the times. Indeed, sans serif fonts have always been loved by web designers for their sleek legibility and simple structure. Throwback typography has gone through a bit of a resurgence. We’re not seeing the same tired fonts. Rather, stylization and a bit of artistry are reimagining what retro fonts can be. We see this merging of old and new on the page for Spotify’s Carnival promotion. Instead of feeling stale and cliche, they breathe new life into traditional bold fonts with a bit of experimentation. This is a good example of taking traditional fonts and giving them a bit of a cool and modern spin while maintaining legibility. There are actually specific serif font families that designers have come to love, where we’ve noticed a pronounced preference for “elegant”-style fonts. Examples of such include the well-known font families Georgia or Times (both found in Google Fonts). Less well-known fonts have also become popular — such as Portrait or Noe Display.

3. Use of Emojis

Image from Diangelo Santos

It’s no news to us that worldwide communication has embraced digital interaction. Whether 5,000 miles apart or 5 meters apart within one house, people are constantly interacting through their keyboards. This includes emails, messaging applications, group forums, and so on. Things have grown far beyond words — alphanumeric characters accompanied by playful emojis in written text elements are now an integral part of our digital lexicon. The rising popularity of emojis has made its way to the web designer’s toolbox, too. Web creators have taken to the playful, endearing language of emojis, using them as part of their website content itself. Leveraging these illustrated gestures is now an effective, simple way to illustrate brand sentiment and non-verbal messaging in a language familiar to users of all backgrounds. Communicating with target audiences of all languages and dialects thrives on this technique — your brand voice can now be heard in a visual, non-verbal way.

4. Comfortable colors

Image from Taboo Organics by Creative_David

Given the increasingly digital nature of the job market these days, most people spend the majority of their time on computers. Because of this, it is not uncommon for users to experience eye strain after staring at screens for long periods of time. The soothing effect of light colors often encourages users to stay on the page for longer, enjoying the color palette’s tranquility and warmth. On Dockyard Social’s homepage, the pale mustard-like yellow and faded maroon-like red resemble a faded sunset, creating an ambiance of calming peace of mind. This somewhat explains the popularity of last year’s dark mode trend, which counteracted the overwhelming whiteness that dominates screen-based media. In 2021, web designers will be thinking outside the two extremes of dark and light. They are finding middle ground in soft color palettes, like wholesome greens, pastel blues, warm browns, or light pinks.

5. 3D visuals everywhere

Image from Pitch

With the advent of higher resolution screens, 3D design has come a long way from the blocky and beveled edges of Geocities. We’ve been seeing high-quality 3D visuals weaved seamlessly into web designs. Instead of being garish distractions, they’re adding to the overall user experience. The creative agency Sennep throws in dashes of depth with 3D elements throughout their website. There’s a nice sense of harmony here between all of the design elements. This is a perfect example of how in more minimalist layouts, 3D can make an even bigger impression. The example above from the presentation software company Pitch shows a colorful layout full of three-dimensional shapes, drop shadows, gradients, and layered elements. These 3D design elements bring this design to life.

6. Web design for causes

Image from [re]movement by DesignExcellence

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the various shelter-in-place orders that followed, the internet has become a refuge. Not only have virtual conferences become the norm for social gatherings and entertainment, but many brick-and-mortar brands have also turned to websites to keep their businesses afloat. And web designers were up to the task, creating meaningful and impactful designs.

In 2021, we will see web designers continue to value their role in helping the world through troubled times. What this means is brands focusing their web designs around their virtues, such as their sustainability efforts or community involvement. It means brands getting on board with stock photos that reflect real, diverse customers. It means a rise in digital spaces bringing awareness to social causes through interactive means, such as visualizations and simulations. And it means an increase in the resources and methods of DIY web design, making website production accessible to everyone.

7. Simple Shapes

Image from Happy Socks

The artistic style of the 90s era has also made its comeback in web design trends — this time in the form of simple shape motifs integrated throughout design schemes. These simplistic, two-dimensional shape illustrations boast one shade of color and no depth or texture. You can see examples of these shape styles on the Happy Socks website, which uses two-dimensional design on their product packaging and throughout the actual site. These basic shapes may also have text written on them and are often reminiscent of stickers-design from the 80s or 90s. These shapes may also be used as buttons (either static or animated), or as a sticker that informs us about a limited-time promotion. No matter what these stickers look like or entail, their common goal is to draw the attention of the website visitor.

8. Scrolling transformations

Image from Outer Studio via Dribbble

When users scroll, they are doing more than navigating the page: they’re interacting. The physical actions they perform in real life—flicking their fingers over the mouse—cause a response on the screen. Interaction is a form of participation, and when users are involved in things that are happening, they are more likely to be interested and engaged. Scrolling is one of the most subtle forms of interaction, and as such, 2021’s web designers are ramping up the visual feedback users get when they scroll. This can range from full-color scheme changes to complex animated transitions to wholesale shifts in the layout. All in all, web designers are taking the time to make each scroll feel like a new page—sometimes even a new website.

9. Cartoon illustrations

Image from Blush

There was a time not that long ago when websites were just text and a few images or graphics. Web design has evolved, with designers now creating work that connects with people on a more personal level. Cartoon illustrations have gained popularity as a way of transforming websites with a healthy dash of humanity. There are so many sources out there and artists crafting fantastic cartoon illustrations. Blush is a great platform to find custom character illustrations, like this great set from Vijay Verma. Cartoon illustrations offer so much in terms of creativity and making a brand more personable. We’re looking forward to seeing a growing cast of characters throughout web designs in the coming year.

10. Geometric Grids

Image from Hudson Gavin Martin

Grids are simple but have a lot of flexibility in how they can be integrated into a design. Geometric grids are gaining traction as a way to structure a layout, with a clean and bold look. This design from Hudson Gavin and Martin use blocks both for navigational elements and as well as for content. These big squares of color are fun to navigate through and work so well in keeping your attention. These black lines and borders can vary in thicknesses — often used as page dividers, specifically as grid boxes of numerous sizes. What I also love about this up-and-coming design trend is how its design elements often combine these black lines and illustrations with real photographed images, as seen in Roze Bunker’s design scheme. These images tend to be an entire photograph or a cutout. Either way, the black borders, and accents have a powerful impact on user engagement. Thanks to this captivating type of visual, website visitors almost always notice these images immediately — devoting their full attention to the messaging and experiences that the designer seeks to relay.

Ready for the biggest 2021 web design trends?

At the end of the day, the top 2021 web design trends look less like design out of a sci-fi movie and more like the actual design we would encounter in everyday life. It goes to show how increasingly common websites are as a part of our life, and the designers of 2021 are bringing them down to earth. How do you imagine the future of web design trends? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.

Happy 2021!

Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash

Web Design Trends 2020

Each year, we see certain design trends come into the spotlight. They catch on like wildfire and leveraging them can contribute significantly to your success. Keeping up with the times not only speaks to your user, but also validates your brand. Below are the top 5 design trends we’ve seen in 2020.

1. Dark mode

With the introduction of dark mode on popular apps, many users have grown to love giving their eyes a rest. Dark mode allows users to view their screen in a color scheme that uses light-colored text, icons, and graphical user interface elements on a dark background. When incorporated into web design, dark mode gives your website an ultra-modern look. Consumers usually want the most up-to-date products and services, so your website should reflect these trends and preferences.

Dark mode is a great way to build contrast and make your design elements pop. The dark interface complements the bright elements, allowing your users to read your copy with ease as they navigate throughout the site. In addition to great contrast, dark mode is known for saving battery life on digital devices, which is always a nice extra gift for your users.

Coffee website landing page in dark mode. Image credit akorn.creative.

Landing page in dark mode with main image of a shirt and suit with a button saying, “Get Started.” Image credit Davenport Blazers.

2. Mixing photos with illustrations and graphics

Layering graphics on top of photos is a great way to mix illustration with realism in your design. This rule-breaking trend has dominated the market in 2020, seen in many industries from fashion to home cooking. This alternative, creative approach adds a certain amount of “cuteness” and delight to otherwise bland, common images.

You can also leverage this tactic to call out serious attributes, such as communicating complicated concepts like finance or technology. Whichever reason you choose, this is a great way to add some personality to your web design.

Landing page incorporating photos and graphics to make a visually appealing initial impression. Image credit Zhenya Rynzhuk.

Main page for company promoting airbags for cyclists. It incorporates real photography of bikers surrounded by graphics to make a visually appealing landing page. Image credit Igor Vensko.

3. Minimalism and white space

Minimalism is a classic design trend still popular among today’s best website designs of 2020. Its elegant, beautiful, and easy-to-understand appearance makes this technique highly usable, yielding a delightful user experience.

It’s also a trend that has evolved over time; in 2020, for example, we’re seeing even larger sections of white space. This helps guide the user’s eyes to the most important parts of the page, such as copy or a product image. With little to distract, a minimalistic approach keeps the user focused on the product and what’s important.

Photo of Despicable Me 3’s marketing campaign incorporating white space. Image credit Illumination Entertainment.

4. 3D everywhere!

3D designs have found their way into many mainstream experiences. From Nintendo to cartoons, we’ve evolved from flat experiences to something more 3D. It’s no surprise that this trend has found its way into design, as well.

A parallax website design 3D design to break the boundaries between digital space and reality. It adds depth and realism to your site and captivates the user in a unique way. And with the rise of VR, designing 3D elements is in much higher demand. It’s a great way to create an immersive experience on your site, encouraging your user to stay longer.

Image of a 3D shoe giving a lifelike experience. Image credit Toke.

Image of a 3D frame with items inside and Gucci logo written above it on the wall. Image credit GG Marmont.

5. Streamlined, minimum navigation

Another design trend is to incorporate streamlined, minimum navigation. Minimum navigation limits the amount of choices a user has to make, allowing them to focus on your product. With your information architecture minimal, you can create an experience with few distractions.

Another reason for this trend is due to the decrease in screen sizes over the years. From desktop to phone to present-day wearables, UI real estate is becoming smaller and smaller. Designers are challenged with fitting navigation into smart watches, a very popular form of wearable tech. With screens as small as 44mm, it’s no wonder minimum navigation is a popular design trend.

Landing page showing very few options for navigation besides down or “Notify Me.” Image credit deandesign.

Example of a website with limited navigation; the only call-to-action is an email sign-up. Image credit Clint English.

Happy 2020!

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash