As we reach the end of 2023, it’s time to peer through the looking glass and see what web design trends are on the horizon. So, step into the future with us as we cover the web design trends we expect to take off in 2024!
Recap on our web design trends 2023
Greater focus on the user experience
One web design trend we expect to continue taking focus in 2024 is a greater emphasis on user experience. Many websites are already putting the user experience at the forefront of their design, and it’s not hard to see why.
The user experience is crucial in attracting, retaining, and engaging users on your site. Placing user experience at the forefront of your design helps to boost lead generation, traffic, and conversions on your site.
The best web design features built around user experience will include such things as a simple navigation menu, clear site structure, balance of visual and written content, a clear content structure, easy navigation, and search.
Bento grids
If you use iOS, you will probably be familiar with Bento grids. Since Apple adopted Bento grids, it’s no surprise that web designers have started incorporating the same feature in their designs. That’s why we expect more web designs using Bento grids in 2024.
Bento grids use a grid-style layout to split content (for those unaware of what they are). The design originated from Japanese Bento boxes, where individual compartments allow placing items into neatly divided compartments. The same is true for its use in web design.
Using Bento grids in web design offers several benefits, including increased engagement, improved user experience, and enhanced visual hierarchy. To effectively implement Bento grids, you must identify key features, create a grid-based layout, and maintain consistency.
Scrolling animations
Scrolling animations is another web design trend we expect to see more of in 2024. For those eagle-eyed out there, you may have already come across a couple of websites that incorporate scrolling animations. We expect this to grow throughout 2024.
Scrolling animations are visual effects that occur as a user scrolls a page. Scrolling animations can be as little as a fade-in animation to a transformation of a doorway opening. Typically, scrolling animations highlight an element in a design or on a page.
Implementing scrolling animations helps to improve the user experience, helps your website stand out, and creates visually engaging designs. However, you should be careful not to overdo it, as it can affect your page speed. Performance-friendly animations that are simple are the most effective.
Here’s an example of simple yet effective scrolling animations on the Sleepiest website:
Gradients
Gradients have seen a comeback in recent years. Despite falling out of fashion for a time, the enhancement of CSS gradients has seen them make a comeback. Why? Because using a gradient allows you to achieve more while using less in your design.
No longer are you confided to using horrible gradients that blend poorly or look out of place. CSS updates now let you create smooth linear gradients in any direction and colours you desire. There are also options to use angles and multiple colours for innovative designs.
Implementing gradients into your web design can help to make elements stand out, grab the user’s attention, direct the user’s eye line, and transform otherwise bland areas of your site. Adding gradients into your design also can improve the user experience.
Denser and richer graphics
Another web design trend we expect to take off in 2024 is the inclusion of denser and richer graphics. Nowadays, websites can become cluttered with graphics, images, call-to-actions, and form boxes to keep users engaged or to boost conversions.
However, these draw away from the effective minimalist designs that arguably have a much more significant effect on improving conversion rates and engagement. As a result, we expect websites to start incorporating denser and richer graphics into their designs.
Greater inclusion of denser and richer graphics in web design will include more colour, greater typography textures, and patterns. As web browsers have improved handling of detailed graphics, CSS effects have also helped this web design trend.
Semi-serif fonts
The inclusion of semi-serif fonts is another web design trend we expect to take off in 2024. Sans-serif fonts in typography are those without serifs or extending features (the swirly bits) at the end of strokes. Semi-serif is a mixture of serif and sans-serif fonts.
The combination of elegance from serif fonts and the modern design of sans-serif fonts makes for interesting and unusual typography. While many serif fonts may look traditional or old-fashioned, semi-serif fonts are excellent for inclusion in modern web designs.
While semi-serif fonts may still be in their adoption infancy, throughout 2024, we expect more designers to switch to this modern twist on classical designs. Some popular semi-serif fonts include Andika New Basic, Marcellus, Rosario, and Kufam.
AI images
The rise of machines has come, and judgment day is upon us (or at least for images in your website). With the rise of artificial intelligence services, such as ChatGPT, it should be no surprise that people are turning to AI to create images.
While ChatGPT may not be able to create images yet (although it’s only a matter of time until it does), plenty of other AI tools can work magic in creating or enhancing images. Canva users may have spotted features such as magic expand or magic design.
Therefore, we expect more AI images in web designs throughout 2024. How effective this will be, though, depends. Some AI images are obvious and look distorted. Others are indistinguishable. Try an AI image generator and see for yourself.
Look at this image and guess whether it’s a digitally hand drawn image or an AI image (answer at the end):
Dark mode
Dark mode has been around for some time. However, many websites still need to catch onto this design feature. While popular websites like LinkedIn and Facebook support a dark mode feature, many others don’t.
With more than 80% of users using their devices in dark mode, this design feature is necessary for creating a positive user experience. Therefore, we expect many more web designs to adopt a dark mode option in 2024.
Check out these other popular web design features with users
Video backgrounds
Video backgrounds are another web design trend we expect to see more of in 2024. Videos are already a hugely popular content format. Incorporating videos into your web design is a sure way to improve user experience and engagement.
However, incorporating background videos into your design is another great way to capture users’ attention and keep them on the page. Including a video background above the fold is a sure way to provide an immersive and dynamic visual experience.
Here’s an example from Intelligent Video Solutions (or IVS):
A video background can show off a product or features, tell a story, or create a mood. Unlike static images, a video background is much better at grabbing a user’s attention and communicating messages. So, give them a go!
Do you agree with our pick of web design trends for 2024? Web design continually evolves to keep up with technological advances, updates, and user expectations. Web design trends for 2024 will be no different.
The image in the AI section was created using Canvas Magic Create AI tool.