Web design trends are continually changing and evolving. Keeping up with these changes will help your website remain one step ahead of your competitors and it also supports good user experience. With a new year underway, it’s time to explore the top web design trends to watch out for in 2025.
Artificial intelligence
One of the biggest web design trends to watch out for in 2025 is the growing rise of Artificial intelligence (AI) in web design. AI has become a big topic recently due to the rise of AI platforms and tools. The same is true for web design.
It’s now possible to use AI to make web design more accessible and streamline the design process. Many web designers have already jumped on the AI bandwagon, with an estimated 58% of professionals stating they have used AI within the web design process.
There are many ways you can implement AI into the web design process, from the initial planning stages right through to tracking performance. Here are some of the most popular ways AI can be implemented into web design:
- Image or asset sourcing
- Create web page designs
- Experiment with new designs or elements
- Identify areas to improve a design
- Track design performance or quality
- Auditing the user experience
However, given that this is an emerging technology, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the benefits. AI can streamline design, but excessive use may stifle creativity and lead to less personalised, more generic outcomes. Despite this, we expect more use of AI this year in the web design process.
Gamification
Another web design trend we expect to see more of in 2025 is gamification. Gamification refers to adding game-like mechanics into a non-game environment. This is a technique that can be widely implemented as a way to engage users, including in web design.
Incorporating gamification elements can help to create a much more immersive experience. Whether it’s creating a game from a loading screen, playful animations, showing a progress bar, or offering rewards for completing certain tasks, there are plenty of ways to add game elements to a web design. A quiz on the Elucidat website perfectly showcases gamification in web design:
Taking the time to implement such features can provide some worthwhile benefits, including improvements to your user experience, and being more appealing and engaging. If properly implemented and optimised, it can also be beneficial for your SEO performance.
It’s also possible to collect user data from certain gamification elements, such as user info collected from forms that provide an incentive for completion. While it can be difficult to fully implement some of these features effectively, keep an eye out for more websites adding these features to their web design this year.
3D effects
Another web design trend to watch out for in 2025 is 3D effects. Once a novelty feature, advances in coding and software now make it more possible for web designers to implement 3D depth effects to their websites to create a more immersive user experience.
Integrating 3D effects into a web design can be done in multiple ways, such as:
- 3D objects
- Illusionary depth
- Shadows and lighting
- Interact 3D elements
Adding such 3D elements to your website can help you stand out from competitors. It can also help bring your products to life in a new and exciting way, allowing users to see details from every angle as opposed to static pictures. An example of using 3D effects on a website is the Peter Tarka site:
Such elements help to make web pages more dynamic and engaging, providing much greater depth and realism than ever before. As technology continues to allow for greater use of 3D effects without a significant drop in website speed, more websites will continue to make use of this trend.
Micro animations
Micro-interactions and animations are another web design we can expect to see more of in 2025. Micro-interactions refer to any small elements that provide subtle feedback to users, such as a loading animation.
This links to micro animations, which are small animations used to help guide a user through their interaction with a website. Micro animations and interactions are nothing new and have been around for some time. However, the focus has now switched to using them with restraint and intention as seen on the Tedif website:
Doing so can help bring your website to life in subtle ways to ensure you provide a memorable experience. Some of the most effective methods to implement micro animations are:
- Motion effects
- Entrance animations
- Hover effects
- Animated headlines
- Lottie animations
With so many ways to successfully implement micro animations, it’s no surprise this will be a web design trend to watch out for in 2025.
Bold typography
Typography is a crucial element of web design for creating hierarchy, improving readability, and establishing branding. If you want to capture users’ attention and establish a clear brand voice, you’ll need to get creative with your use of typography.
This is why the use of bolder and more expressive typefaces has become popular. One method for achieving this is using bold and experimental typography. Many web designers are now sprucing up typography to stand out from the crowd. This can be seen with the Christou website:
Using oversized typography, bold fonts, or retro typefaces is a sure way to add visual interest to your site and keep the user’s attention. It also helps enhance the user experience keeping users engaged and staying on your site for longer. Expect to see more creative uses of typography in 2025.
Monochromatic designs
We’ve all heard the saying “less is more” and the same is true in web design. Simplifying your designs, removing unnecessary clutter and making effective use of whitespace is a good way to improve page speed and keep users engaged. However, some web designers are taking this a step further with monochromatic web designs.
Monochromatic designs involve just using either black, white and grey or one single colour throughout the entire design. When used in web design, it creates a clean and simple appearance while using a contrasting colour to capture the user’s attention. The Lemonade website showcases the use of a monochromatic design:
This makes it a highly effective method of generating interaction from a user for an important call to action. When used effectively, it can be much more impactful than a rainbow assortment of colours. Keep your eye out for more monochromatic web design this year.
Block-based layouts
Block-based or grid-based layouts are nothing new and have become a staple in web design to create stylish and visually appealing websites. Mostly used for the positioning and organisation of visual elements on a page, grid layouts ensure a page is aesthetically appealing and consistent.
Visual grids or blocks within a web page can create more striking designs. A bold, block-based layout combined with a vibrant colour contrast helps create a design that stands out but retains clarity and organisation.
Using visible block-based layouts in a web design helps present content in a clearer and more organised way. Usually in squares or rectangles, they help break up content into smaller sections that are easier to digest. This helps improve navigation for the end user, as shown with the Canva website:
Balancing visual impact with functionality helps to create a more effective design. Using contrasting colour blocks creates visual interest and natural navigation points for users can be especially effective. Look for more use of these block-based layouts in websites this year.
Full image headers
One more web design trend to watch out for in 2025 is full image headers. Many modern web designs are now using full-image headers to create simple, yet eye-catching designs. As the name suggests, a single hero image is used to cover the visible above-the-fold area of the page.
This is typically accompanied by a small amount of key text and a call to action. Full-image headers have become popular in recent years as an effective way to catch the user’s attention and remove distractions from the page’s core message.
The Discord website is an example of using full image headers in web design:
In some cases, web designers are starting to use more interactive elements and motion design to create more dynamic experiences. This is an effective method to introduce brand storytelling innovatively and appealingly. It’s no surprise that more websites are using this web design trend.
Do you agree with our pick of web design trends to watch out for in 2025? Many of the web design trends for 2025 focus on creating more appealing and engaging experiences for users. As more users seek instant gratification, web design trends are switching to ensure users stay engaged and interact more. Adding more striking features or interactive elements can ensure you create connections with your audience while staying on top of changing expectations.