Top Website Design Trends in 2023
The main point of design trends is to break expectations. We want an element of surprise, whether that’s through color, shapes and patterns, animation, or overall layout. This’ll be reflected in the trends we’ve noticed that we’re going to break down for you in this post, but don’t let these trends intimidate you– there are a lot of ways to add in that organic surprise that feels really true to your brand direction.
Top Web Design Trends to Look Out for in 2023
We’ve had a decade of minimalistic, flat design, and now we’re starting to see more organic details added back in. These take the shape of many different elements, but there are six that we’ve noticed are becoming increasingly popular in graphic design and, thus, websites.
1. GIF IMAGES
Having gifs or some type of animation in your website design is such a great way to grab viewers’ attention and direct their gaze to something you want them to see. They’re also super versatile and, depending on how you use them, can either give a fun and playful feel or can still remain more professional.
2. CHECKERED PATTERNS
We’ve always been a fan of checkered patterns, so we’re definitely excited to see them making a comeback in design. As you can see in the example below, checkers don’t have to be done in the traditional way (but can be if that fits your brand style more). Adding angles can give the pattern such a quirky spin that’s still very synchronized.
3. WIGGLY EDGES
We love a good wiggle, and it’s one of the simplest ways to break out of the standard flat design that we’ve been seeing for so many years. Next time you’re creating something that has a straight or harsh line, try adding a wiggle to see how it can add a totally new element of design to what you’re creating!
4. ANGLED IMAGES & ELEMENTS
Long gone are the days of neat and tidy imagery and elements. Utilizing images that are different sizes, shapes, and angles– when placed correctly– can give a new spin to a traditional editorial style. When putting together a collage of images for your portfolio, try playing with the size, angle, and layout of the images.
Image source: Zhenya Rynzhuk on Dribbble
5. GRAINY BACKGROUNDS
Grainy backgrounds are the one effect that brings harmony to minimalistic and organic styles. It’s a texture that isn’t too distracting and still allows for easy readability of any text on top, but still accomplishes an organic feel to the design. Paper grain is a popular version of this, but we’ve also been seeing old film grain make a comeback that we’re totally here for.
6. SQUIGGLY TEXT
Similar to the wiggly edges in elements, squiggly text is another fresh take on breaking the expectations of what’s typically seen in design. When done in the style of the example below, we think it works best when used only for a few words that are a bit larger in size because you do have to be mindful of readability. With that said, it’s still a refreshing, out-of-the-box touch to any design.
Creating a Fresh Website Design That’s Trendy Yet Timeless
We've had web experience long enough that we know what works from a UI/UX perspective and are beginning to push the boundaries more and more of what's expected and standard. While it may feel as though these trends are too out of touch with your brand, we think it’s possible to work them in and still accomplish a trendy yet timeless design. If this is what you’ve been wanting but just haven’t taken the leap to get it done, let’s chat about your website needs and desires by filling out our waitlist and booking a call.
