Anticipated web design trends in 2024

2024 Web design trends – These trends encompass the creation of visual and functional elements of a website. The objective is to craft a visually appealing and user-friendly website that effectively conveys the intended message or functionality to the user. These trends involve fresh ideas for layouts, colors, typography, graphics, and how you interact with websites. Expect to see playful layering, the help of AI tools, elements that pop with 3D effects, and even a return to clean, minimalist designs.
Based on the recent trends in web design, we can give you an idea of what to expect.

The web design trends of 2024 are ushering in a new wave of creativity and innovation, particularly in how websites are laid out, colored, and presented to users. Layouts are becoming more dynamic and flexible, breaking free from traditional grid structures to create visually interesting and engaging experiences. Color palettes are bolder and more expressive, utilizing gradients and vibrant hues to evoke emotions and enhance brand identity. Typography is no longer just about readability; it’s becoming a design element in itself, with kinetic and dynamic fonts adding personality and flair. Graphics are becoming more immersive and interactive, with 3D elements and micro-animations creating a sense of depth and engagement. The way users interact with websites is also evolving, with intuitive navigation, micro-interactions, and personalized experiences becoming the norm
.

• Typography: Look for variable fonts, kinetic type, and AI-influenced type selections pushing the limits of readability and engagement in 2024.
• Dark mode: Dark mode has recently been a popular trend and is likely to continue in 2024. More websites will offer the option for users to switch to dark mode, which is easier on the eyes and looks sleek and modern.
• Minimalism: Simple and clean designs will continue to be popular. Websites will have fewer elements and focus on making content more accessible and easier to navigate.
• Interactivity: Interactive elements such as animations, videos, and scroll-triggered effects will be more common. Websites will aim to engage users and create more immersive experiences.
• Personalization: Websites will focus on delivering personalized user experiences, from tailored content to customized interfaces.
• Voice UI:  Voice interactions will become increasingly integrated with other elements of a website. Expect voice search to work alongside visual results, and voice commands to trigger actions on the screen.
• Augmented Reality:  AR lets you overlay digital elements onto the real world through your website. This opens doors for more immersive product demos and unique user interactions.
• Accessibility: Websites will continue prioritizing accessibility, ensuring that people with disabilities can easily access and use the site.
• Illustrations: Illustrations will help websites stand out with unique visuals that communicate brand personality, tell compelling stories, and create positive emotional connections with users.

These are some possible web design trends to expect in 2024 but keep in mind that technology and design trends are constantly evolving, and there may be new developments and shifts in the coming years.

Let’s get more specific about what OWDT sees as the latest website design trends in 2024

Typography

The landscape of web typography will continue to evolve in 2024, striking a balance between user experience and visual impact. While readability remains a core principle, designers are exploring innovative ways to leverage type as a design element itself. Here are some key trends emerging:

Oversized Typography for Bold Statements: Website headlines and hero sections are increasingly utilizing oversized typefaces. This approach demands attention and establishes a strong visual presence, effectively setting the tone for the user experience.

Serif Revival with a Modern Interpretation: Serif fonts, traditionally associated with elegance and formality, are experiencing a resurgence. However, this is not a return to the past. Expect to see bold reinterpretations with thicker weights, unexpected flourishes, or even a strategic mix of serif and sans-serif fonts for a distinctive and contemporary aesthetic.

Typography as a Design Tool: The role of typography is expanding beyond simply conveying information. Modern web design views fonts as design elements in their own right. Playful letterforms, unconventional layouts, and subtle typographic animations are gaining traction, adding personality and dynamism to the overall visual experience.

Shapes

Geometric shapes were a big website design trend in 2020, but in 2024, it’s all about organic shapes.
Geometric shapes were a big website design trend in 2020, but in 2024, it’s all about organic shapes. Organic shapes, with their flowing lines and natural curves, add a touch of softness and fluidity to websites. They evoke feelings of warmth, approachability, and connection with the natural world. Expect to see organic shapes used in website backgrounds, buttons, image frames, and even subtle animations. This trend creates a more inviting and calming user experience, perfect for brands focused on wellness, creativity, or sustainability.

Thumb-Friendly Mobile Navigation

Web navigation trends in 2024 focus on creating thumb-friendly mobile navigation, ensuring that users can easily navigate a mobile website or app with just one hand, specifically using their thumb. Since many people hold their phones with one hand while using them, it’s essential to consider how easily they can navigate a mobile site with their thumb.

Here are some tips for designing thumb-friendly mobile navigation:

• Use a simple, easy-to-use menu: The menu should be easy to access and use with just one thumb. Consider using a hamburger or slide-out menu, which can be opened with a swipe gesture.
• Place navigation items within reach of the thumb: Position essential navigation items within easy reach of the user’s thumb. This typically means placing them at the bottom of the screen.
• Use large, easy-to-tap buttons: Buttons should be large enough to tap with a thumb easily and should be spaced far apart to avoid accidental taps.
• Limit the number of navigation options: Cluttered navigation can be challenging to use with one hand. Consider limiting the number of options and grouping related items together.
• Bring hierarchy to content: Make sure the most important content is easily accessible and easy to find, as this is what users will often look for.

Smart Video

Smart videos can be a powerful tool in web design, as they can help engage users and provide a more immersive experience.

Here are a few ways that smart videos can be used to enhance web design:

• Background videos: Using a video as a background can help create a visually stunning effect that can capture users’ attention and convey the tone and message of a website.
• Product demonstrations: Smart videos can be used to show product demonstrations, which can help users understand how a product works and how it can benefit them. It’s also essential for marketing.
• Video storytelling: Videos can tell a story and create an emotional connection with users. This can help build trust and loyalty and make users more likely to engage with a website or brand.
• Interactive videos: Interactive videos allow users to engage with the content by clicking on hotspots or making choices, creating a more immersive experience and encouraging users to stay on a website longer.
• Personalization: Smart videos can be used to personalize the user experience by showing videos tailored to each user’s interests or behavior. For example, a video may change based on the user’s location, browsing history, or preferences.

Material Design

Material Design is a design language developed by Google that focuses on using visual and interactive design principles to create a cohesive user experience across various devices and platforms. Material Design is a popular design language for web developers, mobile app development, and software design.

The primary goal of Material Design is to provide a design language that can be used across all types of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The design language emphasizes a clean, minimalist aesthetic, with an emphasis on typography, grid-based layouts, and color palettes that use bold, saturated colors.

Some of the key principles of Material Design include the following:

• Material: The design language uses the metaphor of physical materials and objects to help users understand how different interface elements work together.
• Bold Colors: Using bold, vibrant colors helps create a sense of energy and vitality in the interface.
• Typography: Material Design uses typography to establish a hierarchy and guide users through the interface.
• Responsive Animations: Subtle, responsive animations can create a sense of interactivity and engagement in the interface.
• Consistency: Material Design emphasizes consistency across all interface elements, helping users understand how different elements work together and how to interact with them.

Text-Only Hero Images

A hero image is a large, visually striking image or video placed prominently at the top of a website’s homepage or landing page. It is usually the first visual element that a user sees when they visit a website, and it is designed to grab their attention and make a solid first impression.

Hero images can convey the overall look and feel of a website and communicate the brand’s values, personality, and message. They can also be used to showcase a product, service, or feature of the website or to highlight a specific call to action.

Some key characteristics of hero images include:

• Large size: Hero images are typically larger than other images on the page and may take up the entire screen or a significant portion of it.
• High quality: Because hero images are often the first thing users see, they should be high-quality and visually appealing.
• Relevant content: The hero image should be relevant to the website’s purpose and message and should help to communicate the website’s value proposition.
• Clear and concise messaging: Hero images should include clear and concise messaging, such as a tagline or call to action, that tells the user what the website is about and what they can expect to find on the site.

Custom Illustrations

Illustrations are getting a makeover in 2024! Here’s what to expect:

• Organic Asymmetry: A shift away from rigid grids defines this trend. Expect to see illustrations embrace flowing shapes and natural forms, fostering a sense of dynamism and reflecting a move towards a more organic aesthetic.
• Imperfect Perfection: Gone are the days of sterile, overly-polished illustrations. In 2024, handmade textures and imperfect lines will take center stage. This intentional embrace of “flaws” adds a touch of authenticity that resonates with users seeking genuine connections with brands.
• Y2K Revival with a Modern Twist: Bold color palettes, playful patterns, and the return of retro characters mark the resurgence of a Y2K aesthetic. However, this trend injects a modern edge, ensuring the look feels fresh and relevant for contemporary audiences.
• Interactive Storytelling: Web design in 2024 isn’t static. Illustrations are poised to become interactive elements, allowing users to explore and uncover information within the artwork itself. This approach fosters deeper engagement and a more dynamic user experience.
• The Rise of 3D Illustrations: Flat design has served us well, but 3D illustrations are poised for a breakout year. The ability to add depth and dimension creates a more immersive web experience, making it ideal for showcasing products, conveying complex ideas, or simply grabbing user attention.

Professional illustrators or designers(ui/ux) can create custom illustrations. They can be made using various tools, including digital drawing tablets, vector graphics software, or traditional media such as paint and pencils.

Full-Page Headers

Full-page headers in web design refer to large, prominently placed headers that take up the entire height of the screen on a website. Full-page headers are typically placed at the top of the page and are often used to introduce the user to the website’s content and to create a strong visual impact.

Full-page headers can include a variety of elements, including:

• Branding: The header may include the website’s logo or other branding elements, helping to establish the website’s identity and make a solid first impression.
• Navigation: The header may include navigation elements allowing users to easily access different parts of the website.
• Text: The header may include text that introduces the user to the website’s content or message, such as a tagline or call to action.
• Visuals: The header may include large, visually striking images or videos that help to create a sense of atmosphere and draw the user into the website’s content.

Full-page headers can be particularly effective for websites that prioritize visual impact and storytelling, such as portfolios, blogs, or e-commerce sites. However, it’s crucial to balance the result of a full-page header with the need for efficient navigation and easy access to content. Users may become frustrated if they can’t find what they’re looking for on the site quickly.

Dark Mode

In web design trend, dark mode refers to an interface design option that displays the content of a website or application with a dark or black background rather than the traditional white or light-colored background. This design choice is becoming increasingly popular, offering several benefits including reduced eye strain, improved visibility in low-light environments, and a sleek, modern aesthetic.

Some key elements of dark mode in web design include:

• Dark background: In dark mode, the website’s background is dark or black, providing a stark contrast with the content, such as text or images.
• Light text: To ensure visibility and readability, text and other content elements are usually displayed in a light or white color that stands out against the dark background.
• Consistent design: Dark mode designs should maintain consistency with the overall design aesthetic of the website, including typography, color palette, and layout.
• Accessibility: Dark mode should not be the only option available for users; it should be accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments.

Implementing dark mode can be achieved through various methods, including using CSS to modify the color scheme, providing a toggle switch for users to switch between light and dark modes, or automatically switching to dark mode based on the user’s device settings.

Color trends

Web design trend colors are constantly evolving and changing. Here are some of the latest color trends that are currently popular in web design:

• Nature’s Embrace: Organic hues reminiscent of the natural world are flourishing. Think calming ocean blues, deep forest greens, and earthy browns. These colors evoke a sense of serenity and connection, perfect for websites promoting wellness, sustainability, or outdoor products.
• Bold Statements: Not for the faint of heart, high-saturation colors are making a comeback. Think electric blues, neon pinks, and fiery oranges. These colors grab attention and inject energy, ideal for websites aiming to stand out and leave a lasting impression.
• Retro Revival: A touch of nostalgia is in the air. Soft pinks, muted yellows, and burnt oranges reminiscent of the 70s and 80s are making a playful comeback. These colors create a sense of warmth and lightheartedness, perfect for websites targeting younger demographics or promoting creative endeavors.
• Monochrome Magic: The power of simplicity can’t be understated. Websites are embracing sophisticated monochrome palettes, featuring variations of a single color. This creates a clean and cohesive aesthetic, often seen on luxury brands or websites focused on minimalism.

Gradient Dreams: Gradients, the smooth transitions between colors, are adding depth and dimension to web design. They can be subtle or eye-catching, depending on the desired effect. Gradients offer a unique way to showcase multiple brand colors or add a touch of dynamism to a website.

Ultimately, a website’s choice of color palette will depend on the brand’s personality and values, the intended audience, and overall design goals. However, by keeping up with the latest color trends in web design, designers can create fresh, engaging designs that feel modern and relevant.

Web Design Revolution: What’s Coming Next?

Finally, based on current trends and patterns in the web design industry, here are a few potential web design trends that may become more popular soon:

3D Design: With more powerful browsers and advanced design tools, 3D web design is becoming more accessible. We can expect more websites to incorporate 3D elements to create more immersive and design-inspiring experiences.

Minimalism: Simple, clean, and uncluttered designs will likely remain popular in the future. Minimalism creates a more focused user experience and can help highlight the important content on a website.

Asymmetric Layouts: Breaking away from traditional grid-based layouts, asymmetric designs are becoming more popular. Asymmetric layouts help create a more dynamic and visually engaging website.

Micro-interactions: Small animations and interactions that respond to user actions are becoming more prevalent. Micro-interactions can add a layer of interactivity to a website, making it more engaging and memorable.

These are a few potential trends we may see more of soon. However, it’s important to note that web design constantly evolves, and new trends can emerge at any time.

Consult OWDT for your web development projects

As a highly-regarded web design company, OWDT has an expert team of web developers, designers, marketers, and SEO specialists who can be entrusted to optimize your brand and expand your business. Our awards and testimonials say more about us than we can. Our past clients are very successful and quite satisfied with the work, guidance, and security that OWDT has provided and continues to provide 365/24/7.