What are the top web design trends to watch in 2025?
Every year, new ideas reshape the world of digital design. Some trends become essential staples, while others fade away. In 2025, having a website that aligns with the latest trends is no longer just about aesthetics—it’s a strategic move to enhance your brand image and meet user expectations.
In this article, we explore the key web design trends of 2025 that will transform digital experiences and define industry standards.
Immersive design and 3D: captivate with spectacular experiences
Immersive websites with 3D elements remain a strong trend in 2025. Popularized on platforms like Awwwards, these designs push the boundaries of interaction through scrollytelling—a method that blends visual storytelling with smooth navigation.
Why it works:
- Primary use: Ideal for showcasing products in engaging, interactive environments.
- Emotional impact: These designs tell stories that resonate, creating a memorable experience for users.
Challenge: SEO performance and loading speed can be negatively affected. Proper technical optimization is essential to balance aesthetics and efficiency.
Examples:
Animations and micro-interactions: enhance engagement with subtle motion
Animations and micro-interactions have become indispensable for creating dynamic and engaging websites. Thanks to formats like Lottie, designers can now add complex animations without compromising performance. Tools like GSAP, Jitter, and Rive empower creators to craft fluid and aesthetically pleasing interactions.
Why it works:
- Animations capture attention and guide users, making navigation more intuitive.
- With Webflow’s acquisition of GSAP, this trend is set to become even more widespread.
Insight: Animation is no longer just a decorative element—it’s a strategic tool to tell a story and boost user engagement.
Examples:
Conversion-focused websites: maximize results with UX-first design
The "UX-first" trend is gaining momentum, especially for B2B and SaaS websites. The focus here is on streamlined designs that prioritize conversion through clarity and functionality.
Key characteristics:
- Optimized copywriting: Every word is designed to guide the user.
- Minimalist visuals: Every image serves a purpose.
- Result-driven design: A site that prioritizes performance over mere aesthetics.
Takeaway: Businesses are realizing that a beautiful website is not enough—it must drive results.
Examples:
AI-powered design: the future of web creation
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a game-changer in web design. Tools like MidJourney for visual creation and Sora for video generation are opening new possibilities.
Current applications:
- Aesthetic trends: AI-generated visuals, such as the trending cloud backgrounds on X (formerly Twitter), are visually striking but often lack strategic purpose.
- Inspiring use cases: Some designers are leveraging AI thoughtfully, using it to evoke emotions and tell brand stories.
The future of AI in video: Tools like Sora make it possible to generate fully AI-driven videos. Although still experimental, this technology holds immense potential for creating dynamic, immersive narratives while cutting production time and costs.
Insight: AI in web design is promising but must go beyond aesthetics to support meaningful storytelling and strategy.
Examples:
Glow design: illuminate your website with futuristic effects
The glow design trend is gaining traction in 2025. Popularized by sites like Huly, this style features dynamic lighting effects, often paired with dark mode, to create futuristic and visually stunning designs.
Why it works:
- Futuristic atmosphere: Gradients and glowing halos add a high-tech, premium touch.
- Visual impact: These effects grab attention instantly and reinforce brand identity.
Challenge: Mastering this style requires technical skill and creative finesse to avoid overloading the design.
Examples:
Anti-trends in 2025: what’s losing popularity and why
As new ideas emerge, some design trends naturally fade into the background. Here’s what’s falling out of favor in 2025:
Bento design: overused and predictable
Originally popularized by Apple, Bento design has been widely adopted in recent years, to the point of oversaturation. While its structured, block-based layout remains useful for certain sites, it now feels repetitive, and many businesses are opting for more innovative designs.
Key takeaway: Bento design still works for sites requiring clear organization and intuitive navigation but needs fresh adaptations to stay relevant.
Overloaded animations: the cost of performance
Websites packed with complex animations, while visually impressive, are losing traction due to their negative impact on site performance—a critical factor for SEO and user experience. In 2025, the focus is on lightweight, targeted animations that enhance engagement without slowing the site.
Gradients: a more subtle presence
Although still used, gradients are no longer a dominant trend. Designers are now applying them more sparingly, using them as subtle accents rather than central design elements.
Brutalism: a niche aesthetic
Brutalism, with its raw and minimalist approach, is becoming less popular among businesses aiming for a premium and polished image. However, it remains relevant for specific industries, such as art and niche brands with bold identities.
Conclusion
Web design in 2025 is a blend of innovation, performance, and strategy. Whether it’s about captivating users with immersive 3D designs or driving conversions through UX-focused approaches, each trend shares a common goal: creating websites that leave a lasting impression while meeting clear objectives.
Success this year lies in knowing how to use each element to strengthen your brand identity while delivering a seamless and memorable user experience.
Need help with your next web design? Check out how the services of our web design agency can help you create trend-driven websites that perform and convert.