The Most Popular Web Design Trends For 2024

When it comes to web design, new trends can always be observed that are already shaping the Internet of tomorrow. Currently, the most popular design ideas include visual eye-catchers such as interactive 3D worlds and eye-catching typography, and entertaining elements such as mini-games on 404 error pages. We present you with many trends to prepare you for modern web design in 2024.

 

Web design: Trends that are current this year

 

It’s clear: 2024 will continue various web design trends from previous years and will not fundamentally change the internet landscape. However, some trends point to a further improvement in the user experience on platforms that want to help shape the internet of tomorrow today:

 

• Nostalgic web design
• Interactive 3D worlds and elements
• Maximalism and overcrowding
• Web design for pure entertainment
• Creative 404 error page
• Short video material with added value
• Eye-catching and individual typography
• Neumorphism
• Personalized user experience
• Virtual and Augmented Reality via WebXR
• Further development of chatbots
• Socially and ecologically motivated designs
• Micro-Interactions

 

Nostalgic web design

 

By 2024, browsing through a lot of websites will feel like traveling back in time, with pixel-perfect graphics and vintage navigation that truly dates back to that era. In addition to the 1990s, the 2000s in particular serve as a source of inspiration due to the current Y2K revival.

 

Custom cursors with or without effects will also be used in web design in 2024. These can, for example, consist of a self-designed icon or have an animation that only appears when the cursor moves. The “90’s Cursor Effects” page shows different types of this retro trend:

 

Interactive 3D worlds and elements

 

The web design trends of 2024 also include 3D effects that give a website a tangible or three-dimensional look. The keyword here is immersion . For example, users are presented with a section of a virtual world in which they move forward by clicking or scrolling. To illustrate this: the department store chain Bloomingdale’s offers a website for immersive shopping or a virtual shopping center.

 

In the same way, in 2024, websites with 3D elements that can be moved with a mouse click or finger touch will be increasingly common . Such interactive objects offer huge potential, especially for e-commerce : customers can easily view a product from all sides and from every angle in order to get an optimal impression of the product.

 

Maximalism and overcrowding

 

Another style among the web design trends of 2024 is maximalism . Unlike minimalism, this does not mean “less is more”, but the exact opposite. Overcrowded websites where almost every element catches the eye in some way are the keyword. Animated surfaces, special click effects and colorful images are just a few examples that a web design of this type can contain

 

Web design for pure entertainment

The web design of 2024 also relies on entertaining elements that do not necessarily have to serve a specific purpose. After people have been confronted with some hurdles in recent years and continue to be, this trend is intended to delight and present old elements in a new look.

 

This web design trend, for example, includes interactive animations that users can move, activate, and more for fun. You can also replace the classic loading bar on your website with an original loading animation and make the waiting time entertaining.

 

Creative 404 error page

 

In modern web design in 2024, original 404 error pages also play a role. Just like the latter trend, the focus here is on entertaining users . The classic error page that appears when you access an invalid URL is filled with appealing or entertaining elements. In this way, a dead end is transformed into a fun pastime. We have put together some ideas for original 404 pages 

 

Short video material with added value

 

The inclusion of video material is a web design trend that is already commonplace. However, 2024 places emphasis on short clips that are not only visually impressive, but also offer added value. This trend could, for example, be implemented in the form of an introductory video of yourself or your company. Products can also be presented in an appealing way using short videos. If you want to generate more reach, you can also share them on the most important social media platforms.

 

Eye-catching and individual typography

 

Flagrant and individual fonts will also be on the web design agenda in 2024. Homepages greet with words and sentences that rule almost the entire page and often cover elements (aesthetically). This typography trend, which is also considered a feature of web brutalism, makes one thing clear: lettering does not only have to serve to convey information, but can also function as a supporting design element.

 

Neumorphism

 

Neumorphism (also known as “new skeumorphism”) brings more realism to website designs that have sometimes become very abstract. The modern approach is intended to breathe more life into the very flat, card-based layouts in particular. The various UI components of the pages are displayed in a 3D-like style by using lighter and darker shades in the design via CSS . As a result, the individual elements appear to emerge from the screen until they are selected and thus – at least visually – pressed in, which leaves a realistic impression.

 

Despite its popularity, this design trend also has its disadvantages. Users with poor eyesight have the problem of not being able to properly see the fine dividing lines when looking at neumorphism elements. For this reason, the trend is increasingly moving towards neumorphism with stronger contrasts.

 

Personalized user experience

 

The target group-oriented presentation of web content is one of the basic principles of modern web design. In e-commerce in particular, the selection of content and its presentation should be based on the needs of potential customers. While abstract groups of people have been in the foreground so far, in 2024 the user experience of the individual will move further into focus. 

A web design trend that will continue to be relevant in 2024 is the personalized website , on which visitors are shown content in a way that corresponds to their usage habits.

 

Virtual and Augmented Reality via WebXR

 

Most people are familiar with virtual reality (VR) primarily from the entertainment sector: the computer games industry in particular invests a lot in the development of virtual reality glasses and corresponding games. In recent years, more and more apps have come onto the smartphone market that not only have augmented reality (AR) as a playful concept, but also use the technology for practical purposes . For example, the real environment is mixed with digital input to plan the interior design of an apartment or to try on clothing virtually. Now the World Wide Web is also taking this step. With WebXR, the W3C has created an interface that replaces the existing, albeit flawed, WebVR technology and enables browsers to display VR and AR content.

 

Further development of chatbots

 

Programs for communication tasks are nothing new. Chatbots originate from the research field of artificial intelligence (AI) and are already used on company websites or in online shops. They are usually small dialog windows that accept user questions and display automatically generated answers.

 

Chatbots can be personalized thanks to machine learning algorithms. This gives users the impression that it is a real person who is answering them. Chatbots are used as virtual shopping assistants or as an alternative to the classic FAQ section.

 

Socially and ecologically motivated designs

 

Social and ecological issues have become significantly more important in recent years. This fact is increasingly giving companies the opportunity to get in touch with their customers more intensively and on a deeper level. The need and importance of active participation in the World Wide Web has become more apparent – be it in social media or in the form of a website of their own.

 

Sustainability efforts or social commitment are increasingly more than just marginal notes and have a much greater influence on web design than they did a few years ago. Prominently placed photos, videos, visualizations or simulations are just as trendy as a concrete design that is directly linked to the efforts of the company or website operator.

 

Micro-Interactions

 

Micro-interactions are a trend in UX design in which selected user interactions are accompanied by small animation effects . For example, this could be a like button that rewards the click with a motion effect or the smartphone vibrating.

 

Conclusion

 

The web design trends of 2024 are diverse and range from individual looks to interactive highlights. 3D worlds and eye-catching typography transform websites into digital eye-catchers, while animations and scrolling effects breathe new life into the sometimes very abstract online world. In addition, aspects such as high website speed and optimal cross-device display are of course also important this year.

Modern web designing services offer new opportunities to create websites that invite people to linger – without being overloaded (unless maximalism is intended). One thing that should never be forgotten is that trends change, new technologies emerge, but the user will always be the focus in the future.