Every Web Design Trend that Will Explode in 2024

Web Design
Every Web Design Trend that Will Explode in 2024
Article by Maria Martin
Last Updated: February 26, 2024

Looking into our mystic ball, we’re predicting that 2024 is going to be filled with a bundle of exciting trends and new developments in the world of design! With so many graphic design companies looking to one-up each other, innovation is sure to follow.

While 2023 was an amazing year for design, here's what we reckon will hit the front pages in the web design world in the next year, according to insights from a leading product design company.

1. Accessibility Stays a Top Priority

The changes in regulation regarding web design and the release of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are set to make the Internet more accessible for people with disabilities. How does this change the world of website design?

Well, the aim is to “expand accessibility for a wider variety of people with disabilities, such as people with low vision, learning disabilities, speech disabilities and multiple disabilities, all of whom potentially have more opportunities online than ever, thanks to advanced technology,” according to the group working on the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

The guidelines are also intended to enhance accessibility on small screens, touch screens and other features common to mobile devices and tablets.

Moreover, with the expected increase in usage of web-connected technologies, such as driverless cars and cashless payments, WCAG 2.1 also ensures that these technologies are designed with people with disabilities in mind.

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2. Expressive Typography Will Soar

While it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, properly used typography can be far more valuable. Expressive typography is a great example of the visual value of the text.

It communicates messages more compellingly and memorably and conveys emotions, moods, or ideas beyond their literal meaning. It makes a statement, grabs attention and adds personality to a website's visual identity.

This trend is characterized by using bold, striking typography that dominates the page and draws the user's attention. It often involves combining different typefaces, font sizes, weights and colors to create contrast and visual interest.

Expressive typography makes a website more engaging and effective at conveying its purpose or promoting a product or service. It's a trend that reflects the increasing importance of visual storytelling and the role of design in enhancing user experience.

3. Speaking of Art… Illustrations Galore!

Illustrations, visual representations of a concept or idea, have become an increasingly popular trend in web design in recent years. They are often used to create a unique visual language that reflects a brand's personality, values and tone of voice.

Illustrations can add a touch of playfulness to a website, making it easily digestible, more memorable, and engaging for users. They can also help to simplify complex information and make it more understandable and accessible to the user. For example, a financial website might use an illustration to explain complex financial concepts simply and visually appealingly.

Illustrations Web Design Trend

Another benefit - illustrations can create a cohesive and consistent visual identity for a brand.

As mentioned, illustrations are also an excellent way to include a company’s brand or tone within graphics through web designs, which is normally quite difficult to achieve. Casper is an excellent example of smart and sparing custom illustrations that maintain a trendy, friendly brand identity.

4. Gradients, Gradients, Gradients

Gradients have been a popular trend in web design for several years now and are staying pretty important in 2024, too.

A gradient is a gradual blend of two or more colors, usually in a linear or radial direction. It adds depth, dimensions and visual interest to a website's background, buttons or text.

Gradients Web Design Trend

Gradients create a sense of movement or energy. They are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. They can be subtle or bold, bright or muted, and combined with other design elements, such as typography or illustrations to create a unique visual language.

For example, a website might use a gradient background to create the illusion of a sunrise or sunset, or a button might use a gradient to make it appear more three-dimensional and interactive.

5. Increased Use of Negative (White) Space

Negative space also called “white space” is an unoccupied area of a design or page. You can think of it as breathing room for the fundamental components of a webpage or design.

Negative space is not an innovation in web design that web designers are expected to start using; rather, it is a user-driven requirement. By that, we simply mean that users' reading and usage habits on websites, mainly caused by increased mobile browsing, have prompted designers to increase the amount of space on pages.

Negative Space Web Design Trend

The consequence is a more open-page layout than previously considered optimal. The scanning approach to browsing websites that are now commonly used by website visitors means that without an increase in negative space, they’ll often feel overwhelmed.

6. Improved Chatbots With a Focus on Conversational Design

Chatbots are changing how we interact with websites, and web designers must be aware of best practices when designing a chatbot, as demand is expected to increase in 2024.

In short, the emphasis on conversational design is the touchpoint where UX and web designers will be the most important in 2024. Chatbots are getting better by the day, and it all comes down to how they interact with humans - through more relevant, engaging conversations.

Chatbots Web Design Trend

Of course, conversational design entails more than just using a variety of emojis and GIFs. Chatbots are expected to pace web design innovation and development in the coming year.

7. Watch Out for Issues With Bright Colors and Small Fonts

There are two main concerns about using bright colors and the type of font you select. Firstly, regarding the ADA regulation updates, you might want to tone down the use of incredibly bright backgrounds with white fonts - they’re sometimes quite difficult to read.

With 2024 being the year of accessibility, you don’t want to drive down this road.

Secondly, small fonts have been gradually on the way out for years, but 2024 could be the final nail in the coffin for small fonts in web design. As mentioned earlier in our list, the attention spans of your typical users are short, and the content scanning techniques that many users opt for mean that they will skip your tiny text.

While bright colors were popular in 2021, we’d air caution about where and when you use them in 2024.

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8. Virtual Reality Video Will Go Everywhere

Much like chatbots, virtual reality (VR) has been a buzzword over the last 1-2 years, particularly in tech and design. With the increase in the uptake of VR equipment and compatibility, we will say that VR video is set to take center stage (quite literally) in the next year.

There are some industries in particular where you’ll probably notice the use of VR video more prominently than others. One that springs to mind is real estate, property or restaurant bookings. Giving VR video tours of houses or flats online can save time, and costs and ultimately make the entire rental market process much smoother.

VR Web Design Trend

Use the video file converter to provide VR video in the best format. Matterport is largely considered the industry leader in delivering high-quality VR video solutions for the housing industry. The results are pretty impressive!

9. Voice User Interfaces Will Improve Accessibility

The use of voice has boomed recently with the launch of Alexa, Siri, Cortado, Google Assistant and probably a range of other uniquely named devices! Voice technology will bloom and expand in 2024 since it has become an essential medium for users to access online content.

For example, the implications of not integrating voice-activated navigation could soon infringe on the ADA mentioned above regulations, so keep an eye out for how VUI develops in 2024.

Not only are VUIs extremely good at saving time, but they’re also a great interface for drivers, as well as the visually impaired. The future of excellent UX may be in the strategically placed and well-thought-out VUI elements.

10. Even More Humanizing Digital Experiences

There’s now an expectation from users that they’re going to interact with their digital products in the same way they would with another person.

In 2024, designers will be faced with addressing this challenge even further and will be required to prepare digital products to deliver on those expectations.

There’s a direct link between the trend of humanizing digital experiences and human emotions.

How users choose to interact with a product heavily determines whether they’ll use it in the future or long term. By focusing on the emotional impact of interaction, designers can influence users into choosing products over others.

11. Mobile-First Design Is More Important Than Ever

In mobile-first design, the design and development process begins with the mobile device in mind first, then expands to desktop and other larger screens. This approach prioritizes the mobile UX by designing interfaces optimized for small screens and touch-based interactions.

Mobile-first design started to matter as mobile usage overtook desktop usage and has only continued to grow since then. As more and more people access the internet on their mobile devices, it has become essential for web designers and developers to prioritize mobile design to ensure that websites are accessible and usable across all devices.

In 2024, the mobile-first design will be even more important as the number of mobile users continues to increase. It reached 5.44 billion in January 2023, as mobile devices become more powerful and capable of handling more complex tasks. The mobile-first design ensures that websites are fast, responsive and easy to use on small screens, which is critical for providing a good user experience and retaining users.

The mobile-first design has many benefits, such as improved website performance, better search engine optimization and easier maintenance and updates.

Overall, mobile-first design is an essential trend in web design in 2024 and is expected to continue to shape the future of web design for years to come.

12. Dynamic Scrolling

A design technique that allows website content to be loaded and displayed as users scroll down the page instead of loading the entire page at once is known as dynamic or infinite scrolling and it continues to be a big hit in 2024!

One of the trends in dynamic scrolling for 2024 is the use of lazy loading. Lazy loading delays loading images and non-critical content until the user scrolls down to that page section. It can significantly improve page load times and reduce the amount of data that needs to be loaded initially.

Another trend in dynamic scrolling for 2024 is using animation and interaction to enhance the scrolling experience. This trend can include parallax scrolling, where different elements of the page move at different speeds as the user scrolls, or scrolling triggers to reveal hidden content or trigger animations.

Dynamic scrolling is an important trend in web design for 2024 because it can improve user engagement and provide a more fluid and intuitive user experience.

However, balance the benefits of dynamic scrolling with potential drawbacks such as slower page load times, accessibility and SEO issues.

13. Enriched Interactive Storytelling

Combining storytelling with interactive elements to create engaging and immersive user experiences is a trend that has been gaining popularity in web design over the past few years. In 2024, we expect to see even more advancements in interactive storytelling.

One of the ways designers will level up interactive storytelling for 2024 is by using virtual and augmented reality. These technologies help create more immersive and interactive experiences that allow users to feel like they are a part of the story.

Another trend in interactive storytelling for 2024 is the use of gamification. By adding game-like elements to storytelling experiences, designers can increase engagement and encourage users to spend more time on the site.

We can also expect to see more personalized and adaptive storytelling experiences. Using data and machine learning, designers can create experiences tailored to each user, providing a more engaging and relevant experience.

14. Minimalism and Simplicity Will Rule Web Design

Minimalism and simplicity are timeless trends in web design that prioritize clear, clean layouts and a focus on essential elements. These trends were present in previous years and are staying in 2024, with even greater emphasis, since designers continue prioritizing user experience and mobile-first design.

Besides the abovementioned whitespace and bold typography, one of the symbols of minimalism are minimalist navigation menus, which we expect to see more in 2024. By simplifying navigation menus and using clear, concise labels, designers can make it easier for users to find what they're looking for and navigate the site.

By focusing on the essential elements and creating a clean and uncluttered layout, designers can create websites that are easy to use and aesthetically pleasing, regardless of the device or platform.

15. Modern Geometric Shape Aesthetic

Geometric shapes and patterns provide a clean, modern aesthetic and create visually exciting and dynamic websites.

In 2024 designers will use isometric design, which involves creating three-dimensional shapes and patterns using a series of parallel lines, which can create the illusion of depth and movement. You can use this technique to create dynamic and engaging graphics and animations that draw the user's attention.

Another web design trend in geometric shapes and patterns that will rule 2024 is asymmetrical and abstract shapes. Designers can create visually attractive and unique layouts by experimenting with more abstract and unconventional designs.

You can also combine geometric shapes and patterns with other design trends, such as minimalism, to emphasize clean and modern designs and create cohesive and aesthetically pleasing websites that stand out from the competition.

Web Design Trends: Final Thoughts

In 2024, the most important web design trends will focus on UX, mobile-friendliness, accessibility and personalization. Websites will become more interactive and dynamic, with more VR elements, illustrations, storytelling and immersive experiences.

As the world of web design is constantly evolving, web designers and developers need to keep an eye on new trends and technologies. Staying current with the latest trends and best practices can help ensure that websites are visually appealing and functional. Modern and easy-to-use websites provide users with an enjoyable and seamless browsing experience, essential for their satisfaction and retention.

However, we realize how hard it can be to decide which trends resonate best with your target audience and which to apply to your website. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact some of our best design professionals and develop the website of your dreams!

FAQ

1. What is the importance of UX and UI in the mobile app?

UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) ensure that the app is easy to use, visually appealing and provides a satisfying experience.

UX and UI are the main factors influencing users' decision to use or abandon the app. Good UX and UI design can lead to higher user engagement, retention and satisfaction, ultimately resulting in a more successful app, while poor UX and UI lead to abandoning the app.

2. How do you design a mobile app?

The mobile app design process depends on app complexity and requirements, but here are some general steps considered best practices in mobile app design:

  • Develop app ideas.
  • Conduct market research — define the desired audience and identify competition.
  • Compile a list of features you want in your mobile app.
  • Develop prototypes to visualize the design and functionality of your app.
  • Create the graphical elements of your app - user interface and visual design.
  • Build the app.
  • Consider a marketing strategy to promote your app.
  • Submit your finished app to the app store.

3. How do companies benefit from great design?

Compelling and functional web design enhances user experience, leads to higher engagement and better communication, increases brand recognition and provides a competitive advantage. Overall, great design can help a company build a strong brand that provides satisfying UX and gain a competitive advantage, ultimately leading to increased success and growth.

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