Unique web design trends that will dominate 2024

Web Design Trends for 2024

Unique web design trends for 2024       

#1 - No Code Web Design

A major web design trend that we saw in 2023 was "no code" web design. By using no code, designers are now empowered as front-end developers. Now writers get to become web designers and small business owners get to tap into the world of eCommerce. So, regardless of the degree of expertise, no code design empowers web designers to accomplish even more. It's important to understand that no code web design doesn't mean the complete elimination of code. No-code describes a type of web design that creates software, such as websites and apps, using visual drag-and-drop interfaces instead of code. In other words, no-code allows just about anyone, regardless of their technical ability, to build a website on the internet.

There’s no denying that programmers and developers still play an essential role in this approach to web design, but the no code trend signifies an opening of these areas of expertise to designers and other people who would otherwise have been kept out. No code allows anyone with an idea or vision for web design to create.

As avid web designers, we appreciate how this trend has removed the dividing lines between developers, non-designers, and those who strictly design. We love a great collaboration and the accomplishments this trend creates!

We also loved seeing the development of new no code platforms and design courses designated to this type of web design that surfaced in web design curriculum in 2023.

#2 - Design Systems for Consistency

A web design approach that applies a CMS to design repeatable layouts and related collections such as making website updates, edits, and the creation of duplicate websites fast, is on the rise. After the pandemic, and with the trend toward more mobile work environments, options for convenience in web design continues and it's pretty clear that the new design systems are a powerful tool for the modern web designer.

So, whether you plan to use the technologies on a big scale, or on a small scale, they are very useful for any organization that wants to create and manage its web designs.

Additionally, other web design trends include handy apps that have been developed to make web design system workflows even more effortless. Zero height, for instance, works as a centralized space to manage tasks and collaborate. Additionally, Figma offers templates and other design systems tools; lastly, Webflow's CMS collection can be used to power a design system regardless of size. 

#3 - Web Inspired by Print

As digital technology is slowly replacing physical objects, there has been a resurgence of old media. For example, there's a growing popularity of vinyl albums, and that's all the proof we need that people are drawn towards experiences that has nothing to do with digital experiences that involve a bunch of ones and zeros.

Web design layouts that use print as inspiration fulfill that inherent desire to connect with something in the real world. Magazine style web design layouts, and other designs that utilize traditional graphic design elements, offer the user a link to the tactile experience of print on paper.

#4 - Retro Fonts

You may have heard the saying 'there's nothing new under the sun." Its a phrase that has been proven to be true time and time again. When we stop to think about it, how many old things have become cool and then uncool again? Here's a few examples: acid wash denim, expandable belts, bell bottoms, mom jeans, etc. It's pretty clear that it's a cycle. Similarly, retro fonts have experienced a similar cycle. Just as cycles come and go, throwback typography is experiencing a resurgence. However, we aren't seeing the same old tired fonts. Instead, we're seeing some form of similar styling and a bit of artistry to re-imagine the potential of retro fonts.

For example, the trending merging of old and new appeared on Spotify’s Carnival promotion. Instead of the stale and cliche retro look, they brought new life into traditional bold fonts with a bit of experimentation. This style of web design is an excellent example of how a modern and cool spin on conventional fonts can have breathtaking results while maintaining legibility. Another great example is the retro-futurism design on this website for the event planning company Goliath Entertainment. The bold typography is a clear nod to the past while still feeling very modern. As 2024 unfolds, we can't wait to see more creative typographic re-imagining.

#5 - Parallax Scroll Animations

Who doesn't love a good parallax scroll effect? These trendy animations have been popular for years, and in 2025, we hope to see more creative but subtle explorations of what can be achieved with parallax.

Keep in mind that too much movement in parallax effects can be harmful to some individuals who suffer certain vestibular disorders. This is because the illusion of depth and movement can cause them to become dizzy or disoriented.

We’ve gathered a few guidelines that we’ve seen more and more designers implementing to ensure they minimally incorporate parallax and reduce any incidences of harm:

Avoid focusing too much on the parallax effects; otherwise, they distract from the critical information
Don’t complicate things by making it harder for the user to complete an important task
Minimize the number of parallax effects
Reduce the amount of parallax movement within each instance
Restricting parallax effects to a small area of the screen
Make sure to include an option for users to switch off the parallax effects

Take a look at this Alice Lee’s portfolio site. They used parallax effects that respond to mouse position to bring her illustration to life. The movement is slight and contained within the bounds of the significant image. This method ticks most of the boxes on the list we've written above; it has constraint and intention.

Remember that not every parallax animation has to make grand gestures across the screen. We’ve seen an increase in more subtle applications. Take this web design for Green Meadow, for example; if you're not paying attention, you could almost miss the effect entirely.

The good thing is that this gentle unveiling of text creates enough contrast to draw focus to each block of text as it comes up. Next year we hope to see parallax scroll used subtly, not for flashy effect but as a tool to highlight and emphasize significant bits of content.

#6 - Horizontal Scrolling

A few years ago, horizontal scrolling was regarded as a web design faux-pas, but in 2023 we saw horizontal scrolling making a comeback.

We're starting to see more web designers embracing and experimenting with horizontal scroll. The best use of this style is when designers break the pattern as a practical way to disclose secondary information progressively and not for the sake of being different. It's more or less like an image gallery.

If you want to employ horizontal scroll successfully in 2022 and beyond, keep in mind these considerations:

Avoid making users navigate through horizontal content. Make sure you allow the user alternate ways to navigate; for example, you can make use of arrow buttons with clear labels.
Make use of clear visual cues to indicate where content uses horizontal scroll, and avoid hiding these cues behind hovers.
Give enough thought to what content would benefit from being displayed in a horizontal scroll. For instance, a photo gallery is a good contender as a horizontal scroll because it shows users a small preview and allows them the option to view more or keep moving down the page.
Don't use horizontal scroll for text intended for the user to read.

You can implement a horizontal scroll on a feature page by using it in small amounts to zoom in on a large image. This will show more relevant bits of the image at a bigger size to accompany the applicable content.

On the Momento Design Studios home page, they've included a clear cue next to the primary button that also acts as a link. It also slowly slides the user over to the featured works on click. We like how the scroll motion is well-paced and not too long, allowing the featured images to shine.

Our last example is the McBride Design which uses a horizontal scroll to showcase large photos of their work without occupying a lot of space on the page. The site also includes a clear indicator in the bottom right that sets the expectation that the page will scroll horizontally.

#7 - 3D visuals

#8 - Multimedia Experiences

Multimedia web experiences are popping up everywhere, mainly because most people now have access to faster internet speeds. This has enabled designers to bring together text, video, audio, and visuals for a rich user experience. Successful website designs will need to incorporate the following constraints with multimedia experiences:

• Simplicity is king and needs to be prioritized. For instance, it's better not to have too many things going on as it can be overwhelming or distracting to people with cognitive disorders.
• Make use of different media formats thoughtfully to maximize the easy accessibility of content.
• Make use of closed captioning and transcripts for all pre-recorded multimedia.
• Ensure that alt text for images is included and accompanying complex images with longer descriptive text.
• Use HTML to make all text rather than render inside images.
• Stay clear of autoplaying video or motion content: instead, provide a precise "play" button that gives the user an option to play and pause the content.

In addition, it's clear that effectively using multimedia and ensuring accessibly comes with a responsibility to address several factors, including video accessibility. Check out Nicolas Errera’s site. This website includes playback controls for a beautiful background video. This background video plays on-click and can also be paused. The website also incorporates a subtle animation that indicates how far into the video you are.

The great thing about multimedia experiences is that they work in so many different areas. Take our example below. This snapshot is from Black Yearbook, a crowdfunded book put together by Adraint Bereal and his friends. The book shows what it's like to be an African American student attending predominantly white schools.

The site has full playback controls that are clearly visible on all videos. Additionally, there are beautifully shot cinematography cuts from one scene to the next at the beginning of the design and a hypnotic soundtrack playing in the background. It gives the feeling of a movie trailer which will likely draw the website visitor in and keep them curious enough to want to know more. 

If you're more inclined to do something out of the ordinary, the MSCHF is a perfect example.
The infamous company sticks to an out-there design that straddles the line of brutalism. It has an almost absurdist design that combines stark typography, SMS text messages, and other elements.

#9 - Augmented reality (AR) experiences

Relatively new in the design world is AR. As a part of multimedia experiences, AR has come a long way from games like Grand Theft Auto and Pokémon. Several emerging technologies like the WebXR API and software made by Wayfair Technologies have opened this realm up for almost everybody.

Jeep, for example, impressively uses AR on its “Build & Price a Jeep” web page. If you hate stepping foot into car dealerships, this AR experience makes it a more manageable and pressure-free experience. More and more eCommerce and retail websites are realizing the power of AR and are using it to help sell their products and empower potential customers in the buying process.

#10 - Designs based on preference

Boy, are we glad that web development has got so many personalized offerings for users now. Gone are the days where every website looked almost identical. Nowadays, you can have different elements like uniquely-tailored designs, a toggle between dark/light mode, and other ways of changing a site's appearance and navigation.

Developments in software, algorithms, and especially new design practices have made the internet much more exciting. The web is now more interactive, drawing away from the passive user experience of the past. We hope that the future will bring even more of a focus on meeting the tastes, wants, and needs of people navigating through websites.

#11 - Storytelling

Storytelling is as old as time itself, and in design, we've seen a growing trend in designers telling stories through web experiences in the form of visual storytelling or scrollytelling. The purpose is to heighten the story visually in a way that hooks users into its narrative. To use scrollytelling in web design effectively, the following tips should be implemented:

• Utilize only a tiny area for motion.
• Provide interactions only on the user's terms, so things like obvious playback controls to play / pause/stop interactions and motions are a must.
• Ensure that any scrollytelling elements help to emphasize the story rather than distracting from important text.

#12 - Dark mode

Dark mode is back with a band, so cue up AC DC's "Back in Black" because of dark mode. In 2021 we saw more designers embracing the dark mode aesthetic. Mainly the black provides the perfect dark backdrop to make design elements pop from the screen.

Obys Agency created a beautiful tribute to fashion designer Peter Lindbergh, putting together a subtly textured black background with a beautiful serif typeface in the example below. So if black is your thing, don't be scared to go dark.