Website Trends for 2024

(1) Clean and Simple

Users don’t want jargon; they want to be led on a smooth journey to their destination point, whether that is to make a purchase, make an enquiry, or gain some further information about a brand they heard about through a friend.

So what you will see in website design throughout 2024 is very simple design formats – in fact, there is a term for it: Neomorphism (try to say that one aloud). Neomorphism is a style characterised by its simplicity, subtle appearance and mild aesthetics. Think of Apple as a typical case with its sleek, paired-back look.

(2) Feeling Nostalgic

For those born in the 90s (or before), you might be pleased to hear that the 90s are making a bold return in the land of web design with bold Typography and retro handmade illustrations.

Just be sure that whoever creates these designs for your website is ensuring they are just as responsive on the mobile as on the desktop.

(3) Fluid Browsing 

You will hear the term “fluid” quite often when it comes to web design trends. As Robert Allen from Smart Insights so eloquently puts it, a website designed to be fluid “no longer snaps to predefined breakpoints, instead proportionately scales to a user viewpoint, ensuring a more consistent experience across devices”.

(4) Micro Interactions

To support this fluid experience, we will see more subtle interactive elements in our websites that clue the user and improve their overall experience. A simple example is a rotating hamburger menu to indicate when the hamburger has been opened. Or a subtle appearance of a call button as the user nears the end of their website journey. With technological advancements, these micro interactions will be intuitive to the user’s needs at a point in time.

(5) More Creativity

We mentioned in a previous point about the rise of retro handmade illustrations making a return to the website. Again, it goes back to the advancements in our technology. For example, Apple products come with crisper and brighter displays that demand vivid customised graphics. In addition, with the rise of mobile technology and the decline of the average human’s attention span (well done for reading this far…), high-quality graphics that tell a story and give you direction are required to engage people with your brand.

Furthermore, gifs are being replaced with simple flat graphics/illustrations to stick to that rule of keeping it clean and simple.

(6) Interactive Storytelling

Now, this is one that both excites and terrifies us web developers and marketers as we’re really being put to the test in terms of our storytelling abilities. Interactive Storytelling essentially means telling your brand’s story in a compelling way to the user through the use of animations, videos and 3D elements.

The key word is “brand story”.

If you work with us, we will insist on taking the time to get to know your brand innately first and to understand who your customers are so that we deliver an “interactive story” that leads to action.

These features include text-to-speech, where the text is read aloud for the user with limited vision. At the same time, speech recognition enables users with limited mobility to control their computer with their voice.

Another feature being explored further in our world is “Dark Mode”, with the rise of screen time causing eye strain for many. Dark mode has become a much sought-after feature of web design whereby users can toggle their screen between light and dark mode to protect their eyes while enjoying a web experience.