
Web design trends to watch in 2018
We’re seeing a decline—or perhaps a transformation—of minimalism. In typography, colors, shapes, and images, everything is becoming bolder, larger, and more saturated, delivering a striking visual impact. This shift marks the rise of brutalism. Meanwhile, photo treatment is being reimagined with duotones and double exposures that are sure to captivate. Welcome to 2018!
Irregular and asymmetrical grids
In 2017, we witnessed the explosion of grid design on the web. In March, the CSS Grid was introduced, giving creators more layout options. Since then, unconventional layouts have taken the web by storm. Asymmetrical, distinctive, and sometimes experimental layouts are gaining popularity. While traditional structures remain dominant on a large scale, 2018 will likely see an increase in the use of unconventional layouts. The need to stand out is greater than ever, making unique experiences a priority for businesses and designers who must continually innovate.





Geometric (circles, lines, angles) and organic shapes
Alongside the shift from traditional grids, geometric shapes like circles are replacing the rectangular forms that have dominated minimalist, modernist layouts in recent years. Designers are twisting traditional 90° boxes, introducing dramatic diagonals, and exploring amoeba-like organic shapes. This doesn’t mean straight edges are disappearing. Instead, straight lines are blending seamlessly with more organic and spherical forms.





The emergence of brutalism in web design trends
Brutalism opens up a space where designers can do what they want, rather than what they should. Best practices in design are abandoned in favor of provocative, sometimes shocking effects. Anything goes—overloaded pages, near-empty designs, or anything in between. One thing is certain: the results are always surprising. There’s even a website dedicated to brutalism.







Saturated colors and bold gradients
In a 2017 trends article, we highlighted the rise of gradients. These remain prominent in 2018, but pastel shades are giving way to vibrant and saturated colors. Pantone has introduced Ultra Violet as the color of the year. This bold hue, like many vibrant colors appearing on the web, grabs attention and leaves a lasting impression. Bright palettes help businesses stand out and capture the increasingly limited attention spans of users.





Duotones and double exposure
Double exposure images—where part of an image is layered within the shape of another—aren’t new. This technique has been seen on the web for years. However, a new trend involves treating images with duotones, offsetting them with distinctive coloration for each section. This approach brings a fresh twist to the style. While not revolutionary, this trend’s widespread presence on the web warrants a mention here.




Rethinking typography for new web design trends
Typography has always been a powerful visual element, adding personality, evoking emotions, and setting the tone for a concept while conveying important information. For a long time, web typography was limited to a few overused fonts. That’s no longer the case. Oversized fonts are making their way onto websites. Unlike images, which can be heavy for mobile optimization, typography can scale infinitely without adding weight.
On some websites, words are deconstructed, with letters spaced widely apart, creating a distinct visual tone. Serif fonts are also making a strong comeback, much to our delight. More than ever, designers are experimenting with font combinations. Unsure of your choices? There is website offering curated font pairings. Designers are also playing with spacing, weights, and line heights. The flexibility once reserved for print is quickly shaping web typography.




Particle backgrounds and SVG animations
Static pages are a thing of the past in 2018 web design trends. Particle backgrounds are popping up everywhere. These lightweight JavaScript animations add subtle movement to the page without significantly affecting load times. Gentle textures, soft animations, or bubble effects are integrated into broader concepts to capture visitors’ attention. SVG animations are also gaining popularity, coming to life on scroll or looping seamlessly on the page.



Unexpected scrolling and unique animations
Thanks to advancements in browsers, new possibilities are emerging to engage visitors on websites. Here, the focus is on navigation experiences rather than eye-catching animations. On scroll, elements move into place or shift slightly. Footers may initially be hidden behind the layout and revealed through scrolling. These interactions make the experience more satisfying and intriguing. While parallax scrolling still has a place, its popularity is waning as designers explore new ways to animate page elements. Creativity knows no bounds in 2018 web design trends.




Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Progressive web apps have garnered attention for their ease of development and significant, nearly instant benefits for users. They leverage the latest technologies to combine the best features of web and mobile apps. Recent advancements (browsers, service operators, cache and push APIs) enable users to install web apps on their home screens, receive push notifications, and even work offline. It’s a game-changer!




Interested in redesigning your website?
If your website no longer aligns with the latest web design trends, it could negatively impact your business, making it seem outdated and less relevant. Kryzalid can help you achieve new business goals with a refreshed design.
Writing and final selection: Charles Henri
Research and image preparation: Marianne Delasalle