Web Design Trends for 2025: What’s In and What’s Out?

As the world of web design evolves, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for creating websites that not only look great but also provide seamless user experiences. With 2025 just around the corner, new design trends are emerging that will redefine how websites are built and experienced. In this blog, we’ll explore the design trends that are set to dominate the web design world in 2025, along with those that might be fading away.

What’s In for Web Design in 2025

1. Dark Mode Everywhere

Dark mode has become more than just a trend—it’s a user preference. This year, more websites and apps are embracing dark mode as it not only gives websites a sleek, modern look but also reduces eye strain and extends battery life on devices with OLED screens. In 2025, dark mode will become even more ubiquitous, with many sites offering it as a default option.

What to Expect:

Dark-themed backgrounds with contrasting light text and vibrant accent colours.
Better accessibility, with options for switching between dark and light modes.
A more immersive and cinematic feel, particularly for entertainment and media websites.

Why It’s In: Dark mode has been a popular choice for many users, especially for those who browse at night. Its sleek look, paired with the practical benefits, ensures it will continue to dominate.

2. 3D and Immersive Design Elements

The world of web design is becoming more immersive, with 3D elements adding depth and realism to digital experiences. From 3D illustrations to interactive animations, the use of 3D graphics will continue to rise in 2025, creating more engaging and dynamic websites.

What to Expect:

Interactive 3D elements like buttons, icons, and page transitions.
Parallax scrolling, where the background moves at a different speed to the foreground, creating a sense of depth.
Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) integration for immersive product demos and experiences.

Why It’s In: As technology advances, users expect more dynamic and engaging experiences. 3D and immersive elements help create an interactive and memorable web experience that keeps visitors coming back.

3. Minimalistic and Clean Design

Less is more—minimalism is set to continue its reign in 2025. Websites with clean, simple designs that focus on the essentials are becoming increasingly popular. The use of ample white space, concise messaging, and straightforward navigation are key elements of this trend.

What to Expect:

Clear, concise content with an emphasis on essential information.
Simple navigation with a focus on usability.
Large images or videos that tell a story with minimal text.
A streamlined, clutter-free aesthetic with plenty of whitespace to keep things looking fresh.

Why It’s In: Users are becoming more accustomed to straightforward, easy-to-navigate websites. A minimalist design helps reduce cognitive overload, ensuring that visitors stay focused on the key message or call to action.

4. AI-Driven Personalisation

Artificial intelligence is playing a larger role in web design, helping to create personalised experiences for visitors. By analysing user behaviour, AI can adapt the design and content of a website to suit individual preferences, increasing engagement and conversions.

What to Expect:

Customised content recommendations based on user interests and behaviour.
Adaptive layouts that adjust to different user preferences.
AI chatbots that provide real-time assistance and improve customer service.

Why It’s In: Personalisation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. AI-powered experiences ensure that users feel understood and valued, leading to greater satisfaction and loyalty.

5. Voice User Interface (VUI)

With the rise of voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, voice user interfaces (VUI) are making their way into web design. In 2025, more websites will incorporate voice interactions, enabling users to navigate, search, and even make purchases using only their voice.

What to Expect:

Voice-enabled search and navigation features.
Websites optimised for voice commands, allowing users to interact hands-free.
Speech-to-text functionality for better accessibility.

Why It’s In: As voice search becomes more prevalent, websites need to adapt to meet this growing demand. VUI offers an intuitive and hands-free way for users to interact with websites, improving accessibility and convenience.

What’s Out for Web Design in 2025

1. Overuse of Stock Photography

While stock photos served a purpose in the past, they are now seen as outdated and impersonal. With users craving authentic, real-world visuals, websites filled with generic stock imagery are quickly losing their appeal.

What’s Being Replaced By:

Authentic, custom imagery that reflects the brand’s true identity.
User-generated content to create a more personal connection with visitors.

Why It’s Out: Stock photography often lacks authenticity and fails to engage users. In 2025, brands will prioritise real, relatable images that help tell their unique story.

2. Overly Complex Navigation

As websites become more sophisticated, there’s a temptation to load them with too many menu items, links, and categories. However, overly complex navigation can overwhelm visitors, making it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for.

What’s Being Replaced By:

Simplified navigation with clear, easy-to-follow paths.
Mega menus that organise large amounts of content in a more digestible way.

Why It’s Out: Users want to find information quickly and easily. A cluttered navigation menu can frustrate visitors and cause them to leave your site in favour of a simpler, more user-friendly experience.

3. Flash Animations

Once a popular choice for creating animations and interactive elements, Flash is now outdated and no longer supported by most modern browsers. Flash is being replaced by HTML5 and CSS3, which offer smoother, more versatile animations without the technical issues.

What’s Being Replaced By:

HTML5 animations that load faster and are more reliable.
CSS3 transitions for seamless animations that don’t require plugins.

Why It’s Out: Flash is a thing of the past. It’s slow, often buggy, and incompatible with mobile devices, making it an increasingly poor choice for modern web design.

4. Autoplay Videos

Autoplay videos, especially with sound, have long been a controversial feature on websites. While they might grab attention initially, they can quickly become irritating to visitors, especially when they disrupt the user experience.

What’s Being Replaced By:

Muted autoplay videos with clear play buttons so users can choose when to watch.
Image-based hero sections or animations that don’t rely on intrusive video.

Why It’s Out: Autoplay videos are often disruptive and lead to higher bounce rates. In 2025, websites will move toward more user-controlled, non-intrusive video content.

5. Fixed or Overwhelming Pop-Ups

Pop-ups, especially those that appear as soon as a user lands on a page, are often seen as intrusive and frustrating. While they may be effective for capturing emails or promoting offers, overusing them can lead to a poor user experience.

What’s Being Replaced By:

Less intrusive call-to-action buttons that are easy to find but don’t interfere with the user’s journey.
Exit-intent pop-ups that appear only when a user is about to leave the site.

Why It’s Out: Pop-ups are often blocked by browsers or dismissed by users, diminishing their effectiveness. In 2025, websites will adopt more subtle, non-intrusive ways to encourage engagement.

Conclusion

Web design is always evolving, and 2025 promises to bring exciting changes to how we create and experience websites. From the sleek, immersive feel of dark mode and 3D elements to the rise of personalisation and voice interfaces, these trends will help shape the way brands engage with their audiences. At the same time, outdated practices like excessive pop-ups, stock photography, and Flash animations are gradually being phased out in favour of more user-centric, intuitive designs. By embracing these trends, web designers can ensure their websites remain fresh, functional, and engaging for users in the year ahead.