That’s not to say that every law firm needs a state-of-the-art design. But if you’re looking to attract a hip clientele, or if aesthetics are part of your M.O., you need to keep up with the latest web design trends.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 3 of the hottest trends in web design that you should pay attention to in 2023.

1) Single-page design

A one-page website won’t be a fit for every business. The more information you need your customers to know, the less feasible this kind of web design is.

Still, for a portfolio or a simple business site, a one-page design encourages users to pay attention. The above example is a portfolio stuffed with interactive elements and easter eggs. You could spend hours fiddling with the site—and before you know it, you’ll be wondering what else this designer can do.

2) Brutalism

Most businesses don’t want to be associated with a word like “brutal.” Don’t worry; brutalism is just a design movement based around stark utilitarianism. It emphasizes sharp edges, raw materials, and singular colors.

Brutalism is great for hip businesses because it’s both trendy and economical. The lack of flourishes means websites run faster and require less upkeep, while still attracting new eyes to your business. In the above example, Screen Slate targets the modern hipster, which is perfect for the NYC-based film nonprofit.

3) Virtual and augmented reality

If you’re a web designer, you might already be hyperventilating about this section. Designing immersive worlds and AR experiences is outside the purview of most web designers, but that could be changing.

Companies like Meta are pushing immersion as the next frontier of the internet. While it may never be a one-size-fits-all solution, it has plenty of utilities for business. In this example, the University of Sydney offers an immersive 360º virtual tour of their campus, complete with audio.

If you want a chic website, starting your own trends is just as important as keeping up with the latest ones. Anything from art history to TikTok could provide inspiration for your truly cutting-edge website.

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You might come across articles online that talk about a whole bunch of different website design styles (fixed, static, fluid, etc.). However, in today’s mobile-centric world, there are only two website styles to use to properly design a website: adaptive and responsive. 

Adaptive websites

Adaptive web design uses two or more versions of a website that are customized for specific screen sizes. Adaptive websites can be split into two main categories based upon how the site detects what size needs to be displayed:

1. Adapts based on device type 

When your browser connects to a website, the HTTP request will include a field called “user-agent” that will inform the server about the type of device attempting to view the page. The adaptive website will know what version of the site to display based on what device is trying to reach it (i.e. desktop, mobile, tablet). Issues will arise if you shrink the browser window on a desktop because the page will continue to display the “desktop version” rather than shrinking to the new size. 

2. Adapts based on browser width 

Instead of using the “user-agent”, the website uses media queries (a CSS feature that enables a webpage to adapt to different screen sizes) and breakpoints (certain width sizes) to switch between versions. So instead of having a desktop, tablet, and mobile version, you will have 1080px, 768px, and 480px width versions. This offers more flexibility when designing, and a better viewing experience as your website will adapt based on screen width.

Pros 

• WYSIWYG editing (what you see is what you get) 
• Custom designs are faster and easier to build without code 
• Cross-browser and cross-device compatibility 
• Fast-loading pages

Cons 

• Websites that use “device-type” can look broken when viewed in a smaller browser window on a desktop
• Limitations on certain effects that only responsive sites can accomplish

Responsive Websites

Responsive websites can use flexible grid layouts that are based on the percentage each element takes up in its container: if one element (e.g. a header) is 25% of its container, that element will stay at 25% no matter the change in screen size. Responsive websites can also use breakpoints to create a custom look at every screen size, but unlike adaptive sites that adapt only when they hit a breakpoint, responsive websites are constantly changing according to the screen size.

Pros 

• Great experience at every screen size, regardless of the device type
• Responsive website builders are typically rigid which makes the design hard to “break”
• Tons of available templates to start from

Cons

• Requires extensive design and testing to ensure quality (when starting from scratch)
• Without accessing the code, custom designs can be challenging

It’s important to note that website builders can include both adaptive and responsive features. For example, Pagecloud recently introduced a series of features that allow your content to act responsive even though the website itself is still adaptive. 

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We can have a look at the principles of design for reference, a theory practiced by artists and designers which outline the visual qualities any composition should aim for. Applying these principles to web design can help beginner and advanced web designers alike achieve a site with a harmonious look and feel.

Of course, these are not strict rules to follow, but rather guidelines to learn how we can apply the various elements of a website’s design. Take it from Picasso, “learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Once you understand the goals of web design and become more comfortable with each website element, you can tweak the approach with a more creative touch.

Balance

Visual balance means ensuring that none of the elements in a single composition are too overpowering. This can be applied to web design by drawing an imaginary line down the center of a webpage and arranging elements so that the visual weight is equal on both sides.

There are two main ways to achieve balance on a website:

• Symmetrical balance is when the visual weight on both sides of that line are equal and arranged like a mirror image. When applied to your web design, this can evoke feelings of balance, beauty and consistency.

• Asymmetrical balance is when the visual weight is equal on both sides, but the composition and order of elements will vary (i.e., not a mirror image). A balanced asymmetrical design is considered a modern approach and will create a more dynamic experience for the viewer, while maintaining a harmonious composition.

Contrast

Contrast refers to arranging juxtaposing elements in a way that highlights their differences: dark and light, smooth and rough, large and small. When contrast is in the picture, it’s dramatic and exciting qualities can captivate visitors as they scroll through your site.

Emphasis

The principle of emphasis reminds us that not all website elements are equal. Whether it’s your logo, a CTA, or an image; if there’s something on your webpage that visitors should notice first, applying the principle of emphasis with the use of bright color, animation, or size will ensure it’s the dominant aspect of your composition.

Movement

When applied to web design, movement is what guides visitors from one element to the next. By controlling the size, direction, and order of elements on an individual web page’s composition, you can direct the movement of the viewer’s eye throughout your site.

Rhythm

Rhythm refers to the repetition of elements in order to create consistency, cohesiveness, or to amplify a certain message. Repeating characteristics such as your logo, brand colors and using the same typeface, will also strengthen your brand identity and presence on the web.

Hierarchy

Placing your business name at the bottom of your homepage is simply poor web design practice. Can you guess why? First-time visitors would have to scroll all the way down your site to know who you are. This is something we understand from the principle of hierarchy, which teaches us that the most important content should be placed in a prominent spot where visitors immediately see and interact with it.

White space

In art and design, any area of a composition that’s void of visual elements is referred to as white space (psst: even when it’s not actually white). This might not seem like a critical thing to pay attention to, but the conscious arrangement of white space in web design will give the visual elements of a webpage room to breathe. It can also help achieve other goals in your composition, such as hierarchy, balance, emphasis, and more.

Unity

Unity is the culminating effect of all the individual elements you’ve added to your site, ideally resulting in one harmonious composition. The goal of unity in web design is to ensure that visitors will not get overwhelmed, confused, or turn away from your site.

It might take a few tries to get it right, but once you achieve a unified web design, you can ensure that each aspect of your site plays a valuable role in its function and performance. This also means paying attention to what elements you include, where and how you position them, and if they are truly serving a purpose.

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