Web design is an ever-evolving art, driven by tech innovations, shifting user demands, and bold creative ideas. For businesses and brands, staying ahead of the curve in 2025 is crucial to keeping websites fresh and impactful.

The hottest web design trends are all about elevating user experiences, boosting site speed, and crafting visually stunning, interactive, and personalized digital spaces. Looking to bring these trends to life for your website? WHC’s Pro Services can help you stay ahead with expert web design solutions tailored to your needs.

Now let’s dive into the trends that will shape web design in 2025!

• 1. Minimalist Design With Bold Typography
• 2. Dark Mode and High Contrast Designs
• 3. Custom Illustrations
• 4. Micro-Interactions and Scroll Animations
• 5. 3D Elements and Immersive Web Experiences
• 6. AI-Driven Personalization
• 7. Sustainable Web Design
• 8. Voice Search Optimization and Accessibility
• 9. Augmented Reality (AR) Integration
• 10. Asymmetrical Layouts and Breaking the Grid
• Staying on Trend With Purpose

1. Minimalist Design With Bold Typography

“Less is more” is often at the heart of modern design. A simple, minimalist approach with clean lines and ample blank space continues to dominate, and is often paired with bold, eye-catching typography that adds personality without overcrowding the page. Large, expressive fonts help communicate brand identity and grab attention, even on simple layouts.

2. Dark Mode and High Contrast Designs

Dark mode has become a staple in web design, not only because of its sleek appearance but also for its user-friendly benefits. Dark backgrounds with high-contrast elements reduce eye strain, save battery life, and add a touch of sophistication. This trend is particularly popular in creative industries and tech sites, where a bold, edgy look aligns with brand identity.

3. Custom Illustrations

Illustrations can transform websites into vibrant, dynamic canvases, offering a creative way of conveying brand messages and stories. With custom illustrations, you can enhance the visual appeal and personality of your brand and website. 

Quirky characters, rich landscapes, or abstract artwork all add a unique flair that static images or simple text can't achieve.

4. Micro-Interactions and Scroll Animations

Micro-interactions are small, subtle animations that make web content more engaging through movement and interaction. They provide clear, intuitive guidance and feedback without taking up much space. Examples include hovering effects, loading icons, and animated transitions.

Scroll-triggered animations are visually engaging, providing an interactive experience that responds to user behavior. As users scroll, elements animate, move, or change colour, adding depth to the content and making the browsing experience more enjoyable. These animations are popular on storytelling sites, portfolios, and product showcases.

5. 3D Elements and Immersive Web Experiences

Thanks to advances in web technology, integrating 3D elements into web design is becoming more accessible. From interactive product displays to virtual environments, 3D design is making websites more engaging and realistic. 

3D technology allows users to immerse themselves in content and is a powerful tool for brands looking to captivate and retain their audience.

6. AI-Driven Personalization

Personalization has long been a key aspect of digital marketing, and now, with the power of artificial intelligence, it’s even more effective. AI can analyze user behaviour in real-time, customizing website elements like product recommendations, layout, and even copy to create a personalized experience. This approach tailors content to the user’s needs, making interactions more relevant and satisfying.

7. Sustainable Web Design

Sustainability is now a huge influence on web design, with more businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. This is incredibly important to WHC, as reflected by our partnership with the Green Business Bureau. Sustainable web design focuses on optimizing code, minimizing resource-heavy elements, and reducing energy consumption. Websites built with eco-friendly principles in mind load faster, have fewer graphics, and are often minimalist by nature. This approach not only appeals to environmentally conscious users but also improves site performance.

8. Voice Search Optimization and Accessibility

As voice-activated devices become more popular, voice search optimization is essential for modern websites. Designing websites to be accessible through voice search requires simplifying language, structuring content, and using keywords that mimic natural speech. Accessibility, more broadly, has also become a priority, with features like text-to-speech, keyboard navigation, and high-contrast design making websites usable for everyone.

9. Augmented Reality (AR) Integration

Augmented reality is becoming a game-changer for industries like retail, real estate, and hospitality. AR allows users to interact with products or spaces in a virtual environment, like trying on clothes or placing furniture in their home. With the growth of AR, more websites are incorporating AR tools directly into their design, offering users an interactive, practical experience without needing to visit a physical store.

10. Asymmetrical Layouts and Breaking the Grid

Traditional web design relies on a grid-based layout, but recent trends show designers pushing boundaries with asymmetrical and “broken” grid designs. These layouts give websites a more dynamic, unpredictable feel, helping brands stand out. Asymmetrical designs are popular among creative brands and agencies looking to showcase innovation and originality.

Staying on Trend With Purpose

Modern web design trends are all about delivering fast, immersive, and personalized experiences that keep users clicking. But instead of trying to jump on every trend, it’s important to choose the ones that align with your brand and truly serve your audience. Prioritize what enhances usability, functionality, and style, and you’ll craft a website that’s not just stunning, but unforgettable. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, embracing the right trends in 2025 can keep you competitive and leave a lasting impression in the ever-evolving digital world.

Looking to kickstart a project or breathe new life into a website you already have? WHC’s team of design experts is here to take care of all you need.

As the year wraps up and I look back and selfishly reflect on personal accomplishments (professional accomplishments to follow in a separate post), I’d have to dub 2024 “the year of learning.” 

Over the last 18 months, I’ve set aside some regular quiet time to go back to the basics and read. No, not online or behind a screen, but the good old-fashioned print version, with a coffee, on my balcony (at least during summer, weather permitting). I highly recommend the experience; it infused me with new energy, ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Those who know me understand that sharing what I’ve learned is an important part of who I am. So in that spirit, I’m happy to share my essential Product & Leadership reads for 2025.

Passion Meets Purpose

Why Product & Leadership? Simply put, those are the two hats I wear today within WHC. As CEO and Head of Product, I’m tasked with driving strategic leadership at WHC while leading product initiatives that solve real problems for our clients. In tech, these are powerful skill sets that are essential in taking startups and scaleups to the next level.

Without further ado, here are the books that have impacted me most, and why:

1. Inspired, Marty Cagan, 2017 (2nd Edition)

Inspired is a must-read for tech startups looking to build products that truly resonate with customers. Cagan, a former product leader at eBay and HP, outlines a practical framework for creating innovative, market-defining products. He emphasizes the importance of strong product teams, clear decision-making, and relentless customer focus. Startups will gain insight into prioritizing features, avoiding common pitfalls, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and iteration.

2. Shape Up, Ryan Singer (Basecamp), 2019

Written by a leader at Basecamp, Shape Up offers a unique approach to software development that moves beyond traditional Agile and Scrum methodologies. Singer introduces concepts like "betting" on projects rather than planning them, empowering small teams to work on longer build cycles. This book helps tech startups streamline product development, reduce wasted effort, and maintain agility as they scale, all while avoiding the common trap of endless backlogs.

3. Good to Great, Jim Collins, 2001

While not specific to tech, Good to Great provides essential leadership principles that are crucial for startups aiming for sustained success. Collins identifies the traits of companies that made the leap from good to great, such as the "Hedgehog Concept" and "Level 5 Leadership." For tech founders, it offers guidance on building enduring companies, focusing on long-term strategic thinking, and hiring the right talent to scale the business effectively.

4. Deep Work, Cal Newport, 2016

Deep Work explains how startups can achieve extraordinary results by fostering a culture of intense, focused work. Newport argues that shallow work (like emails and meetings) drains productivity, while "deep work" creates true value. For tech startups, the book provides actionable strategies to help teams focus on critical tasks, eliminate distractions, and achieve breakthrough innovation, especially in software development and technical problem-solving.

5. Start with Why, Simon Sinek, 2009

Start with Why is a blueprint for purpose-driven leadership and brand positioning. Sinek's "Golden Circle" framework emphasizes the importance of starting with "why" — the core mission and values — before moving to "how" and "what." Tech startups can use this approach to craft compelling brand stories, align their teams around a shared vision, and attract customers and investors who believe in their mission.

6. Radical Candor, Kim Scott, 2017

Effective team communication is essential for tech startups, and Radical Candor provides a clear path for achieving it. Scott, a former Google and Apple executive, teaches leaders to balance "care personally" with "challenge directly" to build honest, respectful feedback loops. Startups that adopt this approach foster open communication, resolve conflicts faster, and create a high-performing, aligned team culture.

7. Traction, Gino Wickman, 2007

Traction introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a framework designed to bring structure and accountability to fast-growing businesses. For startups navigating rapid growth, EOS helps define roles, set clear goals, and track performance. This system ensures that everyone in the company is aligned on priorities, which is crucial for scaling a tech startup while maintaining operational efficiency.

8. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, Patrick Lencioni, 2002

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a leadership fable that illustrates the key pitfalls that prevent teams from achieving their full potential. For tech startups, this book is essential for building strong, cohesive teams. Lencioni’s model highlights issues like lack of trust, fear of conflict, and lack of accountability — all of which are common in fast-paced, high-stress environments like startups & scaleups. Solving these dysfunctions leads to better team alignment and higher performance.

9. Process! How Discipline and Consistency Will Set You and Your Business Free. Mike Paton and Lisa González, 2020

Process! provides a playbook for turning chaos into clarity. For tech startups that often struggle with fast-paced change, the book emphasizes the power of process discipline. Paton and González explain how to document, standardize, and optimize essential workflows, from customer onboarding to technical development. By doing so, startups can reduce errors, improve efficiency, and free up leadership to focus on growth and strategy.

Back to the Basics

Books are powerful tools for transformation. They inspire, teach, and push us to think differently. As 2025 approaches, I encourage you to carve out time for your own “year of learning.” Whether it’s one of the books I’ve shared or another that resonates with you, remember that every new page is a step forward in your journey. 

If you’ve got a book recommendation or want to chat about these reads, feel free to reach out or drop a comment. Here’s to growth, innovation, and a thriving year ahead! 🥂