Web Design Trends 2026
Designing in today's oversaturated space seems like an overwhelming task. Explore what trends are capturing—and keeping attention in 2026
Post-Digital Design
The line between digital and real-world experiences is blurring, and this shift becomes more noticeable in design. As our screen time increases, we're drawn to digital experiences that mirror IRL interactions—all while deconstructing the digital blueprint into layout elements.
Cyberbrutalism
Cyberbrutalism reflects today's fast-paced world—chaotic and filled with digital noise. Tech and AI spread through every aspect of our lives, and more designers are deliberately embracing the visual language of these systems.
ASCII-inspired visuals, glitch effects, and pixel art create a digital-first aesthetic rooted in early computer culture.
Ania Melnik
Art Director at DOFAMIN, multidisciplinary designer & artist
Bold typography meets tech-driven aesthetics: AI artefacts, glitch effects and digital noise. Cyberbrutalist layouts make pixelated elements, system messages, and lines of code part of design.
A clear grid, stylized typography, and visuals inspired by interfaces and code.
Why does it work?
Cyberbrutalism appeals by revealing the raw, under-the-hood elements of technology, drawing users fascinated by the digital world. Its deliberate imperfections make websites stand out from generic designs.
How to use it:
Go big, bold, and asymmetrical. Mix Latin and CJK characters. Let typography lead the layout.
It's not a bug, it's a feature: Embrace digital noise, pixelation, and glitch effects. What used to be a flaw is now part of visual expression.
Use system elements like { }, //, and [ ]. Structure your text as lines of code to reference coding and interface creation.
Ania Melnik
Art Director at DOFAMIN, multidisciplinary designer & artist
Don't over-polish your layouts. Cyberbrutalism thrives on a sense of experimental rawness, where the UI seems to break apart—but in an artistic way.
Pixel fonts, glitchy typography, and sci-fi-inspired interfaces give the brand a unique, cohesive look.
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WebGL & Interactive 3D
For years, interactive 3D felt exclusive to experimental studios and high-budget brands. In 2026, that changes: WebGL brings real-time 3D to the browser, turning static websites into responsive experiences.
With intuitive tools like Spline, you can now create stunning 3D scenes for your website without relying on large CG or dev teams.
With intuitive tools like Spline, you can now create stunning 3D scenes for your website without relying on large CG or dev teams.
The sword follows the cursor across the page, drawing attention to key parts of the website.
Simon Wijers
Founder of Buro Flash, web designer and branding expert
One trend I'm watching in 2026 is bold, interactive 3D. It adds depth and makes websites feel alive again, especially when you include hover interactions that turn static layouts into immersive experiences.
What is WebGL
WebGL (or Web Graphics Library) is a browser API that lets you render interactive 2D and 3D graphics directly on a web page without plugins. WebGL allows web pages to access the GPU directly to render high-performance 2D and 3D graphics in the browser without any plugins.
Dynamic 3D sections prompt users to explore the portfolio in details.
Why does it work?
Interactive 3D is all about gamification and immersion. It's a powerful storytelling tool that leaves a lasting impression while making browsing collaborative and fun, encouraging curiosity and exploration.
A button click transports users into a 3D space, where they can move around and explore the content.
How to use it:
Start with the story: 3D can showcase a product, create a sense of presence, and deepen the brand connection—but only when used purposefully, not just as page decoration.
Implement intuitive controls: Make the 3D model smooth, responsive to user actions, and move within controlled limits.
Consider performance: 3D can be resource-intensive, so make sure it runs smoothly across various devices.
Gamification in action: A user experience that mimics video games, where interacting with the UI becomes part of the story.
Volumetrics
This trend bridges the digital and the human by bringing real-world elements into virtual spaces, making them more tangible.
More Dimension
Flat design made interfaces clearer and more functional, but in 2026, flatness alone feels emotionally empty. Volume is making a comeback through glassmorphism, soft UI, and Apple's Liquid Glass aesthetic—with richer textures, deeper shadows, soft noise, and UI elements that feel sculpted rather than flat.
The new Liquid Glass effect in iOS adds glassy reflections and depth to interface elements.
Why does it work?
Designers use volume to create visual hierarchy, guide attention, and bring warmth back into interfaces. This trend isn't about decoration. It's about giving digital components a sense of presence and connection.
In 2025, Airbnb introduced 3D icons across their digital platforms. While simple, they reintroduced a sense of materiality, contrasting with the more abstract interfaces that tend to blend into the overall design.
How to use it:
Experiment with volume: Try including raised buttons, 3D objects, shadows, and playing with layers and transparency to add more depth. Use overlapping elements to make your layout feel less flat.
Textures & Forms
Visuals are moving away from flat illustrations and icons. UI becomes more tangible. It's not just about abstract 3D renders, but volumetric, personalized, and unique objects that feel like you could reach out and touch them.
Valeria Francis
Web Designer & Awwwards Jury Member
Sometimes you're looking at the images or a video, and you can clearly say that's AI. I think it's going to change in 2026—and all the generated content we're going to use will be high quality, crisp, and ultra-realistic.
Adding 3D objects and textured, volumetric typography allows you to create a more tactile experience.
Why does it work?
Users have grown tired of abstract and minimalist illustrations. They are drawn to visuals that feel physical, and technology has finally caught up: 3D and AI tools now make it possible to create realistic scenes quickly and flexibly.
Adding volume and texture to typography makes it more dynamic and eye-catching, without relying on excessive effects.
AI-generated content comes to life through realistic motion, turning into a short video.
How to use it:
Start your concept with a metaphor: "Which real-world object captures the essence of the product?" For example: a reliable service → stone/concrete, a tech brand → glass/metal, creativity → liquid/flexible form. This approach helps create a meaningful visual, not just a pretty one.
When generating with AI, it's important to specify three key parameters alongside the object: Material, camera angle, and lighting. This ensures the result looks realistic.
Keep it simple. Too many details, especially with a complex background, reduce readability and make the scene harder to process. One main object with a calm background works best.
The choice of object or shape should align with the brand. Here, the floating puzzle piece alludes to the company's core service: staff augmentation.
Breaking the Rules
As perfect AI-generated content starts to feel overdone, designers are responding with intentional imperfection. Think scattered elements instead of perfectly aligned grids, chaotic typography, unconventional scrolling effects, and more.
Anti-Design
Discordant color palettes, unexpected combinations, and broken compositions turn "bad" design into a way to stand out from pixel-perfect layouts.
These websites can sometimes look like a glitch—as if the layout has broken or shifted out of place.
Why does it work?
Anti-design works because breaking the rules grabs attention and sparks curiosity. Deliberate "mistakes" make users want to explore further, questioning whether it's truly a flaw or an intentional design choice.
The text is hard to read—typically a violation of basic design principles. Here, however, it's a conscious choice, breaking free from conventional constraints.
How to use it:
Like many experimental styles, anti-design isn't suitable for every niche. Take time to research your target audience before applying it. For example, this trend works best for young, creative users who can appreciate its design intent.
This style appeals to a younger audience—older users might see it as a mistake.
10 Principles Of Good Web Design
Before breaking the rules, it's worth learning the basics. Explore a practical guide to popular techniques & methods used in modern web design.
Experimental Navigation
Anti-grid web design breaks away from traditional layouts. It features scattered elements, unconventional typography, and unexpected scrolling effects to create a dynamic, playful, and memorable user experience.
Valeria Francis
Web Designer & Awwwards Jury Member
Expect to see a lot more websites with interesting interaction: Forget about boring galleries, scrolls, and carousels. We're gonna be talking about a completely new level of interaction—something unseen before, more complex and creative.
Perspective scrolling shifts depth and perspective as users move through the page, breaking away from traditional grid layouts.
Why does it work?
Unconventional layouts disrupt expectations and momentarily slow users down, forcing them to pay attention. Whether it's multidirectional navigation, perspective-based scrolling, immersive sections, or even no scrolling at all, these patterns break habitual browsing behavior.
That interruption makes the experience more memorable, as users actively explore the interface instead of passively consuming content.
That interruption makes the experience more memorable, as users actively explore the interface instead of passively consuming content.
Floating navigation that reacts both to scroll and hover allows users to move around and explore the portfolio in a more engaging way.
How to use it:
Use anti-grid design by intentionally breaking the layout—offset elements, overlap sections, and play with scale and alignment. Introduce unexpected visual flows or unconventional scrolling patterns, but keep a clear focal point so users know where to look. Balance chaos with structure to capture attention without sacrificing usability.
This one-page layout defies hero section norms, fitting all essential content on a single screen.
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Microinteractions
In 2026, microinteractions aren't just functional or decorative—they add emotional value. These little details make users feel seen. It shows you've thought about how they'll feel, and that adds an emotional layer that makes people connect with your content even more.
Rewarding & Satisfying
Microinteractions become satisfying and rewarding, prompting users to keep engaging with your website.
A kinetic button hover effect that lets users piece the button together.
Why does it work?
Delightful and satisfying microinteractions allow your users to engage more deeply with your website. They provide instant feedback, guide actions, and create small moments of joy that make the experience feel personal and memorable.
Subtle animations, hover effects, and responsive elements show users that the interface is attentive to their actions, encouraging exploration and increasing retention.
Subtle animations, hover effects, and responsive elements show users that the interface is attentive to their actions, encouraging exploration and increasing retention.
A subtle cookie crack on hover doesn't add much functional value, but it leaves a delightful impression for users to enjoy.
How to use it:
When designing microanimations, focus on the emotional response, not just functionality. Mobile apps are a great source of inspiration—pay attention to the subtle UX choices in the apps you use every day and adapt those patterns to the web through hover and scroll-based interactions.
Think kinetic button animations, satisfying hover effects, and confirmation gestures that let users know the website is responding to their actions.
Think kinetic button animations, satisfying hover effects, and confirmation gestures that let users know the website is responding to their actions.
A windshield wipe effect in the hero section, allowing users to uncover extra text as they interact.
Sound Cues
Years of using mobile apps with subtle sounds and haptics have trained users to expect feedback from interfaces. That expectation has now carried over to the web as well.
Sound matters: This website uses animation and audio to respond to users' actions, creating a more engaging experience.
Clicking UI elements triggers music and audio from the TV series, adding a playful layer to the storytelling and making the website more memorable and fun to explore.
How to use it:
Include a visible "Turn Sound On" button, letting users control audio while enhancing interactions with subtle clicks, chimes, or theme snippets—keeping the experience fun but never intrusive.
Authentic Experience
Authenticity wins over impersonal and generic websites because users connect with experiences that feel human, relatable, and thoughtfully crafted. Websites that show personality, real stories, and unique design choices build trust and leave a lasting impression.
Cinematic Hero Section
Nothing captures attention faster than a great video—more brands are showcasing their products in action with a lively, casual vibe.
Video creates a stronger impact for websites that want their work to speak for itself authentically.
Why does it work?
A cinematic hero can hold attention far better than blocks of text. It communicates faster, clearer, and with more emotion, and lets your audience feel your brand rather than just read about it.
Cinematic visuals are the perfect solution for minimalist layouts that still need a strong visual impact. They set the mood, story, and brand personality without clutter.
Cinematic visuals are the perfect solution for minimalist layouts that still need a strong visual impact. They set the mood, story, and brand personality without clutter.
If you don't have your video ready yet, even static images can be framed to feel cinematic, giving a website a personal touch.
How to use it:
Optimize performance: Videos can be heavy, so compress and optimize files to ensure fast loading without sacrificing quality. Consider formats like MP4 or WebM for best performance, and test across devices.
Choose authentic footage: Avoid generic stock videos. Use original or carefully curated visuals that reflect your brand story and resonate with your audience.
The video should complement your message, not distract. Use visuals that enhance your hero section, and consider adding darker filters if you plan to overlay text for better contrast.
Intentional AI Design
Intentional AI design reflects a shift away from one-click, generic AI visuals toward a more thoughtful, human-led approach. Use AI as a tool—not a replacement—carefully prompting, editing, and refining outputs to create work that feels distinctive, authentic, and purpose-driven rather than plastic or mass-produced.
Michael Negele
Vibe Coder & AI Workflow Architect
If you create AI-generated designs, you'd better edit them and make sure that they look unique to the customer.
Here, the AI illustration is consistent in style and manually edited to support the website's storytelling.
How to use it:
While AI offers a fast way to create visuals, using it without intention often leads to plastic, generic results. If you choose the generative AI route, prompt thoughtfully and always refine the output—manually edit details that feel off to ensure the final design looks considered and unique.
AI-generated visuals should feel cohesive with the overall brand identity, supporting the copy rather than cluttering or overpowering it.
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