Key takeaways
- Bento-style layouts are flexible and mobile-friendly—use them with restraint.
- Subtle motion and micro-interactions guide attention; avoid flashy distractions.
- Dark mode and accessibility are becoming table stakes, not nice-to-haves.
- AI speeds up design work but doesn't replace human strategy and taste.
- Avoid heavy 3D, generic AI aesthetics, and sacrificing performance for visuals.
Web design moves fast. What felt fresh last year can feel dated by the time you launch. The trends that stick are the ones that serve users: clarity, performance, and making it easier for people to do what they came for.
We've been building and refreshing sites for British businesses across sectors. Here's what we're seeing work, and what we're steering clients away from.
Bento grids and card-based layouts
Bento-style layouts—modular, card-like sections that stack and flow—are everywhere. They're flexible, they work well on mobile, and they give you clear zones for different content types without feeling rigid. Think Apple's product pages: clean blocks, clear hierarchy, no clutter.
The key is restraint. Too many cards and it becomes a patchwork. Use them to create rhythm, not noise.
Motion and micro-interactions
Subtle motion is in. Hover states, scroll reveals, and light transitions make a site feel alive without being distracting. The trick is keeping it purposeful: motion should guide attention or confirm actions, not just look flashy.
Subtle motion is in. Hover states, scroll reveals, and light transitions make a site feel alive without being distracting. The trick is keeping it purposeful: motion should guide attention or confirm actions, not just look flashy.
Dark mode and accessibility
Dark mode isn't just a preference anymore—it's a signal that you care about usability. More users expect it, especially for sites they spend time on. And with accessibility requirements tightening, contrast and readability are non-negotiable.
If you're building a new site, consider dark mode from the start. It's easier to design in than to add later.
AI-assisted design and content
AI is changing how we work—faster wireframes, smarter placeholder content, and tools that help with layout variations. But the best work still comes from human direction. AI speeds up the boring parts; it doesn't replace strategy or taste.
The trends that stick are the ones that serve users. Everything else is noise.
What to avoid
- Over-the-top 3D or parallax that slows down the site
- Cookie-cutter AI aesthetics that look like everyone else
- Skipping mobile-first design for desktop-first
- Ignoring Core Web Vitals in favour of visual flair