I have always been fascinated by how technology transforms our everyday lives. And now, as someone immersed in modern website design, I feel a true sense of excitement watching how innovations shape the future of creative websites.
Honestly, it sounds a bit romantic, but how else can you describe a time when artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and interactive design elements not only exist but are becoming the standard? These technologies set the stage for design trends that redefine user-friendly and visually captivating experiences.
With experience in design and constantly following its evolution, I can see how modern tools like Figma and Webflow blend creativity and functionality. And that’s exactly what this article is about: the 2025 design trends that transform ordinary digital products into innovative, modern website designs that inspire and captivate users from the first click.
Bento Style: Organizing Design Elements with Precisio
Let’s start with a trend that’s already actively used in design, but I also think it will become even more popular in 2025. Bento-style design is a perfect example of combining modern web design principles with functionality.
For example, this is how we at Sommo used the Bento style for a fitness app.
Maybe you’ve already guessed from the photo. Bento-style design features blocks that are carefully divided into several pieces of different sizes. This approach helps organize design elements effectively, making websites visually engaging and user-friendly.
Most often, I’ve noticed it being used in apps and web applications. However, this style is also applied on websites to organize elements within various types of sections. It looks appealing and interesting, but it also takes skill to determine the right size for each block, taking into account its priority and ensuring it’s done not only beautifully but also correctly. I think this style is worth the attention of designers and can complement any other design approach.
And one more thing, the most important part (well, maybe not, but it’s a fun fact): Bento is a style inspired by Japanese takeaway food boxes. You can check out how it looks in its original form in the reference photos above.
This style’s versatility makes it a favorite among designers, seamlessly complementing other design trends and offering endless creative opportunities.
Brutalism: Bold Design Inspiration
Brutalism in UI/UX design is a style characterized by its raw, bold aesthetic and rejection of excessive "polish." It resembles early websites, focusing on functionality, simplicity, and honesty.
Its emphasis on simple colors, heavy fonts, and sharp lines makes it a standout among 2025’s modern web design trends. This style deliberately avoids the ideal of "perfect design," offering instead a straightforward and provocative approach.
Brutalism’s popularity in 2025 is driven by its contrast to uniform minimalism. It’s chosen by brands that aim to stand out and be memorable. Brutalism is becoming a trend for art platforms, creative studios, and anyone looking for a way to make a statement. It’s especially popular among art platforms and creative websites, where authenticity and bold design elements are essential.
Brutalism also evokes nostalgia for the early days of the Internet, when websites were simple and free from unnecessary decorative elements. Its rawness and straightforwardness create a sense of authenticity that modern users appreciate. While most designs become smooth and standardized, brutalism draws attention with its boldness and refusal to conform to conventional norms.
This nostalgic nod to early internet design inspires user-friendly yet provocative digital experiences.
Creative Cursors: Unique Design Elements for Modern Websites
Creative cursors are one of the trends gaining traction in 2025. By customizing cursors to reflect a brand’s style, designers create interactive, user-friendly experiences that engage users.
A standard cursor is replaced with a customized element that can reflect a brand's style, respond to user actions, or even function as part of the navigation. For instance, on creative websites, cursors might mimic a paintbrush or marker, adding an immersive touch.
One popular approach is using cursors that change shape or size when hovering over interactive elements. For instance, a cursor might transform into a dot that outlines objects or an arrow pointing in the direction of an action. Another option is adding animation: the cursor can "drag" a tail behind it, leave a trail, or change colors dynamically.
Creative cursors can also have functional roles, such as acting as micro-animations for tooltips or enhancing the sense of immersion. For example, on websites related to art or creative studios, the cursor can be stylized as a brush or marker, creating an association with the company's activities.
The popularity of this trend is driven by the desire to make websites not only user-friendly but also emotionally engaging. Creative cursors help brands stand out among competitors, as they are memorable and create bright and unexpected impressions for users.
Morphism: Modern Web Design That Blends Style and Functionality
Morphism, especially neumorphism and glassmorphism, may become very popular in 2025. This style combines soft shadows and transparent elements to achieve a sleek, modern website design that’s both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
Neumorphism looks like buttons or cards that appear raised or pressed in, using soft shadows and gradients. Glassmorphism, on the other hand, uses transparent, blurred elements resembling glass, adding a sense of lightness and "airiness" to the design. These elements look elegant and futuristic, but they don’t overload the interface.
I particularly see this style in mobile apps, and in my opinion, it suits them the most. Morphism allows for creating interfaces that look modern and stylish without complicating navigation. This makes apps more intuitive and pleasant to use, which is essential in the mobile environment.
This style will be used in many areas, from financial services to creative platforms. Morphism combines functionality with style, making interfaces not only beautiful but also practical. It helps create modern yet simple-to-use interfaces, which are becoming increasingly popular among designers.
Minimalism with a Twist: Redefining Modern Design Inspiration
Minimalism with a twist is a blend of simplicity and uniqueness. This style keeps the core principles of minimalism, like clean lines, limited color palettes, and functionality, but adds distinctive elements that give the design a special touch. These could be bold accents, unusual fonts, or creative details that add personality and make the design stand out.
A key feature of minimalism with a twist is the balance between simplicity and uniqueness. The same simple interface, which in classic minimalism might appear plain, in this style gets that "special touch" that grabs attention without overwhelming the user. This creates a stylish yet individual product.
This approach works well for brands that want to highlight their uniqueness while keeping things elegant and simple. Minimalism with a twist can be seen in modern websites, apps, and branded materials, where it's important to stick to core design principles while adding elements that emphasize individuality.
For instance, among Sommo's templates, there's an example of minimalism with a twist.
By balancing simplicity and individuality, minimalism with a twist ensures elegance without overwhelming users, making it a cornerstone of modern web design.
Scroll-triggered Animations: Dynamic and Interactive Design Elements
Another trend gaining popularity in 2025 is dynamic scroll-triggered animations. This style involves elements on a page starting to move, change shape, or appear as the user scrolls to a certain point. It adds interactivity and dynamism to the site, drawing attention to key content elements.
I wouldn't say this is a “future trend” only. Scrolling animation has always existed, but now it is developing very rapidly and I am increasingly seeing sites in this style. And I'm not talking about ordinary sticky-type animations. I'm talking about the case when a scroll creates some kind of motion story, a detailed product presentation, and more.
Great Example - https://af1.analogueshop.com/
Also the perfect one - https://www.utsubo.com/
The appeal of these animations is not just about visual interest — they enhance the overall user experience by guiding attention to specific sections and creating a narrative through motion. These interactions help users better connect with the content and feel more involved in the website's story. As the trend develops, we’ll see even more creative and functional uses of scrolling animations, particularly on sites that aim to captivate visitors and keep them engaged.
Creative applications of this trend will continue to elevate modern web design.
3D Design: Adding Depth to Creative Websites
3D design elements are transforming how we experience websites. While 3D elements have been around for a while, they are now evolving and becoming a major part of web design, adding depth and realism to digital experiences. 3D graphics are no longer limited to product displays or animations; they are now used in interfaces, illustrations, and even typography, making websites feel more immersive.
The advantage of 3D design is its ability to create visually stunning and interactive experiences that engage users. Whether it's through floating 3D objects, realistic shadows, or interactive 3D models, this style allows designers to create a more tactile experience. As web technologies continue to advance, 3D design will become more accessible and increasingly used to create unique, memorable interactions that stand out and captivate visitors.
As technology advances, 3D design will become more accessible, enabling designers to craft immersive, creative websites that leave lasting impressions.
Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Modern Website Design
Artificial intelligence in design is primarily about automating processes and improving workflow efficiency. In 2025, AI continues to play a pivotal role in web design, automating workflows and enhancing creativity. From analyzing user data to generating tailored design solutions, AI helps designers create user-friendly, personalized experiences. For instance, AI can analyze large volumes of user data and suggest optimal design solutions, such as the arrangement of elements, color schemes, or typography.
AI is also widely used for generating basic design components like templates, graphics, or even simple animations. This frees up designers to focus on crafting unique details for their projects. One promising area of application is personalized content creation. For example, AI can recommend products or adapt content to individual users based on their past behavior.
AI is particularly useful in prototyping. AI-driven tools can automatically generate interfaces with minimal input, enabling designers to quickly test ideas and see how they function in practice.
Applications:
- E-commerce: AI generates product recommendations based on season, user interests, or purchase history.
- Streaming platforms: Interfaces adapt dynamically to reflect users’ preferred genres of movies or shows.
- Travel apps: Users receive customized itineraries or restaurant suggestions tailored to their preferences and location.
That said, AI is just a tool. Creativity and ideas remain in the hands of the designer. AI doesn’t replace creativity—it enhances it, making the design process more flexible and engaging.
Whether optimizing layouts or recommending personalized content, AI drives the evolution of modern web design, ensuring innovative and efficient solutions.
AR in Design: The Trend of the Future
Augmented reality (AR) is becoming an increasingly important component of modern design, and 2025 may be the year it takes an even bigger place in the digital world. This trend allows virtual elements to be integrated into the real world through smartphones, tablets, or special devices, creating a unique interactive experience.
By incorporating AR into modern website design, brands can create unique, engaging experiences that redefine user expectations. As AR tools become more accessible, this trend will continue to shape creative websites and modern design inspiration.
AR is most commonly used in the following areas:
E-commerce. Users can "try on" clothing, accessories, or even furniture directly in their own space before making a purchase. This helps make the shopping process more convenient and reduces the number of returns.
Education. Augmented reality allows the creation of interactive lessons where students can interact with objects, examine them in 3D, or even immerse themselves in historical events.
Gaming. AR games, like the popular Pokémon Go, demonstrate how this approach can make gaming more engaging and interactive.
Art and Exhibitions. Augmented reality allows for the integration of digital artworks into physical spaces or the creation of interactive tours.
AR adds more individuality and interactivity to design, enabling users not only to view content but also to interact with it. However, developing AR projects requires significant resources and time, so its application is currently often limited to large brands or specialized services.
In 2025, we can expect AR to become even more accessible, with new tools for its implementation, and the technology will be integrated into ordinary websites and mobile apps.
Conclusion
As we look towards 2025, it’s clear that modern web design trends are evolving at a rapid pace, driven by technological advancements and shifts in user behavior, reshaping digital experiences.
From bento-style layouts and scroll-triggered animations to AI and AR integration, these innovations emphasize the importance of user-friendly, creative websites.
At the same time, design aesthetics like bento-style layouts and dynamic, scroll-triggered animations are gaining traction, offering more engaging and interactive user experiences.
These trends emphasize the growing importance of creating personalized, immersive, and intuitive digital environments. The ability to deliver unique, context-aware experiences through the power of AI and AR will be a defining feature of design in the coming years.
As an Awwwards-winning leader in web and mobile development, Sommo Studio combines cutting-edge trends with innovative solutions to create user-friendly, visually stunning, and highly functional digital experiences, explore our cases or templates.
We’re ready to bring your vision to life. Whether it’s crafting creative websites or building modern mobile apps, Sommo is your trusted partner for design inspiration and development excellence. Let’s create something extraordinary together!