Web Design Trends Dominating 2021

Even when armed with a great website design solution, it’s not always easy coming up with a website that feels cutting edge.

Following current web design trends is absolutely critical if you hope to create a site that’ll impress visitors.

That’s why we’ve asked our friends at Elementor, one of the most popular website builders out there, to share the top five prevailing web design trends you should consider in 2021.

So, without further ado, let’s get to them!

1. Analogous colors

Even when they’re not exactly from the same palette family, certain color schemes simply fit together. Color groupings such as these are called analogous colors.
When blended together within a website, these colors contribute to a harmonious scheme; the kind that a casual viewer will almost certainly find eye-catching.

In a more technical sense, analogous colors are composed of three different hues:

A dominant color (typically a primary color), a complementary color (or secondary color), and a third and final color. The latter will either be a sort of blend of the first two colors, or, alternatively, it will be a more of a ‘curveball’ hue that makes the scheme stick out.

La nouvelle seems to pull off the impossible; elegantly combining somewhat bland (and frankly unappealing) colors in a way that immediately catches the eye. The darker pink background enables the more dominant orange block font to shine. And, when the darker turquoise is revealed when scrolling down, the overall aesthetic simply works.

2. Seamless surrealism

Seamless surrealism entails positioning elements upon counterintuitive, unusual backgrounds.

It may sound weird. However, when implemented correctly, the results can be striking. 

Check this Gucci landing page as an example.

The high-end retailer positions each handbag within a unique, image-based background.

Potential customers are approached with products in a completely different, unique way.

Suddenly, there’s an added layer to each handbag’s look and feel.

The key to getting seamless surrealism right is thinking in terms of flamboyant colors and textures. Those will really help deliver the  visual experience you’re aiming for.

3. Black outline

Black illustrations have become fan favorites among web designers. Enamored with their sleek, striking aesthetic, web designers leverage this dark graphic approach in other areas.

A prime example is black outlines around different elements throughout their website. These black lines and borders can vary in thicknesses; they’re often used as page dividers, specifically as grid boxes of numerous sizes.
The following example is unique in that it combines said black lines and illustrations with real photographed images.

The black borders and accents have a powerful impact on user engagement. This type of graphic design catches visitors’ attention right off the bat. They’ll find themselves drawn to the messaging and experiences the designer seeks to relay.

4. 90s pixelated design

80’s nostalgia dominated much of the previous decade. A flurry of movies and television shows were either set during that decade (think Stranger Things) or were actually aired during that decade and were reinvented for a new audience (think Fuller House and Nightmare on Elm’s St.). It seemed that Zoomers suddenly had insatiable appetites for 80’s-themed entertainment. Well, believe it or not, the 90s are now officially retro, too.

The decade in which video games truly rose to dominate popular culture, the 90’s aesthetic is very much defined by the most popular arcade games of that era.

Those looking to truly capture the spirit of what now feels like a faraway decade, should strive to fuse simplistic pixelated graphics with a more dynamic 3D  style of presentation.

The website on display is a perfect representation of this dual approach.
Those who land on this site are immediately drawn to the block graphic motif, sophisticatedly presented in slick 3D. The background shifting when scrolling up and down is a nice touch, as well.

5. Negative colors

2021 saw designers and web design agencies gravitate towards very bold colors, specifically primary ones:
Red, blue and yellow.
Using them effectively often entails combining multiple deeply contrasting primary colors, akin to comics-like themes and 90’s-style motifs.These types of color combinations often target younger visitors; their upbeat, exciting vibe resonating with less mature unique aesthetic sensibilities.

Check this out:

Goliath Entertainment’s home page is a perfect representation of negative color combinations done right. The boomboxes, rotary telephones and other iconic 90’s items will resonate strongly with Millennials who grew up in that decade.