Exploring Envato’s 2025 Web Design Trends: A Personal Take

Every year, the world of web design evolves—trends shift, tools become smarter, and designers, like myself, are faced with new opportunities to innovate. Staying ahead in the design industry means embracing these changes, understanding their implications, and finding our unique voice within them. Here’s my take on the latest trends and how they might influence our creative journeys.

Here’s a closer look at some of the key web design trends for 2025 by Envato (see report here), along with my perspective on how they align with the creative work we do every day.

 

1. Playful & Interactive Websites

The report highlights a shift towards playful and interactive websites, where user engagement is key. Immersive experiences are no longer just a novelty; they’re becoming the norm. This trend champions personality and personalization, offering users a chance to engage deeply with content.

From my perspective, interactive websites achieve two crucial things. They engage multiple senses, enhancing the user experience, and they incorporate gamification, which boosts user retention. Immersion can occur on various levels, whether it’s through familiar associations or emotional connections. However, it’s vital to ensure that any design choice aligns with brand goals, vision, and values. Doing things differently should be intentional, not just for the sake of being different.

 

2. The Growing Impact of AI

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing web design by making it more effortless and accessible. AI tools can analyze preferences, suggest layouts, and even create customized sites instantly. This democratization of design tools means more people can enter the field, raising the bar for creativity.

I’m fully on board with AI as a creative enabler. The time-saving potential is real—it allows us to do more and do better. At the same time, I feel like we’re only scratching the surface. The real bottleneck isn’t the tools themselves—it’s our imagination. While the playing field has leveled for newcomers and professionals alike, AI’s true value lies in what we choose to do with it.

 

3. Anti-Design and Brutalism

Anti-design and brutalism are making a comeback, encouraging designers to break traditional aesthetic rules. This trend is about embracing boldness and authenticity, rejecting sleekness for a more utilitarian feel.

In my view, when everything looks the same, nothing stands out. This trend is a rebellion against “best practices,” pushing the envelope in design. It’s fascinating to see the cyclical nature of design trends, oscillating between opulence and minimalism over time, resurging again and again, constantly pulling the other into relevance.

 

4. Voice Search Dominates the Mainstream

Voice search is becoming an integral part of website UX, with big brands already leveraging its potential. As users adapt to talking rather than typing, optimizing for voice commands becomes crucial.

I’ll be honest—this isn’t something I’m deeply invested in yet. I remember the same hype around AR and VR years ago, and while voice search is impactful in some markets, it hasn’t hit my sphere of work as strongly. My approach here is to keep an eye on markets where voice search adoption is ahead of the curve. Trends often travel globally, so what works elsewhere might make waves in my world in 5-7 years.

 

5. Sustainable Web Design

Sustainable web design prioritizes eco-friendly practices, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of digital products. This includes optimizing images, using responsive design, and adopting energy-efficient coding.

I fully support small, achievable steps toward sustainability. At the same time, I can’t ignore my own place within non-sustainable systems—it feels hypocritical to preach. I recently read a report criticising agencies for working with non-sustainable industries, which made me reflect on my own practices. At the end of the day optimizations like compressed images and efficient coding matter, and as designers, we should take responsibility for what’s within our control.

 

6. Back to Basics: Design Fundamentals

With advances in tech, certain design formats have become commonplace. However, overuse can lead to cookie-cutter designs that lack originality.

I have mixed feelings about this. “Back to basics” can mean vastly different things to different people. For me, the choice between minimalist, flat design or ornate styles should always be driven by the brand’s goals, audience, and brief—not by trends alone. When it comes to animation—less is more. Animation should amplify a design, not overpower it. Thoughtful use of these tools is essential to maintain functionality and user engagement.

 

7. A Human Touch: Embracing Imperfection

Amidst the rise of AI, there’s a trend towards embracing imperfections that make designs feel human. This approach values authenticity and personal touch in digital spaces.

Imperfections define uniqueness. In a world where AI can replicate any style at scale, human creativity—our quirks and inconsistencies—becomes a valuable differentiator. AI is a tool, an innovative tool but a tool nonetheless, and as history shows, humanity adapts and thrives alongside groundbreaking technologies.

 

Conclusion

Trends offer inspiration, but they’re not the goal. Whether it’s AI, interactivity, or a return to fundamentals, the real magic happens when design choices align with purpose, personality, and creativity. As we head into 2025, I encourage fellow designers to explore these trends while staying grounded in thoughtful, intentional work.