TL;DR: What you’ll learn
In this post, you’ll learn why constantly chasing trends in website design can actually hurt your brand, and how focusing on timeless strategy, SEO, and storytelling creates a site that converts, long after the trends fade.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- The truth about why trends come and go.
- How trendy websites can hurt your visibility and conversions.
- What to focus on instead to create a site that lasts.
- A simple 3-step approach to designing with strategy and long-term growth in mind.
Are you ready to build a website that truly represents your business and doesn’t just follow the latest trends? Inquire about my website design services, I’d love to chat!
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If I’m being honest, it’s easy to fall into the trap of design trends…
As a Designer, I am always researching and paying attention to the latest and greatest trends happening in website design. When I first started out designing, I really wanted to recreate the current trends. At that time it was very boho chic, you would see a lot of layering with images, graphics and text. I personally still like that style because it feels cozy to me and you know I love a good cozy vibe!
From there, the trends took a steep turn and became all about bold designs. Bold fonts, large images and lots of transitions and animations. And guess what, this also looks great! Because the thing is, trends are always going to look good because you’re seeing them everywhere. You’re seeing all the big brands using them and you want your business to come across the same way.
It’s really easy to fall in love with the latest design trends because we see them everywhere. On Pinterest, Instagram, etc. But what I’ve learned as a designer is the value of a strong brand and strategy. You can definitely implement parts of trends so your website doesn’t look outdated but the foundation of your website should be based on your brand and SEO strategy.
Why I stopped chasing trends in website design
1. Trends are built for short term attention not long-term results
Just like in fashion, beauty or any other industry that is based on design; every year has a different trend. Design trends are exactly that, they’re focused on the design not the strategy or messaging. These trends are usually dependent on different features like parallax scrolling, images fading in and out, and different transitions.
These elements may look impressive, but they’re often:
- Performance-heavy (slowing your site down)
- Distracting from your message
- Hard to maintain or update
There’s nothing wrong with adding certain trends to your website to keep it from looking outdated. But pay attention to what you’re adding because a lot of trends can actually harm your site when it comes to SEO.
Instead of focusing on keeping up with trends, focus on timeless design principles that prioritize clarity, user experience, and storytelling.
Think about an engagement ring, you can choose one that follows the current trend but you risk it looking outdated a few years from now. Or you can choose a classic, elegant and timeless design that will always look beautiful!
2. Trendy designs often sacrifice SEO
The truth is, trending website designs often prioritize looks over function. Search engines value structure, speed, and clarity; not pretty visuals.
When your website relies on heavy animations or style over structure:
- Your site speed suffers.
- Accessibility decreases.
- Your SEO ranking drops.
For example, I redesigned my website to follow the latest trends at the beginning of 2025. I implemented rolling up folders and images transitioning onto the screen. And by the end of the year I regretted it because it was slowing down my page speed affecting my SEO.
Now to be fair, I don’t think you should completely avoid trends. You do want to make sure your website is up to date and doesn’t look outdated. But the number one focus should be your brand, your messaging and of course SEO!
If you want to test your site speed, you can use Google’s page speed tool: PageSpeed Insights
3. Design trends can dilute your brand voice and messaging
If your site looks like everyone else’s, your message gets lost. Your website isn’t meant to blend in, it’s meant to stand out. Your website should feel like a literal virtual door into your business. Imagine someone walking into your store (if you had one) that’s how they should feel when they visit your website.
Instead of focusing on what’s trending, focus on what helps you connect more deeply with your ideal client.
For instance, if you have a wellness business you want a brand and website that represents that. Your website should bring calm, serene and healing vibes to anyone who visits. If you have bold fonts with heavy transitions it can take away from the energy of your own brand.
What to focus on instead of trends in website design: A 3-step design approach that lasts
Here’s how to build a website that stays timeless without ever chasing trends in website design:
1. Start with strategy
Get clear on these things before you even start thinking about your website design layout:
- Who is your ideal client?
- How can you help them?
- What are they searching for?
- What are your business goals?
When determining the layout and content of your website, your business is the number one thing you should focus on. I always start my web design projects by learning your business goals and how your website can support them.
2. Focus on simplicity and function
A clear layout, strong hierarchy, and intentional whitespace always outperform trendy designs.
Focus on creating a clean, calm and conversion focused design. Meaning, create a website layout that is easy for your users to navigate but also easy for Search Engines and AI Tools to understand. This comes from creating a clear content structure with your headers and paragraph text. And implementing SEO best practices.
You can learn more about SEO here:
The Beginners Guide SEO: Simple Steps to Start Showing Up on Google
How to Use SEO Header Tags Correctly on Your Showit Website
3. Optimize for SEO and user experience
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: what’s the point in having a beautiful website if no one can find it?
You need to build your website to get found in traditional Search Results (Google) and in AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.). In order for your website to appear in these results it needs to be optimized for SEO and user experience.
That means your website should:
- Have SEO best practices implemented (headers, alt text, etc.)
- Optimized for mobile
- Easy for real users to navigation
When your website is built on strategy + SEO, it stays relevant no matter what the current website design trend is.
Learn how to implement SEO on your own website:
Showit SEO: How to Add SEO to Your Showit Website the Right Way
TL;DR recap
Here’s your step-by-step recap:
- Recognize that trends fade fast. They’re fun to look at but don’t build lasting results or impressions.
- Prioritize timeless design principles. Clean, strategic, and user-first always wins.
- Keep SEO at the core. Visibility is what keeps your business growing long-term.
- Design with your audience in mind. Design a website that connects with your ideal clients.
- Stay grounded in your brand voice. Set yourself apart from your competition by having a unique perspective and brand voice.
Want a timeless, strategy-first website that quietly attracts clients without chasing trends? Explore my Website Design & SEO Services or book a free consultation to get started.
FAQs about trends in website design
Q1: Should I include current website design trends on my site?
Add the trend if it aligns with your brand. The key is to adapt trends that support your messaging. They should add to your brand vibe not take away from it.
Q2: How often should I refresh my website design?
You should update your website every 2 to 3 years. Or when your brand or business evolves and changes.
Q3: How do I know if a design trend is worth trying?
Ask yourself this: will this improve the user experience or simply look good for a month? If it doesn’t serve your audience or SEO, skip it.
Q4: What’s one timeless design principle I should always follow?
Clear and concise messaging with an easy to navigate layout for a positive user experience. Every visitor should know who you are, what you offer, and how to take the next step without scrolling or guessing.
Final thoughts on trends in website design
Use trends to inspire your design but they shouldn’t define your brand. Build your website for longevity not for a moment. Be sure to update your website so it’s not outdated but more than chasing trends focus on your own brand and message.
When you build your website with intention, strategy, and purpose, you’ll never need to chase trends. Your design will already be doing exactly what it’s meant to, quietly working for you.
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