The internet is shifting and 2026 is ushering in some BIG changes to how websites will be designed in future. 

Now, I know you don’t have time to spend afternoons scrolling through design blogs – you’ve got launches to run and clients to serve. But this year’s trends are very telling about what people (*cough* YOUR best-fit clients) are actually craving right now.

So, in my mission to take as much website work of your plate as possible, I’ve analysed these trends and relayed the basics for you to see exactly what these shifts mean for your business and your bottom line. Here’s the lowdown:

Web design trend no.1: Nostalgia & Collage: 

My feed is absolutely saturated rn with collage style posts and whilst they look funky and fun, I want you to ask yourself if this fits your business before running off for a rebrand. If you’re a high-end consultant or luxury service provider, a chaotic scrapbook aesthetic will confuse your clients rather than convert them.

What this means for you:

The Collage and Nostalgia trend is popping up because we’re burnt out and craving a simpler time. 2016 anyone? But this trend has popped up to fight the very thing we’re fed up with – saturation! And as quickly as this look fills my feed, I predict it won’t be long before we get sick of looking at it.

I LOVE that I stick to my clear, minimalistic vibe because not only do my polished posts represent my professionalism, my distinct brand looks so different to everyone else which I know will make it even easier for my best-fit clients to spot me. 

Trends are fun, but brand consistency is profitable. Don’t sacrifice your credibility just to look cool. 

Web design trend no.2: Organics & Humanising 

I am SOO over seeing AI Slop everywhere online, and judging by this trend, you are too! We’re burnt out by generic copy and over polished images (that look SOO fake anyway 🤢)

Enter: organic and ‘human-like’ designs. Think annotations, handwritten fonts…anything that looks like a human got their hands on it and started scribbling onto it physically. Think real photography, human written copy, organic textures, and shapes that resemble nature. 

What this means for you:

Authenticity is your currency (and let’s be real, has been forEVER!) Your audience wants YOU. YOUR brand, YOUR values, YOUR approach. AI has changed the game because information is so freely accessible at any time. 

What people are craving now isn’t information. It’s perspectives, experiences, and approaches that they can’t get anywhere else. It’s not WHAT you do, it’s HOW you do it, and people are craving experts with insights that align with their own values. (Notice how Instagram posts have gone from “How to get dream clients” to “Here’s how I, as a 7 figure founder, find clients”) 

I’m not saying go off and add fluffy cloud backgrounds or handwritten fonts to your brand. What I am saying is that real and authentic is here to stay, and this trend shows we’re craving it more than ever, so keep that in mind whether you’re launching an offer, posting on Instagram, or revamping your website. 

Web design trend no.3: Automated hyper-personalisation

Instead of landing on a website and hunting for what you need, websites of the future will bring what you need…to you! Every website visitor will have a unique experience and a unique path resembling those ‘pick your own adventure’ games.

New technologies from AI enable personalised experiences to load based on website visitor inputs. A current example of this is quizzes that determine what services you need based on your answers.

What this means for you:

Whilst technology advances and the way we display information adapts, one thing is clear:

People want EASE.

I’ve been screaming this from the rooftops for years but if your website isn’t easy to use, it doesn’t matter how pretty it is (see point below), it will lose you clients, conversions, and opportunities. 

Because modern day is busy. We don’t have TIME to faff around. Think about your clients…busy mums, busy start ups, mature 7 figure agencies: BUSY! When you make your business experiences easy (whether that’s your project process or website) your service will feel PREMIUM because your clients will feel as looked after as a butler-bringing-cocktails-to-your-sun-lounger holiday goer. 

And that’s why my clients come to work with me too because they know that providing a premium service starts by providing a premium website experience. Because a clunky website will make clients wonder if they have to wrestle with the same level of clunkiness in your offer. Goodbye easy sales.

Web design trend no.4: Accessibility as default

Back in my day 👵🏻 you only had to code for desktop and one browser with a disclaimer saying “Best viewed in Internet Explorer!” Now I code websites to look good and work well in all browsers, devices, and sizes because then more people can access my site that way. 

On top of that, I follow website accessibility standards using techniques like colour contrast, keyboard access, and screen-reader friendly content to ensure websites are accessible to people with disabilities too.

But unless you’re in the public sector, website accessibility is seen as an optional obligation rather than a legal requirement. That might change in 2026.

What this means for you:

2026 is all about returning to ease of use and function over flash (Please…I beg of you!!!) I’ve seen designer after designer selling “bold websites to stand you out” with websites comparable to early 2000’s MySpace pages and whilst that makes my 14 year old self sing, I’m saddened to see ‘boldness’ prioritised over basic usability. Think slow loading flashy graphics, hard to read fonts, images used for text (which screen readers can’t understand), and clashing backgrounds that strain the eye. 

So for the sake of your clients and conversions, I implore you to make accessibility a priority. 

Accessibility as a trend however, is less so a passing phase and more so an indication into where the World Wide Web is headed. Remember when “mobilegeddon” hit in 2015 and everyone rushed to ensure their website was mobile friendly to ensure their Google rankings wouldn’t drop? I envision a similar situation happening for accessibility.

Google ALREADY favours an accessible websites because a lot of technical SEO involves the same techniques that accessibility uses so it’s a win win. Better accessibility for your clients, better SEO for you! But I also imagine a feature where accessibility will become a legal requirement for ALL websites (think back to when GDPR kicked off!)

So if you want to impress your clients, provide the best website experience possible, and get ahead to avoid a last minute legal amendment, I advise looking into website accessibility sooner rather than later. And give me a shout if you want me to upgrade you to a premium, accessible web design.

Web design trend no.5: Sustainability

Again, not just a trend but another clear indication of where the web is maturing and what people are craving. With the rise of AI, our awareness of our ‘digital’ footprint has become bigger than ever. And with that, cleaner build websites, greener hosting, and brands that genuinely give a damn will enter the limelight. 

What this means for you:

As mentioned above, information and outsourcing is so readily available with a million and one options so the focus has shifted to not just what you do, but how you do it, what impact you’re having, and what values you uphold. 

Having a lean, eco-friendly website shows you’re a forward-thinking brand that cares about impact and not just income. Plus lighter websites load faster (great for accessibility and SEO) so it’s a win win. 

I’m currently working with clients to reduce carbon usage as well as putting together an environmental policy (as well as an AI policy) to ensure my systems + processes are inline with my values. Give me a shout if you want to do the same.

What do all these web design trends really mean?

Honestly apart from some fashionable aesthetic styles, these trends highlight foundations that web designers have been preaching for years:

2026 is shaping up to be faster, smarter, more inclusive, and (thankfully) more human, and as the web shifts, these foundations will be more important than ever. 

So if your current site feels a bit “2020” (or makes you want to throw your laptop out the window), give me a shout to upgrade to a premium, streamlined, accessible website that represents YOU.