🎙️ VMPro Podcast Episode #003: Five Top Web Design Trends To Look Out For in 2025

Podcast Script + Show Notes

Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Van Marciano Pro Podcast here on Van Marciano Dot Pro. My name is Fabrizio Van Marciano, I’m a freelance web designer at VMCo, and the creator of VMPro and I will be your host for this episode.

This podcast is where I share insightful web design tips to help you create beautiful responsive websites with WordPress, along with digital marketing strategies to transform your site into a powerful conversion machine. Let’s dive right in!

In this episode, I’ll be diving into what I believe will be some of the top web design trends to watch for in 2025. But before we get into the specifics, I want to quickly point out that, as a designer myself, I don’t put too much emphasis on design fads or trends because a lot of them just come and go like the wind.

Also, I think everyone has their own unique style, right? Their own creative signature, even if someone’s work takes some inspiration from current trends, whatever that may be.

Some designers are all about simplicity and minimal design, while others focus heavily on making every single element accessible – which is, of course, important. Then there are those who prefer to pack as many features, visuals, nice-to-have items onto a page as possible.

Ultimately, we all have our own perspectives on how a website should look, feel, and function for the end user. That will never change, we all bring something unique to the industry, and personally, I don’t put much stock in those who insist, “It has to be done this way or that way.” When it comes to design, sometimes breaking away from tradition is exactly what’s needed.

There are, as well, many other factors that we don’t dive into in this episode.

On the topic of accessibility, actually, if you’re looking for guidance on designing with accessibility in mind using page builders, I do have a few videos available and plan to create more in the future.

Alrighty then, let’s now explore the five web design trends to keep an eye on for next year. Keep in mind, also, that these aren’t trends you must incorporate into your designs—I don’t subscribe to that idea at all, again. However, they can definitely serve as a source of inspiration for whatever it is you’re trying to achieve with your projects.

So we’re going to look at –

1. Dynamic cursors
2. Monochromatic color schemes
3. AI generated designs
4. Paralax scrolling
5. Full page headers

Let’s get to it.

1. Dynamic cursors

Let’s start with Dynamic cursors, what on earth is this? Your might be asking.

So dynamic cursors are seen as an innovative way, I guess, to enhance user interaction and engagement on a website.

So unlike the standard arrow pointer that you normally see, dynamic cursors adapt and change based on user actions, the context of the page, or the content being interacted with.

So yes, this is a trend that I’m noticing quite a bit on a few website’s that I’ve visited more recently. In fact the BricksForge website, I believe if I’m right, uses some subtle dynamic cursor effects. If you head over there and take a look you will see as you scroll there is a pointer effect, and even if you hover over interactive elements, the pointer changes.

And so yes, again, dynamic cursors can transform in various ways—they might change their shape, size, or color. They can respond to hover states or clicks, display contextual information, and even feature some eye-catching animations as well.

So if you are looking for some ways in which to create more engagement on your website, look at implementing some dynamic cursors.

2. Monochromatic color schemes

OK, so next up we have monochromatic color schemes. Now this is one trend that I’m exploring with myself with new projects, but what is it?

In web design, a monochromatic color scheme involves using different shades, tones, and tints of a base color. So in other words, your website’s primary color.

This approach helps to create a nice cohesive and harmonious look by maintaining consistency throughout the design of a web page, while also allowing for visual variation and depth. This isn’t suitable for every project, but you can certainly experiment with it.

Take your website’s primary color, you can use a tool like ColorKit, to create shades and tints that you can experiment with in your projects. I will link to this tool in the show notes for this episode.

By the way, Core Framework also offers some cool features for generating tints and shades, making it a great tool for your Bricks web design projects. I do have a beginners guide to Core Frameworks which I’ll link to in the show notes for this episode.

Recommended: Core Framework + Bricks for Beginners

OK, let’s move on.

3. AI generated designs

By now, you’re likely to be well-acquainted with the pervasive presence of AI and the rapid pace at which it has integrated itself into our daily lives. Web design is no exception to this trend.

So let’s talk about AI generated designs, what is it?

In short: AI-generated design refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools and algorithms to assist or even automate the creation, layout, and styling of websites. This approach leverages machine learning models and AI-driven systems to simplify, speed up, and optimize the design process, making web development more accessible and efficient.

My take on this is that AI generated designs should complement your creativity and not completely take over it. At least that is my opinion, but yes!

So what are the benefits of using AI generated designs?

As I mentioned, it helps make the web development process more accessible and efficient, but there is also –

1. Cost effectiveness – In that context, there is less need for extensive human resources
2. Consistency – Consistency is key to ensuring a professional design that is consistent across your entire site.
3. Scalability – So in that context, AI generated designs provides the benefits of adjusting to the evolving demands of a website.

Of course, while I think AI generated designs is a valuable trend to watch out for, as I mentioned it has to complement creativity and no take over it. That is the fine line I think. Because there are limitations. The biggest two being –

1. Customization constraints
2. Lack of human touch.

OK, let’s move to the next one.

4. Parallax scrolling

The next design trend on our list is parallax scrolling which you might have seen featured on more websites recently.

Parallax scrolling is a cool visual effect where the background elements move at a slower speed than the foreground elements as a user scrolls down a webpage. So what it does is create a sense of depth and immersion, making the web experience more dynamic and engaging for users.

As with many design trends, this is not something that should be applied to every page or project indiscriminately, but when it is used correctly, it’s amazing to see and engage with. There are also advantages and disadvantages of using parallax scrolling that I should highlight.

The good –

1. Engages users and improves story telling
2. Adds depth

The bad –

1. Can create performance problems
2. There are concerns around accessibility
3. Can create challenges when it comes to responsive design

5. Full page headers

The final web design trend to keep an eye on for 2025 is the use of full-page headers which is becoming increasingly popular. But what exactly does this entail?

If you’ve visited the homepage of Van Marciano Pro, you’ve likely seen a full-page header in action.

So in a nutshell, full-page headers are large, prominently displayed sections that typically span the entire width and height of a user’s screen. They are often the first thing visitors see upon landing on a website and serve as a powerful visual introduction to the site’s content or purpose. Purpose meaning It’s the ideal spot to showcase your value proposition (VP) and include a call-to-action, driving better conversions. That is one of the key benefits of using a full-page header, it creates a clear focus that helps visitors understand your website’s purpose quickly. Others include –

1. Professional Aesthetics: Full page headers help to convey a clean, professional, and visually appealing design.
2. Improved User Flow: Full page headers help to encourage action by prominently displaying your websites primary CTAs, as I mentioned which is great for improving conversions!

So that is it, that’s our five design trends to look out for in 2025 and maybe beyond that. Of course, there’s a wealth of trends out there to discover, and here’s what I’ll be focusing on over the next few months—late 2024 and early 2025, depending on when you’re tuning in. I’ll be creating new design tutorials covering elements we’ve talked about in this episode:

• Full-page headers
• Social proof section
• Simple dynamic cursor tutorial

Keep an eye out for those updates! If you’re a Van Marciano Pro Member, you already have access to a wide range of video tutorials, so you can expect even more exciting content coming your way soon. Thanks for listening, see you on the inside.