This blog post will predict design trends and website trends for 2026. We will be discussing trends like making sure there is an obvious human touch, Minimalism with Brutalist elements, collage, cut & paste, glass liquid morphism, and gradients.
What is the human touch in design?
Using a human touch in your design can mean using elements that are handcrafted, childlike doodles, slight imperfections, or hand-written font choices. This is possibly a direct reaction to AI’s influence on the visuals we see every day. Keep an eye out for layouts or web pages using subtle accents that are distinctly human.
- Handcrafted doodles or hand-drawn accents that blend in
- Slight imperfections
- Hand-written font choices
What is minimalist webpage design?
A web trend for 2026 to watch out for, in conjunction with minimalism, are Brutalist titles. Oversized text that can be stark or playful. Black and white or colorful work. It is the size of the title that the visitor won’t be able to miss.
According to the YouTuber, Self-Made Web Designer, the shift to “Barely There UI” is a reaction to where venture capitalist money is flowing. People are looking at AI company websites and following their direction and style. And the money isn’t showing signs of stopping, so this trend may stick around through 2026 and beyond.
How can I use Collage in my designs?
Cut and paste with real photographs
The Dada art movement was a rejection of mainstream art, and moving into 2026, you might see the spirit of that, rejecting the glossy hyper real, uncanny valley style of AI-generated art (I predict this will be temporary the closer we get to not being able to tell the difference between human and AI generated art).
Case Study
The Cyphers Agency recently worked with the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) on their 75th anniversary campaign. The vintage shopper with the cart opposite the person ordering groceries on a cell phone represents how far flexible packaging has come. The 50s lettuce and the modern lettuce packaging also drive home the difference 75 years can make. A dreamy plastic background adds texture to the concept image. And, the digital-looking bubbles add excitement to the layout without distracting from the main focus. The concept was used in multiple media executions and on their FPA75.com landing page.
Use the cut and paste style with a torn paper border to make different elements stand out or apart from one another.
Overlapping layers
Bold colors
This next year will probably continue the 2025 trend of bold colors. Combine this style with black and white images to draw the eyes. This year may stray from the neon towards more primary color variations. Add texture to include the feel of a human touch. (Bonus: Which one of the images in the screenshot below looks out of place? What is making that AI image in the bottom right so obvious?)
Create your own trends
These are some of our predictions for design and web trends for 2026. While you are looking for the elements mentioned in this article, create some of your own. Be bold, be human, embrace the chaos, shout with colors and textures, and have fun designing this year!
If you have questions about design trends and what works for your brand, contact us today.
