Website Trends You Totally Forgot Existed

Ah, the internet of 10 years ago. Websites were clunky, bright, and sometimes downright confusing. Yet, at the time, they felt cutting-edge. Now, when you think back to those early days of web design, it’s hard not to laugh a little at what used to be considered good practice. Today, web design has evolved to focus on user experience (UX), responsive design, and sleek minimalism, but there’s a certain charm in reminiscing about the fads that once ruled the web.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest website trends from 10 years ago (or even longer), compare them to what’s standard today, and chuckle at how far we’ve come in improving the web.

1. Flash Intros: The OG “Loading Screen”

Back Then: If you visited a website in the early 2000s, there’s a good chance you had to sit through a Flash intro. These were full-screen, often animated sequences that introduced the site, accompanied by a soundtrack that was, well, definitely a choice. It was flashy (pun intended), fun, and incredibly annoying.

Now: Flash is dead, and for good reason. Today, website design trends prioritize speed and responsive design, focusing on keeping users’ attention from the first moment they arrive. Micro animations and triggered animations now add subtle flair to a page without keeping you waiting or bombarding you with unnecessary sound effects. Pages now load quickly and smoothly, and if you have to wait, at least it’s with a spinning wheel of minimalism.

2. Hit Counters: “Look How Many People Love Us!”

Back Then: Remember those clunky hit counters at the bottom of web pages, proudly proclaiming that 12,463 people had visited since 1999? It was the ultimate bragging tool. Visitors would scroll to the bottom of the page just to see how “popular” the website was.

Now: We’ve traded those clunky hit counters for sophisticated analytics dashboards like Google Analytics. Now, important information like user engagement, bounce rates, and call to action effectiveness is behind the scenes, allowing websites to focus on clean layouts instead of number bragging.

3. Neon Color Palettes & Bevelled Buttons

Back Then: If your website didn’t have neon-coloured, eye-catching elements paired with bevelled buttons that screamed “click me,” were you even doing web design in the early 2000s? Back then, colour palettes ranged from bold neons to clashing primary colours. Combined with the shading of 3D buttons, the goal was to make everything pop — unfortunately, this often resulted in a headache.

Now: Today’s top web design trends are all about clean white space, subtle gradients, and harmonious colour palettes. Buttons are flat, sleek, and designed to fit seamlessly into the user interface without overloading the senses. It’s less about screaming “click me” and more about guiding users through intentional design elements. Plus, responsive design means these buttons look great on any screen size, from smartphones to desktops.

4. Side-Scrolling Marquees and Blinking Text

Back Then: Ah, the scrolling marquees — text that would slide across the screen like breaking news, often accompanied by blinking text for extra flair. If you wanted to give visitors the sense that your website was alive and moving, the scrolling marquee was your go-to.

Now: Blinking text and marquees are (thankfully) extinct. In 2024, movement on websites comes in the form of micro animations and triggered animations that appear as users scroll down the page. These subtle touches enhance the user experience (UX), offering important information without overwhelming the visitor.

5. Overcrowded Homepages with Way Too Many Links

Back Then: In the early days of the web, it seemed like every website had to cram as many links, buttons, and banners onto the homepage as possible. The thought process seemed to be, “Why guide users when you can give them everything all at once?” The result was chaotic pages that left users scrolling in frustration, trying to find what they were looking for.

Now: The latest web design trends embrace minimalism. Instead of cluttering a page with every possible link and call to action, websites focus on prioritizing important information and letting the rest of the site breathe. White space is now king, and pages are designed to be intuitive, allowing visitors to navigate smoothly without the chaos.

6. Pop-Up Hell

Back Then: If there’s one website trend that has left the deepest scar on our collective internet memories, it’s the endless stream of pop-ups. From “subscribe now!” to “click here for a free prize!” pop-ups used to attack you the moment you arrived on a page. There were so many it sometimes felt like you needed to close 10 boxes before you could even see the website.

Now: Thankfully, today’s website design trends have drastically reduced the reliance on pop-ups. Instead, calls to action are thoughtfully integrated into pages with clean, responsive design. Subscription prompts and ads are now (usually) far less intrusive, helping keep visitors engaged without driving them away. Pop-ups are still used, but they’re more intentional, appearing at the right moment when users’ attention is most likely to be captured.

7. No Mobile Optimization

Back Then: Once upon a time, websites were designed solely for desktop screens. If you tried to access a site on your phone, it was an exercise in frustration — you’d zoom in, scroll around endlessly, and try to make sense of a page that wasn’t built for small screens.

Now: Responsive design is no longer optional — it’s a must. Web design trends for 2024 put a huge focus on mobile-first design, ensuring that websites adapt seamlessly to all screen sizes. Whether on a smartphone or a tablet, today’s websites automatically adjust their layouts to offer a smooth, easy-to-navigate experience. This shift has made a massive difference in how people interact with websites, with mobile traffic now surpassing desktop in many cases.

How Far We’ve Come

Looking back, it’s clear that web design has made huge strides. The website design trends of 2024 embrace simplicity, speed, and responsiveness. They guide visitors through the site, making sure every call to action is clear and every page is optimized for all devices. Whether you’re designing a site for digital marketing or showcasing the latest web design trends, it’s all about creating a seamless, enjoyable experience for users.

So, while we can laugh at the website trends of the past, there’s no denying that today’s standards make browsing a whole lot better! If you’re feeling triggered by some of these points and feel that your site could use a refresh, please reach out. Our web design team would be happy to help bring you into the 2020s!

P.S. For a laugh or to see some of these older trends in action, check out the original Space Jam website or parody website, Ling’s Cars.