5 WordPress Web Design Trends for September 2023

How are your fall projects going? Need some WordPress web design inspiration? These trends could be just the thing to spark some more imaginative concepts or help motivate your online storytelling goals.

Here are five great trends to consider this month:

1. Cartoonization

Sometimes, you need to make a statement with a design that’s simple, interesting, and goes beyond what you might expect. That’s what ESPN does here with the feature on Carlos Alcaraz for a US Open feature.

The design could have been a photo of him on the court; rather, he was cartoonized into a character that matches the larger-than-life headline and storyline.

The best part of this design, though, may happen on the scroll with animation of the tennis court and some amazing infographics.

Why it works: The cartoon-style image on the simple background is striking and stands out. It adds to the allure of the storytelling and matches the copy elements well.

How to use it: This works best with a simple image and distinct character. Don’t try this with a full image or landscape. (You won’t get the same effect.)

2. Words as Art

Sometimes, a story is best told without an image. That’s the case for the Right Our Story website, which focuses on bullying. This treatment works exceptionally well because you don’t want to show faces here; they could detract or distract from the message.

By using bright colors and fun font treatment, you are still engaged by the design, and the quote box concept used in the main headline area carries through with actual quotes in the design.

This can be a rather impactful way to let words truly tell a story. Images here could be problematic because you don’t want the user to assume someone in a photo is the bully or is being bullied. This treatment gives all the focus to the words.

With the Advanced Text Block from Kadence Blocks you can highlight specific words, making them really stand out and have a powerful impact.

Why it works: Words as an art element are especially powerful when reading is the primary focus of the design.

How to use it: Go for an interesting typeface and color treatment to keep elements together and interesting.

3. Layered Storytelling

Storytelling is at the core of almost every good website design. Layered storytelling helps keep users interested in that digital story and moving through elements on the website.

With what looks like a simple design, Hanwag has created a multi-level, multi-layered story with images, text, and motion. You can see the “chapters” in the down-page menu that takes you through the story of the boot. (Who knew a boot could be so interesting?)

You’ll really want to take some time to investigate the scroll actions here to see how it all comes together. While you scroll down the page, elements move in different directions to facilitate the story.

Why it works: There’s a lot happening with this overall design in terms of animation and motion, but the simple white base background, readable text, and sharp images bring it all together.

How to use it: Sometimes, you need a complex design to tell a complex story. It’s a marriage that brings the narrative and the storytelling together in a way that can just feel right.

4. Beautiful Menus

Restaurant menus are not known for their aesthetic appeal. Designers are trying to change that with more beautiful online menus that showcase both the food and an easy-to-read format.

Banana Blossom uses beautiful images, space, and color to make you hungry. The website design leads with the food items in a way more like eCommerce sites lead with products before showing details for pricing. By the time you get to the menu, you already want the food on the screen.

This design is great to look at, but don’t come hungry!

Why it works: Color and simplicity give the images room to shine. Each menu item is simply described and features an image so you know exactly what your meal will be.

How to use it: This menu looks more like a blog design than anything else but uses all the traditional principles of good design – space, color, and scale.

5. Subtle Animation

Animation is one of the hardest web design techniques to get right. This trend shows you how to put it together well by keeping motion simple and subtle.

Note the small colored squares in the space: They all move slowly on a distinct plane to direct eye movement but not to get in the way of content. The squares mimic the shape in the logo and extend across both images and white space.

The Syndeo Institute does a good job of carrying this design theme through the site with square elements and subtle animations throughout the scroll.

With Kadence you can add stunning animate on scroll effects that are sure to capture the attention of your audience and provide a visual reward for continuing to engage with your content.

Why it works: Subtle animation does not take away from the primary design or what the user is supposed to take away from the website. It provides something extra for visual interest.

How to use it: Look for something that has a purpose – such as a shape you use in other ways or places – and use animation to help users figure out something or to direct visual flow for content.

Putting it All together

WordPress web design trends are a fun element. But don’t feel like you have to try every new trend that comes along. We love the trends emerging right now because they use classic themes with a new twist – from letterforms as artwork to carton styles. Using the right trend at the right time is part of your brand and style; have fun and experiment with what works for you.

A Kadence Full Bundle gives you everything you need to keep up with all the design trends and take your website to the next level. From the Lottie Block in Kadence Blocks to the ability to create fully customizable designs and pages, the Kadence Full Bundle gives you everything you need to make beautiful, effective, and engaging websites.

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