2026 Design Trends I’m Actually Excited About
Every January, the design world gets loud. New colors. New rules, New “must-haves.”
And while I think it is important to keep my ear to the ground and stay curious, I don’t believe in designing for the sake of being “on trend.” So no, I won’t be using Pantone’s controversial Cloud Dancer White on any sites this year. Instead, I will always advocate for business owners to focus on alignment, longevity, clarity, and connection.
That said, as we move into 2026, there are a few design inspirations that I am genuinely excited about. Not because they are trendy, but because they feel human, thoughtful, and aligned with who we are here at The Look & The Feel: women, mothers, designers, and entrepreneurs.
Here are my eight favorite design inspirations for the year ahead.
Accessibility First & Forward
I’ve been designing long enough to remember when accessibility was treated as an afterthought and only added as compliance, not out of genuine care. I’m excited to see that changing.
In 2026, accessibility is becoming part of the design conversation from the very beginning.
Clear visual contrast
Readable typography
Image alt-tags
Thoughtful spacing
Intuitive structure
These aren’t limitations, they are strengths. We are designing for real humans who live life in different bodies, with different abilities, and who live in different seasons of life (including the exhausted, one-hand scrolling while rocking the baby to sleep at midnight kind of life).
I’m glad to see that accessibility isn’t going forward as a list of rules, but as a notion of respect, community building, and connecting with all people.
The Return of the Human Touch
In a world incredibly filled with templates, automation, and AI slop, we are all craving proof of life. We’re celebrating the return of:
Handwritten or hand-drawn typography
Illustrative logos and details
Sketched and organic brand icons
Real photos of founders, teams, studios, families, and lived-in spaces
First-person language: I and we instead of the distant, corporate polish
I know we all want our website and online presences to be “perfect,” but there is something powerful about embracing imperfection. There is something deeply connecting about allowing your brand to look and feel like a real person instead of an optimized machine.
The brands that will stand out in 2026 won’t be the loudest, they’ll be the most genuine, real, and human.
Built In Sustainability
As a mother, I think a lot about the world my children are growing up in. Not just socially, but environmentally. Sustainability isn’t abstract, it’s highly personal to each of us. And when we can make choices that align our work with that care, we believe it matters.
Sustainability in design doesn’t mean stripping things back to bare, joyless basics (though reducing your animations and digital weight is important). It means making thoughtful, intentional choices about the platforms we use, the partners we work with, and the long-term impact of the digital spaces we create.
In 2026, let’s ask better questions:
Who are we supporting with our choices?
What kind of future are we contributing to?
Does this solution feel aligned with our values?
More and more, we’re seeing technology companies step up and take responsibility for the invisible impact of the internet. And we’re choosing to align with those who are doing it thoughtfully and transparently.
PS. Sustainability is also about building a business that you can sustain as a founder and creative. Be sure what you’re building is something that feels sustainable to your time, energy, and desires to avoid burnout. Learn more about burnout, what causes it, and how to avoid it in our latest blog.
Intuitive Navigation: Choose your own adventure websites
Maybe your website doesn’t feel like an adventure per say, but we’re tired of websites that try to force everyone through the same funnel. Which is why we love brands that trust their audiences to make their own choices and decisions.
One way to do that is offering clear pathways instead of high pressure directions. And don’t make them dig or hunt for information. Time is valuable: yours and theirs. Let your site visitors explore based on what they need and want.
Intuitive Navigation means:
Clear options for different audiences
Simple, obvious next steps
Guidance without pressure or manipulation
The best websites don’t push. They don’t trigger pain points, they connect. They guide. And they make people feel inspired and capable, not intimidated and coerced.
Narrative Driven Design & Content
In 2026, we’re seeing a shift away from content designed to perform and toward content designed to connect. Because the truth is, people don’t want to be sold to, they want to be seen.
That’s why you’re seeing websites that read more like conversations than sales pages. And the newsletters you actually open and read? They aren’t marketing campaigns, they are personal notes and memoirs. This is the year where blogs offer perspective, reflection, and storytelling, not just tips and tactics.
This kind of storytelling doesn’t exist separately from design. It is the design.
I love working with my team to create website structures around content because I know the words we choose and the flow of the stories shape how people experience your brand. When content is done well, it personalizes the experience. It helps people feel seen. And it allows them to recognize themselves in your work before you ever ask them to buy.
And don’t worry. If you’re struggling to capture that voice, our team of talented copywriters can not only help you find your brand’s authentic voice and tone, but they can write your website content, blogs, and newsletters for you!
Values Forward Websites
If you read Lessons in Gratitude: What Running a Creative Business Has Taught Me, you know that I’ve learned to only work with clients that are truly aligned with my vision and values. One of the ways I can do that is by placing those two up front and center.
Values-forward websites don’t hide behind clever copy or vague promises. Take a look at our site. We’re clear about who we are, who we are for, how we work, and what we believe in. Not in a loud or performative way, but in a grounded, truthful way.
This kind of clarity is a design choice. When your values are woven into every part of your website, they shape the entire client experience. Visitors don’t have to guess what it would feel like to work with you. They can sense it immediately.
This kind of design creates trust without force. It attracts the right clients and quietly releases the rest. And it allows your website to do what it should have been doing all along: supporting the kind of work (and life) you want to build.
For me, this is one of the most exciting shifts I am seeing in web design.
Not because it is new, but because it is honest.
It reflects a deeper understanding that success doesn’t come from saying more or being flashy. It comes from saying what matters, without fear or hesitation.
Detailed Footers
This one may feel small, but it’s surprisingly impactful. A detailed footer is a quiet act of hospitality. At the end of the stroll, it allows your audience to easily find exactly what they are looking for.
In 2026, make sure your footer is up to date and offers these features:
Contact information
Think email address or phone number, social media links, and business hours
Secondary Navigation
Direct links to additional pages or FAQs
A one or two sentence description of your brand
Remind people who you are and why you do what you do. This one is also great for SEO!
A well formatted footer says “you’re welcome here” and “take what you need.” And that kind of client care is always in style, no matter what year it is.
A Final Thought
Trends will always come and go. But a website built around your values lasts.
As we step into 2026, we’re intentionally designing websites that feel human, grounded, and expansive. We are building websites and writing content that supports real lives, real businesses, and real women building something meaningful.
If that’s the direction you’re heading too, we’d love to walk that journey with you.
