Does your website feel outdated without you realising it? Want to know which old-school design trends are making your site look unprofessional?

You’ll find some web design basics in this infographic.

Here’s a summary of what’s covered:

• Comic Sans
• Busy Backgrounds
• Font Overload
• Under Construction Pages
• Hit Counters
• Frames
• Marquees & Scrolling Text
• Animated GIFs

Check out the post below for more.

 

Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. If it looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 1990s, visitors may click away before even reading a word. While web design has come a long way, many sites still suffer from outdated features that scream “retro” in all the wrong ways.

In this post, we’ll explore the telltale signs of dated web design—so you can spot them and fix them fast.

Comic Sans

It might have been quirky and fun in its day, but Comic Sans is now the poster child for bad typography. Widely used in early websites, this font quickly became a design cliché and is now considered unprofessional. If your site still uses Comic Sans, it sends the wrong message about your credibility. Modern design demands typefaces that are clean, legible, and on-brand.

• Choose a modern, web-safe font like Lato, Roboto, or Open Sans.
• Ensure your typography reflects the tone and professionalism of your brand.
• Limit yourself to one or two font styles across your site.
• Use font size and weight to establish clear visual hierarchy.

Busy Backgrounds

Back in the day, tiled images and flashing gifs were all the rage. Unfortunately, they often made websites almost unreadable. If your site has a background that competes with the content, it’s time for a change. Today’s users expect clarity, not chaos.

• Stick to simple, solid backgrounds or subtle textures.
• Avoid high-contrast patterns that clash with text.
• Use whitespace to give your content breathing room.
• Test background visibility on both desktop and mobile screens.

Font Overload

Early websites often included a wild mix of fonts, colours, and sizes—creating a chaotic and disjointed experience. Inconsistent typography makes your site hard to read and undermines your credibility. A streamlined approach not only looks better but helps users navigate with ease.

• Choose no more than two complementary fonts site-wide.
• Keep font sizes consistent for headings, body text, and buttons.
• Avoid using excessive bold, italic, or underlined text.
• Use colour sparingly to highlight key messages only.

Under Construction Pages

A flashing “Under Construction” sign used to be a common placeholder. Today, it just tells users your site is broken or neglected. There’s no excuse for leaving unfinished pages visible online. It’s better to launch with fewer, complete pages than to fill your site with dead ends.

• Remove any under-construction pages or hide them from public view.
• Use coming soon pages only when necessary—with a clear launch date.
• Add a short explanation and a sign-up form if the page is in progress.
• Keep your site structure clean and fully functional at all times.

Hit Counters

In the early internet days, many sites displayed hit counters to show off traffic. Now, they’re not only outdated—they look amateurish. Modern analytics tools offer far more accurate data behind the scenes. Public counters add no real value to your visitors.

• Ditch visible hit counters from your website layout.
• Use Google Analytics or similar tools to monitor performance privately.
• Focus on engagement metrics like time on page and conversions.
• Show social proof through testimonials or reviews instead.

Frames

Frames were used to divide content into separate scrollable sections—but they’ve aged badly. They make navigation confusing, interfere with mobile responsiveness, and don’t reflect how people interact with websites today. If your site still uses frames, it’s a strong signal it needs a redesign.

• Remove frames and rebuild the layout using modern CSS and grids.
• Create one unified scrolling experience for your users.
• Use sticky headers or footers for better navigation instead.
• Test your layout on all devices to ensure it works seamlessly.

Marquees & Scrolling Text

Animated marquees and scrolling banners were everywhere in the ’90s—but they’re now seen as distracting and unprofessional. Moving text is hard to read, difficult to control, and often ignored by users. It’s time to let go of the gimmicks and focus on clarity.

• Replace scrolling text with static, concise messaging.
• Use modern animation tools only where it adds user value.
• Ensure all content remains readable and accessible.
• Focus movement on interactive elements like sliders or calls-to-action.

Animated GIFs

Before video became mainstream, animated GIFs were used to grab attention. Unfortunately, most of them were tacky—think spinning logos, flashing lights, and pixelated graphics. If your site still uses gifs in this way, it’s giving off the wrong impression.

• Use high-quality visuals or illustrations instead of low-res GIFs.
• Avoid unnecessary motion that distracts from your message.
• Only use animation when it supports your brand or storytelling.
• Make sure all visuals are mobile-friendly and quick to load.

Overused Stock Imagery

The web is filled with generic stock photos of handshakes, fake meetings, and forced smiles. These images might fill space, but they don’t connect with real users. Authenticity matters, and obvious stock photos can cheapen your brand.

• Invest in original photography that reflects your actual business.
• If using stock, choose images that feel natural and less posed.
• Avoid clichés like people pointing at screens or shaking hands.
• Make sure images align with your brand’s tone and values.

Flash Intros

Flash intros were once considered cutting-edge, offering animated entrances before a visitor reached the homepage. Now, they’re obsolete. Flash doesn’t work on most devices, hurts SEO, and wastes your users’ time. A clean, fast-loading homepage is far more effective.

• Eliminate any Flash-based content from your site immediately.
• Create a direct path to content without unnecessary delays.
• Use HTML5 and modern animation frameworks where needed.
• Prioritise page speed and user experience from the very first click.

Conclusion

Outdated web design trends may feel nostalgic, but they’re doing real harm to your website’s performance. Features like Comic Sans, scrolling marquees, and under construction pages are clear red flags to today’s users.

In a world where first impressions happen in seconds, your site needs to look current, professional, and easy to use. By leaving these ’90s design relics behind, you’ll build more trust, keep visitors engaged, and ensure your brand stands out for all the right reasons.