Are you considering creating a new website for your business? Want to know the design trends you should take care using?

Template Monster share 12 risky design trends and how to use them in this infographic.

Here are some of the key points:

• Glaring colours
• Animation
• Parallax
• Unusual navigation
• Stock photos
• Infinite scrolling
• Pop-ups
• Hamburger menus
• Video backgrounds

Check out the infographic for more detail.

Web design trends come and go, and while many of them bring fresh, innovative ideas to the digital space, some can backfire if not implemented correctly. In a world where user experience (UX) is crucial to keeping visitors engaged and converting them into customers, it’s important to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Here are 12 risky design trends that could ruin your website if not carefully executed.

Glaring Colours

Bright, high-contrast colour palettes are attention-grabbing, but they can also be overwhelming and strain the eyes. Neon hues and intense saturation might look striking, but if they’re not balanced well, they can make text difficult to read and navigation confusing.

Why it’s risky:

• Causes eye strain and reduces readability.
• Can make a site look unprofessional or outdated.

How to do it right:

• Use bold colours in moderation.
• Ensure text has high contrast for readability.
• Consider accessibility and colorblind-friendly palettes.

Tiny Details

Decorative elements like small icons, intricate patterns, and micro-animations can add visual interest, but when overused, they clutter the interface and distract from the main content.

Why it’s risky:

• Can divert attention from important elements.
• Might slow down page load times.

How to do it right:

• Use subtle details sparingly.
• Ensure that small details don’t compromise usability.

Animation Overload

Animations can enhance a website’s interactivity and engagement, but too much movement can be distracting or even annoying to users. Overuse of hover effects, scrolling animations, and autoplay videos can overwhelm visitors.

Why it’s risky:

• Slows down page loading speed.
• Can frustrate users, especially on mobile devices.

How to do it right:

• Limit animations to key elements.
• Use smooth transitions that don’t disrupt user experience.

Parallax Scrolling

Parallax scrolling adds depth to a webpage by making the background move at a different speed than the foreground. While visually appealing, it can create usability issues.

Why it’s risky:

• Can cause motion sickness for some users.
• Slows down website performance.

How to do it right:

• Use parallax effects sparingly.
• Test the experience on different devices and screen sizes.

Alternative Layouts

Unique, asymmetric layouts can make a website stand out, but they can also make navigation confusing. If users struggle to find essential information, they’ll leave quickly.

Why it’s risky:

• Can disrupt readability and flow.
• Makes navigation less intuitive.

How to do it right:

• Maintain a logical structure within creativity.
• Ensure important elements are easy to find.

Petite Typography

Minimalist typography is trendy, but using tiny fonts can make content unreadable, especially on mobile devices.

Why it’s risky:

• Reduces accessibility and readability.
• Forces users to zoom in, disrupting the experience.

How to do it right:

• Use legible font sizes (16px or larger for body text).
• Ensure contrast between text and background.

Unusual Navigation

Creative navigation menus—such as hidden, floating, or overly complex structures—may seem innovative but can frustrate users if they can’t easily find what they’re looking for.

Why it’s risky:

• Increases learning curve for users.
• Can reduce conversions and engagement.

How to do it right:

• Keep navigation intuitive and easy to access.
• Follow common UI/UX principles.

Overused Stock Photos

Stock images can save time and money, but generic, low-quality, or overused visuals can make your website feel impersonal and unoriginal.

Why it’s risky:

• Reduces authenticity and brand identity.
• Can make your site look generic and uninspiring.

How to do it right:

• Invest in custom photography or unique illustrations.
• Choose stock images that align with your brand’s personality.

Infinite Scrolling

Infinite scrolling loads new content continuously as the user scrolls, often used in social media and news sites. While it encourages longer browsing sessions, it can make navigation difficult.

Why it’s risky:

• Makes it hard for users to locate specific content.
• Can cause performance issues and slow down load times.

How to do it right:

• Use infinite scrolling only when appropriate (e.g., content-heavy sites).
• Offer alternative navigation options like pagination.

Pop-Ups Overload

Pop-ups can be effective for lead generation and promotions, but too many, or intrusive ones, can drive visitors away.

Why it’s risky:

• Annoys users and increases bounce rates.
• Can be penalized by search engines if not implemented correctly.

How to do it right:

• Use pop-ups sparingly and strategically.
• Ensure they don’t interrupt user experience.

Hamburger Menus on Desktop

Hamburger menus (three horizontal lines) are popular for mobile navigation, but when used on desktops, they can hide essential navigation options and reduce user engagement.

Why it’s risky:

• Forces users to make extra clicks.
• Hides important navigation links unnecessarily.

How to do it right:

• Use traditional navigation on desktops.
• Only use hamburger menus where space is limited.

Video Backgrounds

Autoplay video backgrounds can create a strong visual impact, but they can also distract from content and slow down loading times.

Why it’s risky:

• Increases page load times.
• Can make text less readable if not designed properly.

How to do it right:

• Optimize video for fast loading.
• Ensure text is readable over the video.
• Give users the option to pause or mute.

Final Thoughts

While pushing creative boundaries in web design is essential for standing out, it should never come at the cost of usability. The key to a successful website is a balance between innovation and functionality.

By being mindful of these risky trends, you can create a site that is both visually stunning and user-friendly, ensuring visitors stay engaged and convert into loyal customers.