Back in 2019, we were talking about things like bold colours and abstract shapes. While a good-looking site is still key, the game has changed. In 2025, a great website is all about creating a smart, personal, and immersive experience for your visitors. It’s less about just looking cool and more about being clever and incredibly user-friendly.
Forget the old trends; here are the five website trends that really matter for your Kiwi business in 2025.
1. AI-Powered Personalisation 🤖
This is the big one. Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword; it’s the engine running the smartest websites. Instead of showing every visitor the same generic page, AI creates a unique experience for each person.
What it is: AI analyses how people browse your site—what they click on, what they ignore, and what they’ve looked at before. It then tailors the content just for them. Think of it as a helpful shop assistant who already knows what the customer likes.
Why it matters: It boosts engagement and makes your visitors feel understood. For an e-commerce site, this could mean showing product recommendations based on past purchases. For a service business, it might be an AI chatbot that can answer complex questions and guide users to the right info, day or night.
The takeaway: A website in 2025 should feel like a conversation, not a static brochure.
2. Immersive 3D and Interactive Elements ✨
Flat, boring designs are out. The web is now capable of creating rich, three-dimensional worlds that draw users in. It’s about making your website a destination, not just a page.
What it is: Using 3D graphics, parallax scrolling effects, and elements that react when you hover or click on them. This turns browsing into an interactive experience, letting users explore products from every angle or navigate through a digital space that feels real.
Why it matters: It’s a powerful way to tell a story and showcase products. Imagine a real estate site where you can take a 3D walkthrough of a house, or a retail site where you can spin a product around to see every detail. It’s engaging and helps build confidence in what you’re offering.
Example: Check out this stunning shed builder tool be built for ITM Stratford to see how engaging it can be.
3. Bento Grids: Tidy and Tactical Layouts 🍱
Remember when websites were just long, scrolling pages? The “Bento Grid” is here to bring order and visual appeal to complex information. Named after the neat, compartmentalised Japanese lunchbox, this trend is all about organising content into a clean, easy-to-scan grid.
What it is: A layout that uses containers of different sizes to display a mix of images, text, and interactive elements. It’s like a visual dashboard that presents a lot of information without feeling cluttered. Apple has been a big driver of this trend on their product pages.
Why it matters: It’s perfect for homepages or landing pages where you need to show off different features or services at a glance. It guides the user’s eye and allows them to quickly find what they’re interested in, making it a win for user experience.
Example: See how a bento grid can organise a lot of content beautifully.
4. Kinetic Typography: Text That Moves 💨
Why should images have all the fun? Kinetic typography brings your words to life by making them move. This trend uses animated text to grab attention, guide the user, and add a layer of personality to your site.
What it is: Text that animates on screen. It could be a headline that glides into place, important stats that pulse and grow, or words that follow your cursor as you move it around the page.
Why it matters: In a world of shrinking attention spans, moving text is hard to ignore. It can highlight key messages, create a sense of rhythm and flow, and make your brand feel more dynamic and modern. When used with purpose, it adds emotional weight and directs the user’s focus exactly where you want it.
Example: This site shows how text can be both beautiful and a core part of the design.
5. Accessibility-First Design for Everyone ♿
This isn’t just a trend; it’s becoming a standard requirement. An “accessibility-first” approach means designing your website so that it can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. In 2025, inclusivity is a sign of a high-quality, professional website.
What it is: Making sure your website works seamlessly with screen readers, can be navigated using only a keyboard, has high-contrast colours for readability, and includes descriptive “alt text” for all images.
Why it matters: It’s not only the right thing to do, but it also improves your SEO and expands your potential audience. A site that’s easy for everyone to use is a site that’s designed well. Google and other search engines reward websites that provide a great user experience for all.
The takeaway: In 2025, accessibility is no longer an optional extra—it’s a core part of great web design.