Web Design Trends: Just Trendy, or Truly Impactful?

In the ever-evolving world of web design, it can be tempting to chase every new trend that emerges. Bold colors, interactive animations, sticky navigation—are they just passing fads, or do they offer deeper, lasting value? The answer lies in how these trends are used to support a brand's mission and enhance the user experience. When executed thoughtfully, trends can be more than just aesthetic—they can be impactful.

A perfect example of this is the website we designed for The Plenary, Co., a civic arts and sciences nonprofit building a culture of public imagination around worldshaping issues. Their mission is to inspire and educate around complex topics. When we approached their website, we wanted to create something that felt both technical and approachable, a visual blend of archives, libraries, and scientific languages that still invites users to explore and engage.

So, how did we take modern design trends and make them meaningful for The Plenary Co.? Let’s take a look at the unique elements that shaped their digital identity:

1. Color-Coded Program Pages

Color plays a huge role in both branding and navigation. For The Plenary, Co., we used different colors on each program page to visually categorize and distinguish content areas. While using distinct colors for different sections is a popular trend, it also provided practical value—helping users quickly understand where they were on the site and what content they were engaging with. This color-coding system wasn’t just about creating a visual impact; it provided structure, making the site more intuitive and user-friendly.

2. Grids to Organize Content

The use of grids in modern web design has become almost ubiquitous, and for good reason. They help organize content and create a clean, uncluttered layout—perfect for a nonprofit like The Plenary, Co., whose website needs to showcase diverse programs and educational resources without feeling overwhelming. The grid system allowed us to separate different sections while maintaining a cohesive visual language, balancing the technical and scientific elements with accessibility.

3. Sticky Sections for Easy Navigation

Sticky navigation is a trend that improves the usability of a site, ensuring that key resources and links are always accessible to the user. We integrated sticky sections throughout the The Plenary, Co. website, making it easy for visitors to navigate to important pages or sections without having to scroll back up. This keeps the user journey fluid and straightforward, which is especially important when dealing with complex issues that need to be easily digestible.

4. Hover Blocks for Surprise and Delight

A more playful trend, hover effects—like changing colors when you hover over certain elements—add an interactive layer to the experience. For The Plenary, Co., we used hover blocks throughout the site. These subtle but engaging animations not only delight users but also encourage them to interact with content in a more immersive way. The hover effects are a fun, unexpected element that enhances user engagement while keeping the interface approachable.

5. Unique Loading Animations

While loading animations may seem like a small touch, they can drastically improve the user experience. Instead of a generic loading screen, we designed a unique animation that ties into the nonprofit’s theme of connectivity and worldshaping ideas. As users wait, the animation subtly introduces the concept of interconnectedness, reflecting the organization's mission while also keeping the experience engaging and smooth.

Making Trends Work for You

When designing The Plenary, Co.’s website, we didn’t just jump on trends for the sake of it. Each trend we used was carefully selected to complement the brand’s mission: to build a culture of public imagination around worldshaping issues. The use of color, grids, and interactive elements wasn’t just trendy—it was functional, providing structure and enhancing the user experience.

The key takeaway? Web design trends are not inherently good or bad. The real value comes from how you incorporate them into a larger, purposeful design strategy. Whether you’re working on a nonprofit website, an e-commerce store, or a personal blog, it’s crucial to align trends with your brand’s message and goals.

In the case of The Plenary, Co., these trends didn’t just make the website look good—they helped organize complex information, made it easier to navigate, and created a more engaging, accessible experience for users.

Web design is about making a lasting impact, not just following the latest fads. When done thoughtfully, trends can play a major role in achieving this.

For more about The Plenary, Co., visit theplenary.co

You can also read the case study for the work Sereth did for The Plenary, Co.’s website.