As technology and design evolves, so do websites along with it. Just think back to how much websites have changed in the past 20 years. Back in the 90s, sites were quite flat with mostly text and not much in the way of stylistic interpretation. Fast forward to today, and you have some websites which look like pieces of modern art. Well, here we are in 2017, and you can bet that web design will continue to change. This is to not only meet the demand of site owners, but of consumers and visitors as well. We all continuously long for something new, fresh and inspiring to keep us coming back for here. Here are some of the top web design trends to watch in 2017.

Conversational interfaces

This form of website design really found its stride in 2016. This is design which incorporates chatbots, voice UIs and smart assistants. In 2017, you can expect intelligent conversational bots to expand outside of messaging apps and proliferate websites. You will start to see them first when engaging in ecommerce experiences. The point is to help brands express varying sides of their personality in order to make them more approachable.

Card design and grid layouts

With this design, think Pinterest–which made it quite popular. In 2017, we will continue to see an increase in dynamic grid style. Visitors like this style because it is simple, organized, responsive and flexible. In addition, grid layouts make sense for pages with large amounts of data as they make the information more inviting. If you want to take a look at examples of websites utilizing the grid layouts, just pay a visit Tumblr, Dribble or Vice. Moreover, expect a few spin-offs on this concept.

Intricate details

What will be changing in 2017 is you will see more attention paid to decorative details. You will see “flying” geometric figures or linear icons. This is part of the continuing departure from the minimalistic, raw Form Follow Function. Even underscores and separators are getting modified. Take a look at bigyouth.fr or kikk.be to see examples of digital noises and glitches. Furthermore, there is a trend in button styles which act as hovers in Canvas such as on cavalierchallenge.com or hpsoundincolor.com.

Authentic photography

According to statistics, many of us are avid users of Instagram. And, it goes without saying that we love inspirational photographs–whether they be of our beloved pets, food, travel, selfies, celebrities, art and more. Well, this trend has taken off on websites as well. People are turning away from stock photography and using authentic photography sites. As a result, you’ll see an abundance of “real” images as opposed to stock photography which can come across to many as fake and mass produced.

Bold typography

Websites this year will be making a statement using bold typography. Consumers are bombarded with imagery and competition for their attention. So, sites need to find new forms of staying relevant. Plus, typography can help to differentiate a brand from competitors while infusing life into your page.

Pre-built websites

You’re probably thinking, “what??” Well, today’s pre-built website is a lot more aesthetically pleasing than those of the past. All of our modern conveniences have made the world move at a much quicker pace. Pre-built websites and themes gives designers the ability to work faster and more efficiently. In addition, they save time by providing a robust base while eliminating the obstacle of coding. There are many hosting sites which offer pre-built layouts that you can customize. If you want your site up in an hour, this is the way to go.

Geometric typefaces

These typefaces are more widely used because of how distinct they are relative to neo-grotesque typefaces. Moreover, geometric typefaces are more expressive due to their thicker weight. It’s an aggressive and striking approach towards making a website much more appealing and noticeable.

Brand-themed illustrations

Many brands will start to incorporate a larger amount of illustrations which resonate with their overall image. This technique is playful and powerful, while evoking some personality. If done correctly, brand-themed illustrations can improve a brand’s recognition and make the site much more enjoyable. As the marketplace crowds with more competition, a strong visual brand will help companies stand out.

Virtual reality

In 2016, virtual reality went mainstream. Now, you can experience it in your browser. Similar to conversational interfaces, VR can give a much richer experience for visitors. It’s amazing that something once on the fringe is quickly gaining momentum. It will also be interesting to see how designers incorporate elements of VR into website design.

In 2017, you will see an expansion of several of the top trends of 2017. Plus, many sites will become even more visually appealing than they already are. Expect boldness and authenticity with touches of fun. It looks like 2017 is setting up to be a breakout year for website design.