maximalism
While everyone has their own opinions about design trends, I think one of the big arguments is minimalism vs maximalism. Are you team “less is more” or “less is a bore?” Personally speaking, I am a big advocate for maximalism! One of the biggest factors towards the push of maximalist designs comes from Gen Z. Whether it relates to fashion, interior design, or now even web design, Gen Z has opted for maximalism as a way to show personality and freedom of expression. Especially in relation to interior design, maximalist home decor grew in popularity during the pandemic to create a more colorful and stimulating environment since people were locked up in their homes all day every day. While maximalism is all about how “more is more,” it’s important to use balance when curating web designs. The following websites are examples of maximalist websites done well.
Curry Cafe
Curry Cafe is a one-page website for a restaurant in Melbourne. The website features a lot of vibrant colors, moving parts, and fun graphics. While it may seem like a lot at first glance (because it is) this design works because of consistent design elements, like the color palette. The website mainly focuses on the use of yellow and orange with green as an accent color. These bright colors work for the design because they are consistent throughout the website and since they chose such vibrant colors, they limited the use of other colors on the site so it wouldn’t be overwhelming. The website is a good example of strategic and deliberate use of color, which lends to their brand identity. Being a curry restaurant, their website talks a lot about spice. The warm yellow and orange colors are perfect for representing the warmth of spice that their brand is all about. Their maximalist website clearly shows users what their brand is all about while creating an engaging experience for anyone who visits the page.
Alex pierce
As I’ve been saying, one of the great things about maximalism is how it can show personality and a sense of identity, so what better place to use maximalism than for a portfolio website! Alex Pierce is a self-proclaimed geek, visual designer, and creative director. With just one look at his website, all of that information becomes abundantly clear without even having to read anything. The whole site is obviously themed after a retro-gaming aesthetic, and I highly recommend checking it out! The theming of this website is incredibly well done and features lots of interactive elements and nostalgic influences. The reason that this maximalist design works so well for his portfolio is because it does an exceptional job at representing who he is as a person through compelling design choices. Each and every element of this website was curated to contribute to the overall narrative of branding himself as a geek designer. The pixelated font, retro graphics, and vibrant colors are all part of what makes this such a good maximalist design.
behave
do you still think less is more?
What all of these examples have in common is that their use of maximalist design helps to show users their brand identity. Maximalism isn’t just about throwing a bunch of things together to make a loud design, it’s about curating big and bold elements that show a freedom of expression and identity, whether that be for a brand or a personal portfolio. While maximalist design may not be for everyone, the use of creative storytelling through these maximalist design elements helps to target specific audiences that would be drawn to a chosen aesthetic. I think that minimalism will always be a classic design choice, but the current trend of maximalism draws in audiences with it’s clear sense of identity and expression.