Web design is a constantly evolving field, trends come and go, and most businesses will change their website every 2-3 years to meet the evolving needs of their business, the changing expectations of their users, or just at the whim of their owners (hello, yes, I’m talking about myself here). From the time it was launched by Anthony Casalena in 2003 to today, Squarespace has done a stellar job of keeping up with shifting design preferences, technological advancements and changing user needs within the web design space. If you’re curious what the evolution has looked like, below is a little overview of Squarespace design trends and style shifts that have shaped its journey over the last 20 years.

The early days: simplicity and minimalism

Even in the early 2000s, Squarespace design trends were marked by simplicity and minimalism. Websites created on Squarespace showcased designs with ample white space and refined typography, embodying a design philosophy focused on clarity, user-friendliness and prioritising content. Templates like "Pacific" and "Flatiron" epitomised this style laying the groundwork for Squarespace’s rise to become the platform of choice for polished and sophisticated web design.

Next: embracing visual narratives

Over time, Squarespace design trends underwent a transformation, towards visual storytelling and immersive user experiences. Themes like "Momentum" and "Wells" introduced captivating visuals, smooth scrolling effects and dynamic video backgrounds allowing users to craft visually captivating websites that engaged audiences with stories and striking imagery. This focus on visuals highlighted the significance of top notch photography, videography and graphic elements in Squarespace web development.

Designing for mobile

With the surge in usage of mobile phones, Squarespace design trends shifted towards prioritising mobile layouts and responsive frameworks. Themes like "Brine" and "Bedford" showcased Squarespace’s dedication to responsiveness by offering website owners user-friendly navigation menus and touch-optimised interactions for seamless browsing experiences across all kinds of devices. This transition not only enhanced user interaction and accessibility, but also boosted search engine rankings by improving mobile usability in an era when Google adopted its mobile-first strategy.

The dawn of personalisation

In line with users desire for customisation, Squarespace design trends have embraced personalisation features. Advanced functionalities like custom CSS styles, code integrations and the Squarespace Developer Platform empowered users to tailor their websites according to their unique brand guides, aesthetic tastes and functional requirements. If you’re worried your Squarespace website will by definition be cookie-cutter, you couldn’t be more wrong! With the right designer, and some coding skills, you can craft a hyper-personalised digital experience from a Squarespace base template.

Embracing innovation and beyond

Just last month (Feb 2024), Squarespace surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue for the first time. You don’t get to that size (or stay relevant year after year) without constant innovation and investment to give your customers what they need. Squarespace - like the other major tech players - is investing in cutting edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The AI content tool launched in 2023 - and it’s a really cool feature that works directly in the page editor to help you with content creation, so you don’t have to switch between tools or toggle back and forth from browser tab to browser tab.

What’s next? Design doesn’t stand still…

The progression of Squarespace design trends reflects the platforms dedication to innovation, creativity and user-focused design. From its roots in simplicity and minimalism, to it’s embrace of customisation and advanced technologies like AI, Squarespace continues to push the boundaries of web design. Looking towards the future the combination of AI driven design tools and immersive technologies are sure to open up massive opportunities and help Squarespace stay ahead in web design innovation for years to come. As a small business, it sure is nice to have your website built on a platform that is dedicated to staying out in front so that you can too!