Have you ever noticed all those amazing patterns, backgrounds, and ideas that have emerged in web design over the past (almost) year? Designers are experimenting with beautiful, extravagant dark templates, combining them with rich whites, and even managing to add subtle animation. And you know what? It works. Yes, it works — it attracts visitors, it presents information in a convenient way, it brings design awards and more.
If we take a closer look at animation, it includes everything from simple elements floating independently on the screen to stunning cinematic effects. But why is this trend — not wildly popular, but certainly with a devoted following among webmasters — so effective? Why does it work and have the power to transform a project and its perception online? What lies hidden in dark colors paired with animation?
The Trend
The trend of creating and using “dark” animation typically combines two distinct visuals — usually a dark monochrome background and minimalistic, uniform animation. The result is a complex, layered construction that feels both refined and whimsical. Yes, it’s not easy to bring such ideas to life, especially since mobile UX will surely add its own challenges. Still, despite the complexity of the interface, visitors are naturally drawn to the animated elements, subconsciously trying to understand their meaning.
This all benefits the overall user experience because it creates a sense of mystery. Users begin to feel intrigued, as if they’re solving a puzzle or uncovering secrets. Exactly. There’s a hidden element of enigma here — one that drives user interaction. That very moment when a visitor begins to wonder: what’s going to happen next? And slowly, they start to notice subtle transformations.
Examples include: weareimpero, FAST Foundation, Miranda Joan, Sun Drive, and joaodealmeida.
Each such concept is unique. There’s no definitive type of animation that works better or worse, no set color palette that guarantees success. Still, designers often rely on the contrast between black and white or gray. Paired with soft floating animation, the result feels mysterious — and undoubtedly beautiful.
Why does it work?
In truth, explaining why this works is not easy. When we try to imagine such a design without seeing it, we assume that dark elements won’t look appealing or won’t satisfy a client. What are dark tones compared to bright, happy colors? We think: the palette lacks diversity, the contrast is weak, and the design seems too simple.
But maybe that’s exactly why the trend works. Yes, it defies many user engagement rules. But… it engages anyway.
Another reason it works — mystery, enigma, the allure of darkness. People love secrets, even if they don’t admit it. They’ll search, observe, and try to discover hidden layers. Dark color schemes with animation offer users a chance to uncover the unknown.
Throughout this article, we’ve showcased many projects using dark tones and animation. Each one stirs emotions — all of them positive. The intrigue lies in the fact that dark colors are tricky, and experimenting with them is both complex and rewarding for designers. There's even a sense of visual depth that can be created — hard to imagine, harder to draw, but fascinating to watch develop in motion.
Let’s take a look at Artistsweb, Elegant Seagulls, garden eight, intelligo, and frontside.
Now, combine the emotions you feel while looking at these thematic projects — the secrets they seem to hold — and you’ll understand why users love such visual storytelling, why this trend is so engaging, and why people keep scrolling.
It’s hard to explain — easier to see and feel.
Is dark always black?
Most designs do use black as a primary color. But that’s not a rule. There are many dark hues and shades that are just as effective. Even better, they let designers create a dark layout while incorporating brand colors.
Regardless of the tone, there is one key to making dark schemes and animation work while maintaining a rich palette: tonal ranges (color + gray) and shades (color + black). These transform a monochromatic scheme. A great example is the FedEx project. Also worth a look: refletcommunication, neematic, koniku, popsnn, zoomanity, and lavochkamarket.
Contrast might not be the central visual element in some of these projects, but it’s still critical to this trend. Without contrast, animation in a monochromatic scheme fades into the background and breaks the visual integrity of the design.
Be careful
Following the previous thought: the dark theme + animation trend is not for every designer or website, and it’s quite difficult to execute well. Additionally, patterns on a dark background combined with animation have their drawbacks:
Tips for working with the dark animated trend
If you're not afraid of challenges and have a content model that suits a dark palette and animation, we suggest you follow some basic guidelines. These tips will help bring your ideas to life more easily and effectively.
One-page design. Too much dark and animated content across an entire site can be disorienting for users. If you're going to explore this concept, limit it to one page (usually the homepage) or a single landing section.
High contrast. White text looks clean and readable on a dark background — and not just black. This goes for all graphical elements too. Make sure buttons, icons, lines, and text are highly legible. If you're using greyish animations on dark backgrounds, or effects that are barely visible (like smoke or vapor), ensure your UI elements stand out clearly.
Simple animation. Complex animations can ruin the entire concept. Keep it simple but polished. Let it be basic waves or slow particle movements. Even if it's very slow, it’ll still draw attention and transform the site.
Layered design. The key to success lies in layered design. Separate the background and animation so the animation feels more tangible and tactile. Layers also help with organizing contrast and positioning UI elements independently from the animation and background.
Bold typography. Nearly all text elements should be bold — and the font itself should be strong, standing out even without weight. Boldness draws attention to important messages. You can also consider embossing or simple typefaces. Avoid ornate or thin fonts — they’ll be hard to read or visually noisy when bolded.
What’s next?
Like any design trend, this aesthetic will keep evolving. We can't predict exactly what comes next, but there are some directions and ideas that seem likely to develop.
The combination of dark colors and animation is already widely used in VR (virtual reality) apps. Even though VR is still mostly entertainment for teens (though access depends on the parents), many websites use VR or 360° features on dark backgrounds or using high-contrast color schemes. This approach fits promo projects for games, movies, or even tourism, space, or architecture. It all depends on the content and how appropriate the animation is.
Check out: blairwitch, loftec (letter and background animations), operationsamusreturns, recursouniversum, volcan, cerboestudio, topnology.
Conclusion
Dark color schemes have been popular before, but now they’ve evolved with new combinations of animation and brand color. Designers either love them — or hate them for the UX challenges they bring.
Either way, this style is used often, and in 2018 it’s not going away. The only thing that really matters is the project’s theme. Often, it’s better to mix formats — for example, create an animated homepage or portfolio section, but nothing more. Full-site dark animation themes are mostly reserved for web agencies or signature creative portfolios.
Where should you start? Try a single slide or page. See how users and clients respond. If you’re building it for yourself, test the trend first before investing money and effort in a full theme. There are many nuances — some people simply dislike black or intense purples. You risk losing a portion of your audience. But one dark-themed page can give your project elegance and uniqueness. It won’t be boring or generic.
So, the secret of this design trend is simple: experiment and combine. Search for that golden balance. That’s the essence.