Summer 2017 brought something surprising and unusual to web design. Yes, in different countries and regions it was either hot or cool, rainy or dry. But perhaps that’s exactly why webmasters decided to take inspiration even from the weather when looking for new ideas. After all, why not? Rain and collage are so alike… Imagine separately such design styles as post-minimalism and brutalism. During the summer months, they gave way to what people prefer more, what they want to see on websites more often.
We’re talking about an unimaginable mix of collage, presentation layouts, and asymmetry with classic grids and web design aesthetics. Let’s also add large bold sans-serif fonts and plenty of white space. All of this speaks for itself — it’s the kind of portfolio site design you’d expect from an artist or designer. And that’s partly true, but these ideas are becoming more and more common in other types of projects too.
Still, this new mini-rule of combining seemingly incompatible elements can refresh and transform design — maybe even the web as a whole. So let’s take a look at the most iconic websites of summer 2017.
Use All Five
The website design of Use All Five is a bright example of modern web design aesthetics. You can see many panels dividing the page into sections that smoothly flow into one another. The pastel color palette only adds to its visual appeal. You could say the site is unusual, with very little text, an animated logo, and other features. But it’s also simply very beautiful, undeniably unique, and has a strong personality. Yes — it really does.
Oui Will
Oui Will offers a lot to explore — every click leads to something fresh and original. First, there’s the wordplay in the name. Second, a beautiful layout focused on large-scale typography. The palette isn’t too dark or too bright — just the right mix of two tones that create contrast and highlight overlapping elements. Overall, it’s a well-developed foundational part of web design , blending professional precision with a few artistic touches. Visit the “work” section and you’ll find even more stunning stylistic combinations and creative ideas.
Pavel Kedzich
Designer Pavel Kedzich has a type of site that’s a strong representative of classical post-minimalist design. Almost… yes, the photos are arranged like a collage, but the overall approach is closer to postmodernism. He features an animated logo, navigation on the right, and all other content in a single left-aligned column. It’s simple, non-intrusive, extremely original, and convenient. No flourishes, no tricks — pure minimalism.
Standing By
Standing By focuses primarily on typography and photography — particularly portraits and character images. These elements are brought together using an eclectic modular grid layout. Eclecticism by definition involves blending different styles, and this site reflects that clearly. It also leans into classic minimalism. Ever wondered what "classic" really means in web design? Here’s a perfect example.
Their portfolio is easy to navigate thanks to an unusual dropdown menu in the header — part search bar, part menu. We’re not sure every new visitor will immediately understand how it works, but it looks cool and is functional once you get the hang of it.
Negative Labs
Remember the era when minimalist websites were full of bold black borders and sans-serif fonts? Those were the early days of brutalism. People may look down on it now, but it once pushed web design forward. There were also plenty of text effects in play.
So how could that look today? Negative Labs offers an answer. It’s hard to say whether we “like” the design — it might provoke mixed feelings — but it’s fast, usable, and clear. There are no wow-effects or cutting-edge features, yet for some reason it feels good to use, and you might find yourself coming back to it. It stands out. Seriously. It could even inspire someone to create something similar — but better.
All Boats Rise
All Boats Rise uses a fairly standard layout with solid typography and plenty of personalization. It’s one of the first sites to use so many shades of blue — from sky blue to violet — in text, gradients, and logos. It truly feels like you’re on the website of a major corporation, fully immersed in its atmosphere. What stands out is how they present their portfolio and services: subtle, airy, and elegant — making it impossible to call the design “ordinary.”
Flavien Guilbaud
The portfolio site of Flavien Guilbaud is another example of combining collage aesthetics with asymmetry and professional visual style. The focus here is on animation, parallax effects, and color transitions — from black-and-white to full color. It looks fantastic. And even with all the animation and tiny text that seems to vanish into the layout, you can’t get lost. Sooner or later, even random clicks will take you back to the homepage or portfolio.
L'Eloi
The agency website of L'Eloi blends asymmetry with minimalism. It’s the kind of site that makes you want to say: “chic, shine, elegance.” Sometimes those words just fit, and this is that moment. What’s so appealing here? Large, clear, bold fonts that are highly readable and quick to scan, paired with massive (literally) areas of white space.
Instead of a standard multi-column layout to showcase services and achievements, we see a collage-inspired structure with post-minimalist asymmetry. We don’t think it’s overcomplicated or excessive, but it’s the kind of approach you won’t see often — maybe once more on this list, but not more. Web designers tend to avoid piling everything into one design. Still, when done like this, it leaves a lasting impression.
Amber Eve Anderson
Another example of minimalism with lots of borders and frames is the portfolio site of photographer and designer Amber Eve Anderson . The design blends classic aesthetics with bold typography that feels reminiscent of early 2000s websites. This could have looked outdated or unfinished — but the background saves it. A barely-there image transforms the design into something subtle and intriguing. And speaking of street art ideas in web design — this is a great example of how the page space can be used meaningfully. We also loved how she organized her work and achievements by year.
Any Studio
The most exciting part of any website — including Any Studio — is usually the portfolio. Or at least, that’s what they want to show off: ten works featured right on the homepage, presented as a mini-game. But not everyone will immediately realize how it works. You’re supposed to swipe left or right. If you click and hold, the image sticks to your cursor and moves with it. You can then drag it around the page. Swiping right means you like it, left means you don’t. At the end, the site even tallies your choices.
It’s an interesting approach — a way to test confidence in your work and gauge your target audience’s tastes. Everyone eventually needs to order printed material or browse a catalog. So anyone can evaluate the studio’s work.
But there’s a catch. Aside from the moving images and cursor interaction, there are no indicators that the site is “alive.” Until you start dragging, you won’t know it’s interactive or what you’re supposed to do. If a user has a slow internet connection or too many browser tabs open, the site might lag — and the whole interactive game could go unnoticed. We think it would help to offer an alternative: maybe a collage preview or standard navigation, letting visitors choose between playing and just browsing.
Tyron Hayman
The personal site of Tyron Hayman is extremely simple — and that works. It really makes you want to explore it. The background features small looping videos or cinemagraphs. They’re subtle and toned down so they don’t distract. There are also vibrant gradients and beautiful typography. It’s not revolutionary like some previous examples, but it’s well-crafted and pleasant to use.
That said, there’s a small inconsistency. The opening text says he’s a minimalist — yet the homepage is filled with long sentences. Doesn’t that contradict the minimalist philosophy? Maybe he’s targeting users who appreciate a looser, more expressive version of minimalism. Still, it comes off as a bit confusing, especially for someone who’s a designer.
All that aside, the site is engaging, easy to use, the gradients are gentle on the eyes, and the shadowed buttons fit the layout and palette nicely.
Zurb
The biggest project from the company Zurb , creators of Foundation for Sites 6, has been redesigned again — this time focusing more on services and company identity. Their mascot — the astronaut — is still part of the brand, but only subtly referenced now. The first line reads “Hello, Earthling,” and the font is styled just like classic sci-fi book covers.
Yes, they’ve always loved illustrations — you’ll see that on the Foundation site — but now they’ve replaced them with photos and soft, airy animations. The main layout is nearly empty, symbolizing the studio’s clean, precise work. The site uses very little text, and the fonts are large, crisp, and sans-serif.
But here’s a fun detail — a kind of Easter egg. If you browse the entire site, you’ll find 42 illustrated cows. Yep, forty-two. Different ones. Click on any cow at the bottom of the page, and you’ll see a little stat tracker for how many you’ve found so far. A tiny feature, but a clever and amusing touch.
Conclusion
Summer 2017 brought us many interesting and diverse websites — each worth a closer look. One clear trend was the fusion of minimalism, asymmetry, classic design, and brutalism. This direction will likely carry on through fall. It’s a visually pleasing and functional approach. And when you look closely, you’ll notice small but thoughtful touches: text reveals, image fade-ins, subtle video effects.
At first glance, it seems like there’s a lot going on — many elements, animations, effects — and that minimalism is nowhere to be found. But actually, these features are used sparingly, subtly, and without fanfare. In other words, the essence of each style is present. The focus is on typography, imagery, and animation — and all of it has meaning. Every design has purpose. And in these examples, we clearly see the quality of the work and the designer’s personal vision of the world and their craft.