Brutalist Web Design: Principles, Examples, and Pros and Cons

Not every website needs to dazzle with animations and gradients. Sometimes, all users want is something raw, functional, and direct, just like what brutalist web design embodies. Though minimal in style, it still allows room for subtle creative expression while keeping content the top priority. Read the article below to learn more about it. 

Key Takeaways:

• Brutalist web design emphasizes raw aesthetics, minimal styling, and functional layouts inspired by brutalist architecture.
• This design trend offers benefits like faster load times, lower development costs, and a distinctive look that challenges modern web uniformity.
• To effectively apply brutalist design, maintain strong navigation, readable typography, and accessibility while selectively using bold color schemes and structural layouts.

What is Brutalist Web Design?

This web design style takes inspiration from the raw, structural honesty of brutalist architecture into digital form. Originating from the French term béton brut (“raw concrete”), it emphasizes exposed elements, minimal styling, and a rejection of polished aesthetics. 

Compared to regular websites, these websites rely on basic HTML, sparse CSS, and straightforward layouts that reveal the web’s bare framework.

Rather than aiming for visual comfort, brutalist design focuses on function and authenticity that often creates bold, confrontational experiences. Its rough, unfiltered nature appeals to artists, designers, and brands who want to challenge conventions and present themselves as unapologetically disruptive.

Also Read: The Best Web Design Tools for Modern Creators

Key Characteristics of Brutalist Websites

Brutalist websites have several defining characteristics that set them apart from conventional design approaches, including:

• Use of sans-serif or monospaced fonts, often in extreme sizes that command attention and emphasize content hierarchy.
• Stark color combinations, such as black and white or jarring primary colors, that create visual tension and reject harmonious palettes.
• Reliance on basic HTML elements with minimal embellishment, exposing the raw structure of web pages.
• Asymmetrical layouts, visible gridlines, and intentional imperfections that embrace an unfinished appearance.
• Application of solid colors without gradients, typically white, black, or bold single hues that avoid decorative treatments.
• Straightforward navigation and core features that prioritize usability despite unconventional presentation.
• Sharp edges, rectangular blocks, and modular patterns that echo brutalist architecture’s structural clarity.
• Limited use of animations or hover effects, focusing on static or simple interactions that serve clear purposes.

Why Brutalist Design Is Trending Among Modern Designers

Brutalist web design has grown popular due to rising dissatisfaction with uniform, overly polished websites. To defy such designs, designers use brutalism to craft authentic, standout digital experiences that appeal to younger audiences and creative professionals who prefer originality over convention.

Besides, brutalism provides freedom for experimentation, allowing unconventional layouts and bold visual clashes. Other than style, brutalist design’s simplicity offers practical advantages, like faster load times and lower development costs. 

Also Read: 15 Proven Examples of Website Design Best Practices 2025

Top 10 Brutalist Website Examples

Explore these brutalist website inspiration examples to spark ideas and develop your own unique take on the style.

1. Studio Job

2. CHRLS.DSGN

3. Freak Mag

4. ChainZoku

5. Balenciaga

6. Ezekiel Aquino

7. Chrissie Abbott

8. Utrecht

9. Marga Navarro

10. DAPP BOI

Also Read: The Importance of a Strong Brand Identity in Web Design

Advantages and Disadvantages of Brutalist Web Design

After exploring the best brutalist web design portfolio examples, it’s good to know the pros and cons before using this style. 

Advantages

• Distinctive aesthetics that differentiate brands from competitors who use conventional templates​.
• Minimal assets and simplified code result in faster loading times, perfect for user experience and SEO rankings​.
• Reduced complexity lowers development time and maintenance requirements.
• Raw aesthetics communicate transparency and rebellion.

Disadvantages

• Unconventional appearance can alienate users who expect traditional, polished interfaces.
• Asymmetrical layouts and minimal guidance may confuse visitors accustomed to conventional navigation patterns​.
• Intentionally unfinished aesthetics might be misinterpreted as careless or low-effort.
• Stark contrasts and unconventional hierarchies can pose challenges for users with disabilities or those using assistive technologies​.

When to Use Brutalist Web Design

Brutalist websites work best when their raw, unpolished aesthetic aligns with a brand’s identity and creative goals. As a result, brutalist design for personal websites, artist portfolios, and experimental projects is a common choice. 

In practice, fashion brands, musicians, and independent creators often use brutalism to show authenticity and rebellion against mainstream design trends. Tech startups and digital agencies also adopt the brutalist web design to stand out from competitors reliant on standardized templates.

However, this style isn’t ideal for e-commerce, corporate, or government sites that depend on usability and accessibility to serve wider audiences effectively.

Also Read: From Research to Prototyping: Top 5 AI Tools for UX Design

How to Implement Brutalist Design Without Sacrificing User Experience

If you want to create effective brutalist web design examples, focus on maintaining clear navigation, readable typography, and balanced contrast, even when using bold layouts or oversized fonts. 

Apply brutalist elements selectively, such as striking color schemes or unconventional typography, within structured frameworks to keep your website unique yet organized. Finally, test your design with real users and preserve semantic HTML to maintain accessibility while still achieving a strong visual impact.

Make Brutalist Websites More Effective with the Best Fonts!

In short, the brutalist web design can become a creative playground for designers who want to break rules while still crafting functional, user-focused experiences that stand out from the crowd.

Typography plays a huge role in shaping the tone of any brutalist website. For that reason, explore custom fonts from StringLabs Creative to elevate your next brutalist website project!

With expressive, high-impact styles crafted for creative professionals, their awesome collections bring structure to chaos and attitude to simplicity. Each font is designed to look sharp on any screen, perfect for giving your brutalist website a truly unforgettable identity.

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