What is Brutalism in Graphic and Web Design?
Brutalism in design takes a no-nonsense approach. It embraces raw, utilitarian visuals that prioritize clarity over beauty. You’ll see monochrome color schemes, grid-heavy layouts, generous use of white space, and blunt typography—elements that strip away polish in favor of honesty.
Brutalist UI became popular around 2015, as early adopters began rejecting over-optimized web trends. The style gained a foothold with content-driven platforms and tech-focused startups who saw value in function-first, minimalist execution.
But it’s not for everyone. While Brutalism earns points for its authenticity and clarity, it can be harsh and intimidating to broader audiences who expect fluid, familiar UX patterns.
The Emergence of Neobrutalism
Neobrutalism, as the name suggests, is Brutalism’s evolved cousin. This design style emerged around 2020 as a way to maintain authenticity while offering more visual friendliness.
In Neobrutalist design, bold outlines meet playful pastels. Grid-based structures are enhanced with soft shadows, animation, and character. These traits often pair well with muted color palettes, which help balance expression and clarity in modern UI design. The result: a design style that stands out—but doesn’t sacrifice user comfort or engagement.
Startups in SaaS, education, music, and social media often lean into Neobrutalism to balance distinctiveness with approachability. It invites curiosity and keeps users coming back with thoughtful, interactive detail—especially when combined with strong typography choices that shape perception and reinforce brand tone.
Brutalism vs. Neobrutalism: Real-World Examples (2025)
A more intentional example of digital Brutalism is Ezequiel Aquino’s personal portfolio, which fully embraces raw HTML aesthetics, sudden layout shifts, minimal styling, and stark monospaced typography. Every element feels deliberate and expressive—prioritizing honesty and individuality over elegance or convention.
Another strong example of Brutalism is the Whitney Museum website. It’s rough, direct, and stripped of unnecessary visual elements—allowing the art and content to take center stage. It fully embraces the essence of functionality over polish.
On the flip side, Figma offers a more fitting example of Neobrutalist design. While not strictly labeled as such, many of its interface choices—bold outlines, flat surfaces, vibrant accent colors, and purposeful grid usage—lean into Neobrutalist aesthetics. It strikes a balance between playful and professional, showing that functional tools can still have character.
Another great Neobrutalist example is Gumroad. Its oversized headline and bold layout nod to Brutalism, but its color palette, typography, and polished UI elements elevate it into Neobrutalist territory.
For more industry-aligned examples:
- A blockchain platform might benefit from Brutalism’s directness and transparency.
- A health or wellness app may thrive with Neobrutalism’s warmth and clarity.
Choosing the Right Style: Brutalism, Neobrutalism, and UI Trends
If your brand is about bold moves, clarity, and raw functionality, Brutalism may be your perfect match. It's ideal for fintech, blockchain, or niche tech platforms that serve users who value speed, transparency, and efficiency.
That said, the right design decision isn’t just about aesthetic preference. It’s about aligning your UI with your audience, content, and brand message.
Consider your audience
If your users are younger or more tech-savvy, they might resonate with the rawness and authenticity of Brutalism. For a more mainstream or brand-conscious audience, Neobrutalism’s balance of structure and personality may connect better.
Evaluate your content
If your platform is content-heavy—with lots of text, articles, or utilities—Brutalism’s stripped-back style can help keep focus. Neobrutalism, meanwhile, thrives on visual storytelling, animations, and more expressive design systems.
Match your brand tone
If you want to convey boldness, disruption, or transparency, Brutalism makes a strong statement. If your tone leans toward warmth, refinement, or a friendly polish, Neobrutalism allows more nuance without losing personality.
Neobrutalism is especially well suited for startups in industries like nutrition, education, social media, or fitness. Its playfulness, accessibility, and polished UX are ideal for products that require trust, engagement, and emotional resonance.
The biggest UI design trends of 2025—like micro-interactions, bold personalization, and evolving visual styles such as neumorphism and glassmorphism all fit neatly into the Neobrutalist playbook.
Startups adopting playful visual elements, interactive micro-animations, and inclusive design often rely on accessibility best practices. These decisions typically result in user satisfaction, retention, and engagement.
Transform Your Startup’s UI Design Today
Choosing between these styles isn’t just a design decision—it’s a make-or-break moment for how users experience your product. Your UI speaks before your product does.
Whether you need to go bold and raw with Brutalism or playful and polished with Neobrutalism, we’ll help you execute it with intention. At CC Creative, we specialize in UI/UX design, branding, and Webflow development tailored specifically for startups ready to scale fast and look sharp doing it.
Let’s turn your product vision into a UI that users remember—and convert on.
