Guide

Web design 2026: what has changed

What is different about web design in 2026 compared to two years ago — legally, technically, and in terms of what actually pays off for small businesses.

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Quote upon request3 to 5 weeksStatus 2026

In short

Two things have changed in web design in 2026: The transparency requirements of the EU AI Act have been in effect since August, and search engines answer more and more questions directly in the results. Technically, reliability has improved most — which does not mean every project makes sense.

01 — Current

What changed recently

Two developments shape the decision in 2026: First, the transparency requirements of the EU AI Act have been in effect since August — anyone communicating with an AI system must be able to recognize it. Second, search itself now answers more and more questions directly, which changes the value of having your own easily findable information source.

For web design, this means in practice: disclosure is mandatory, not a stylistic choice, and the content the system works with is the same content cited in search results and generated answers. Prepare it properly once, use it twice.

Technically, reliability has improved most of all. What was still an experiment two years ago is today a plannable implementation in many cases — which doesn't mean every project makes sense.

02 — Legal situation

EU AI Act: what applies

Since August 2026, the transparency requirements from Article 50 of the EU AI Act apply: Anyone communicating directly with an AI system must be able to recognize it. We build in the labeling as standard.

The AI Act doesn't distinguish by company size: A sole proprietorship with an AI system in customer contact is affected just as much as a corporation. What matters is purpose and risk, not headcount.

There's also the obligation to ensure adequate AI competence for the people working with it. That's not an examination requirement, but it should be documented — a training session with a participant list is the simplest proof.

03 — Benefits

What it actually delivers

Time that's missing elsewhere. Design is often treated as decoration. The result is pages that look good in portfolios and help no one in practice.
Consistent quality. A system doesn't have a bad day and doesn't skip a step — regardless of who's currently in the office.
Traceability. What runs automatically is documented. That helps with handovers, vacation coverage, and in case of disputes.
Availability outside business hours. A significant portion of inquiries arise in the evening and on weekends — where until now no one was responding.
A side effect hardly anyone plans for: During setup, it regularly becomes apparent that processes in the business are unclear. Clarifying that is often more valuable than the automation itself.

04 — Questions

Frequently asked questions

Who owns the files?

You do. You get the source files and the documentation. If you work with someone else later, they can continue with them.

What about accessibility in design?

We check contrast, font sizes, focus presentation, and click areas against WCAG 2.1 AA. That's significantly cheaper in design than later in implementation.

Do we even need custom design?

Not necessarily. If you need a site with five pages and no brand ambitions, a well-adapted standard system is the more sensible choice. Custom design pays off when you need to stand out from competitors or manage many pages.

Do we get several drafts?

Two to three directions on one page type. Ten variations help no one — they just shift the decision to the client instead of making it.

What if we don't like any of the directions?

Then we go back to the discovery phase — usually that means something important about the business hasn't been understood yet. It rarely happens, but better to start fresh than to force a design.

Will this look good on mobile too?

We design the narrow view first, because that's where the majority of visitors arrive. The wide view is the easier case, not the other way around.

Do you also provide image material?

No, that's not part of the design system. But we specify exactly what kind of images are needed and recommend suitable sources or a photographer if required.

05 — Next

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Next step

We'll look at your starting position.

Tell us what's eating up time today. That becomes an assessment with effort and benefit — and only then an offer.

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