What is Brutalist Design?

Brutalist Design draws from brutalist architecture—raw, unpolished, and unapologetic. It features stark layouts, system fonts, minimal styling, exposed HTML structures, harsh color contrasts, and intentionally rough edges. The aesthetic rejects web design conventions to make bold statements.

When Should You Use This?

Use brutalism for creative agencies, art portfolios, experimental projects, punk/alternative brands, or when making bold anti-corporate statements. Works for products targeting designers, artists, or counter-culture audiences. Not suitable for mainstream consumer products.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •Unusable execution—brutalism should be intentional, not broken; links must still be clickable
• •Copy without purpose—using brutalist aesthetics because it's trendy, not because it fits your brand
• •Poor accessibility—high contrast is good, but ensure text is readable and navigable
• •Inconsistent commitment—half-brutalist doesn't work; go all-in or choose another style
• •Ignoring mobile—brutalist layouts can break badly on small screens without adaptation

Real-World Examples

• •Bloomberg Businessweek—editorial site uses stark typography and grid-based brutalism
• •Craigslist—unintentionally brutalist with raw HTML and minimal styling (it works)
• •Yale School of Art—student-run site with raw, constantly-changing brutalist design
• •Balenciaga—fashion brand occasionally uses brutalist aesthetics for digital campaigns