Brutalism.

Web brutalism, named after the post-war architectural movement, rejects design system polish in favor of raw materials. It uses default fonts (Times New Roman, Arial), unstyled form controls, harsh primary colors, and deliberately broken-looking layouts. Practitioners include Bloomberg Businessweek's feature spreads and many indie tech publications.

When It Works

Brutalism reads as confidence and authenticity. Brands that have earned the right to ignore convention — established publications, art collectives, niche software with cult followings — use it to signal "we don't need to charm you." It cuts through the sea of polished SaaS sameness.

When It Fails

For brands building trust with mainstream buyers, brutalism reads as either incompetent or condescending. It also fights accessibility — default styles often lack the contrast, focus indicators, and motion controls that polished design systems bake in.