If you’ve been designing websites for more than a year, chances are you’ve had a moment of horror when revisiting your earlier work. It’s a rite of passage—like discovering your old high school diary or cringing at your early social media posts. At the time, you were sure you’d created something brilliant. Now? You’re wondering how it ever saw the light of day.
But here’s the twist: this feeling isn’t unique to you. Every designer, no matter how skilled, looks back at their old work with a mix of disbelief and embarrassment. And that’s actually a good thing—it means you’ve grown.
Let’s explore why your past projects make you squirm, and why that’s a sign you’re on the right path.
The Designer’s Shame Spiral
We’ve all been there. You open up an old site you built, expecting a nostalgic sense of pride. Instead, you’re met with a chaotic mix of mismatched fonts, over-the-top shadows, and a button that looks like it was borrowed from a 2010 PowerPoint template.
And then the internal monologue begins: “Did I actually think this was good?”
Yes. Yes, you did. And that’s exactly the point.
Yesterday’s Masterpiece, Today’s Mess
Back then, it felt like your greatest achievement. The typography was bold, the colors were daring, and the layout? A UX marvel. Fast forward to today, and it looks like something that belongs in a museum of outdated web trends.
What happened? Simple: you improved. Design trends shifted. Your eye became more refined. What once felt like a cutting-edge creation now looks like a relic of the past.
The Myths We Tell Ourselves
Every time we finish a project, we convince ourselves: “This one’s different. This one will age gracefully.”
Spoiler alert: it won’t.
Your client may still love it. Your friends might compliment it. Your mom might even print it out and hang it on the fridge. But deep down, you know it has an expiration date—and it’s approaching fast.
The Details That Make You Cringe
Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the most common design decisions that haunt us:
– Too Many Shadows and Glows – “Why did I think everything needed a glow-up?”
– Over-the-Top Hover Effects – “If it didn’t move, did it even exist?”
– Questionable Font Choices – “Lobster. Really?”
– Confusing Navigation – “Click the mystery icon to open a carousel menu—because who needs usability?”
– SEO Catastrophes – “Hiding white text on a white background? Genius… or not.”
Growth Comes with a Side of Cringe
Here’s the silver lining: if you’re embarrassed by your old work, it means you’ve evolved. If you don’t feel a little uncomfortable looking back, either you’ve stopped learning—or you’re a design savant from the future.
Progress in design is built on reflection, regret, and the drive to do better. So go ahead—laugh at your past mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
Because let’s face it: today’s masterpiece? It’s just tomorrow’s cringe waiting to happen. 😅
About the Author
Simon Sterne is a staff writer at WebdesignerDepot. He’s passionate about technology, WordPress, and all things UX. When he’s not writing, you’ll likely find him behind a camera, exploring the world through photography.
Read more from Simon at WebdesignerDepot.
