Design Stunning Emails in 2025 [Examples & Best Practices]

The art of crafting stunning emails has never been more crucial for capturing the attention of your audience. As we navigate through an era where the average person is bombarded with information, standing out in a crowded inbox requires not just creativity, but a deep understanding of effective email design.

This year, the significance of email design transcends mere aesthetics; it’s about creating a meaningful connection with your audience, leveraging the latest trends and technologies to deliver messages that are not only seen but felt and acted upon.

The landscape of email marketing is being shaped by innovative trends and cutting-edge technologies, setting the stage for a more interactive, personalized, and immersive experience. From the use of sophisticated AI to craft personalized content to the integration of AR for immersive storytelling, these advancements are redefining what’s possible in email marketing.

As we explore the world of email design in 2025, we’ll explore the essentials of designing with purpose, the latest trends bringing emails to life, and how leveraging technology can enhance the user experience, ensuring your emails not only reach the inbox but also resonate with the recipient.

The cornerstone of this design philosophy is clarity in purpose. Each email sent should have a clear objective, whether it’s driving sales, enhancing customer engagement, or conveying crucial information. This strategic focus ensures that every element within the email, from the subject line to the call-to-action (CTA), is aligned towards achieving a specific goal.

Companies like Kinsta and Unlayer have mastered this approach, tailoring their email campaigns to meet precise business objectives with remarkable effectiveness.

A pivotal aspect of designing with purpose is the establishment of a visual hierarchy. This concept organizes elements in a manner that reflects their importance, guiding the reader’s eye through the content in a natural flow. The inverted pyramid model, highlighted by experts at Brevo, epitomizes this strategy.

It begins with a compelling headline to grab attention, followed by supportive arguments or benefits, and culminates in a strong CTA. This structure is not arbitrary; it’s a psychological playbook that taps into how we process information, ensuring the most critical message gets noticed first.

Visual hierarchy goes hand in hand with simplicity and focus. In a world inundated with digital clutter, less is often more. A clean, minimalistic design can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your message by reducing distractions. This approach ensures that the reader’s attention is not scattered but focused on what matters most.

By strategically using design elements such as typography, color, and spacing, marketers can create a pathway for the eye, leading the reader towards the desired action without overwhelming them.

Moreover, the principles of visual hierarchy and purposeful design extend beyond aesthetic appeal; they are instrumental in guiding reader action. A well-designed email not only communicates a message but also motivates the reader to take action. This could be in the form of clicking a link, making a purchase, or simply engaging more deeply with the content.

The CTA, therefore, is not just an element of the email; it’s the culmination of the design’s purpose. By crafting a CTA that’s visually prominent and aligned with the email’s overall objective, businesses can significantly increase their conversion rates.

The email marketing landscape is pulsating with new trends that breathe life into traditional email formats. These trends are not just about aesthetic upgrades; they represent a shift towards creating more engaging, dynamic, and personalized experiences for the reader.

Among these emerging trends, duotone color schemes, cinemagraphs, custom illustrations, and subtle animations stand out, each playing a pivotal role in captivating the audience’s attention and enhancing the overall impact of email campaigns.

1. Duotone Color Schemes

The duotone color scheme, characterized by its use of two contrasting colors, has emerged as a powerful tool in guiding the reader’s eye and highlighting key content. This minimalist yet bold approach can create a striking visual impact that grabs attention the moment the email is opened. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the strategic use of duotone can also convey mood, emotion, and brand identity, making it a versatile tool for marketers.

According to insights from Mailtrap, the effectiveness of duotone lies in its simplicity and ability to create focus. By choosing colors that align with their brand and message, companies can ensure that their emails stand out in a crowded inbox, drawing the reader’s eye to the most important elements of the message.

2. Cinemagraphs

Cinemagraphs, or subtle animations, add a layer of sophistication to emails without overwhelming the message. These are essentially still photographs in which a minor and repeated movement occurs, creating a mesmerizing visual effect. Mailtrap highlights the engaging potential of cinemagraphs in email marketing, noting that they can make emails feel more alive and dynamic.

When used judiciously, cinemagraphs can draw the reader in and hold their attention, making the message more memorable. However, the key is subtlety; the aim is to enhance the message, not distract from it.

3. Custom Illustrations and Subtle Animations

Custom illustrations offer a unique opportunity for brands to express their personality and connect with their audience on a more personal level. Unlike stock imagery, custom illustrations can be tailored to perfectly match the message and tone of the email, reinforcing brand identity and storytelling. Furthermore, when these illustrations are paired with subtle animations, they can make an email feel like a living, breathing entity.

According to Mailtrap, this combination not only enhances brand identity but also improves engagement by creating a more immersive experience. The animations invite the reader to interact with the content, transforming passive viewing into an active exploration.

4. The Power of Visual Storytelling

These trends underscore the importance of visual storytelling in email marketing. By employing duotone color schemes, cinemagraphs, and custom illustrations, brands can tell their stories in a more compelling and engaging way. This approach not only captures the reader’s attention but also facilitates a deeper connection with the brand.

The power of visual storytelling lies in its ability to evoke emotions and convey messages in a way that words alone cannot. It transforms the email from a simple communication tool into a memorable experience that resonates with the reader.

The integration of advanced technologies like augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) into email marketing strategies marks a transformative era in how brands engage with their audiences. As we explore the digital landscape of 2024, these technologies are not mere gimmicks but essential tools that offer immersive experiences and personalized interactions, setting pioneering brands apart from their competitors.

1. Augmented Reality (AR) in Emails

Augmented reality has the power to transform the static email experience into an interactive journey, allowing users to engage with content in a way that was once the domain of science fiction. AR can transport users from their inboxes into a virtually enhanced reality, where they can interact with products or experiences in their own space.

For example, a furniture retailer could allow customers to visualize how a piece of furniture would look in their living room directly from an email. AR in emails offers an unparalleled opportunity for brands to create immersive experiences that captivate and engage their audience, significantly enhancing the perceived value of the email content and, by extension, the brand itself.

2. AI for Personalized Content Delivery

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way brands craft and deliver email content, enabling hyper-personalization at scale. AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of data to understand individual user preferences, behaviors, and engagement patterns, allowing for the automatic customization of email content to match the unique interests of each recipient.

This means that two people receiving the same newsletter could see different products, offers, or content based on their previous interactions with the brand. AI capability to optimize send times for each recipient further enhances engagement rates, ensuring emails are opened and read at the moment users are most likely to engage.

The utilization of AI extends beyond content personalization and optimal send times; it also plays a crucial role in predictive analytics. By forecasting trends and user behaviors, AI enables marketers to stay ahead of the curve, crafting content that resonates with emerging preferences and needs. This proactive approach ensures that email marketing campaigns remain relevant and effective, fostering a deeper connection between brands and their audience.

In 2024, amidst the flurry of technological advancements and the push towards futurism, a counter-movement is taking root—one that harks back to the charm and simplicity of yesteryears. This trend, known as the embrace of nostalgia through retro design elements, is not just a revival of past styles but a strategic move to evoke positive emotions, foster connections, and distinguish brand identity in a saturated digital landscape.

1. The Power of Nostalgia

Nostalgia, by its very nature, evokes warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging. When leveraged in email marketing, it can create a powerful emotional resonance with the audience, making messages more memorable and impactful. Retro design elements, from typography and color schemes reminiscent of the ’70s and ’80s to imagery and layouts that echo the early days of the internet, can trigger these feelings of nostalgia.

The effectiveness of nostalgia in strengthening brand connections, noting that when consumers feel an emotional tie to the past, they’re more likely to have a positive perception of the brand, enhancing loyalty and engagement.

2. Incorporating Retro Design Elements

Incorporating retro design elements into emails is more than just a stylistic choice; it’s a strategic decision aimed at creating a distinctive and engaging user experience. This involves more than merely adopting old-school fonts or color palettes; it requires a thoughtful integration of these elements into the email’s design and message, ensuring they complement rather than overshadow the content.

Brands must strike the right balance, leveraging nostalgia to enhance their message without making it seem outdated or irrelevant.

3. The Benefits of a Nostalgic Approach

The benefits of embracing nostalgia in email design extend beyond aesthetic appeal. It can differentiate a brand in a crowded market, offering a unique identity that stands out in the recipient’s inbox. Moreover, retro design elements can increase the perceived value of the content, as they often carry connotations of craftsmanship, quality, and authenticity.

This perceived value, coupled with the emotional resonance of nostalgia, can significantly boost engagement rates and foster a deeper connection with the audience.

Challenges and Considerations

While the nostalgic approach offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. Brands must carefully consider their target audience, ensuring that the retro elements resonate with their demographic. For younger audiences who may not have lived through the periods referenced, the design must still hold appeal, perhaps through a modern twist on classic styles.

Furthermore, the use of nostalgia should always align with the brand’s identity and message, ensuring consistency and authenticity.

It provides a unique opportunity for brands to connect with their audience on an emotional level, leveraging the power of nostalgia to create memorable, engaging, and effective campaigns. By thoughtfully incorporating retro design elements, brands can evoke positive emotions, strengthen connections, and carve out a distinctive identity in the digital age.

The sophistication in selecting and utilizing visual elements in emails has reached unprecedented levels. The thoughtful integration of these elements not only enriches the aesthetic appeal of email campaigns but also significantly amplifies their engagement and conversion potential.

1. Best Practices for Selecting and Optimizing Images

The power of imagery in email marketing cannot be overstated. Images have the ability to convey complex messages instantly, evoke emotions, and connect with audiences on a visceral level. However, the key to harnessing this power lies in the selection and optimization of these visual assets. High-quality, relevant images that align with the brand’s message and resonate with the target audience can dramatically enhance the effectiveness of an email campaign.

Companies like Unlayer underscore the importance of balancing visual appeal with technical considerations to maintain engagement without compromising load times. Optimizing images for fast loading ensures that the visual impact is immediate, even on mobile devices with slower internet connections. This includes using the right file formats, such as JPEG for photographs and PNG for graphics with transparent backgrounds, and compressing images without losing clarity.

2. Utilizing Color Palettes to Enhance Readability and Emotional Impact

Color is a powerful communication tool that can influence perception and behavior. The strategic use of color in email design can guide readers’ emotions and actions, making it an essential element for crafting the visual experience. Unlayer highlights the effectiveness of utilizing color palettes not just for aesthetic harmony but also to enhance readability and convey the right emotional tone.

Warm colors can evoke feelings of excitement and urgency, making them ideal for calls-to-action or special offers, while cooler tones convey trust and professionalism, suitable for informational content.

The psychology of color can be leveraged to create a visual hierarchy, guiding the reader’s eye towards key elements such as headlines and CTAs. Contrast and color saturation play crucial roles in this regard, ensuring that important components stand out without clashing with the overall design.

Furthermore, the choice of background and text colors must consider accessibility and readability, ensuring that content is easily digestible for everyone, including individuals with visual impairments.

3. Crafting the Visual Experience with Intention

The deliberate crafting of the visual experience in email marketing involves more than just selecting appealing images and colors; it requires a deep understanding of the brand’s identity, the message’s purpose, and the audience’s preferences. This nuanced approach ensures that every visual element works harmoniously to tell a cohesive story, reinforce brand recognition, and prompt the desired reaction from the reader.

Moreover, the use of imagery and color must align with the overall email marketing strategy, complementing the content and enhancing the user experience. This synergy between visual elements and textual content transforms the email from a simple message into a compelling narrative that engages the reader on multiple levels.

As we explore the intricacies of crafting compelling CTAs in 2025, it becomes clear that their strategic placement, wording, and design are not just elements of creative expression but powerful tools engineered to maximize click-through rates and drive conversions.

1. Strategic Placement for Maximum Impact

The placement of a CTA within an email is a critical decision that can significantly affect its effectiveness. The conventional wisdom of placing a CTA at the bottom of an email, following the natural reading flow, remains valid. However, advancements in understanding user behavior and preferences have led to more dynamic approaches.

Experts at Brevo and Unlayer advocate for placing CTAs in positions where they naturally draw the reader’s attention, such as after a compelling piece of content that primes the reader for action or even multiple placements for longer emails to cater to varying levels of reader engagement.

2. Wording that Resonates and Motivates

The choice of words in a CTA can be the difference between a passive glance and an enthusiastic click. Clear, action-oriented language that conveys a sense of urgency and benefit is crucial. Phrases like “Get Started,” “Learn More,” or “Don’t Miss Out” directly engage the reader, making the action to be taken unmistakable and the value proposition clear.

Personalization further enhances this effect; addressing the reader directly with “You” or incorporating the offer’s specificity makes the CTA more relatable and compelling.

3. Design that Draws the Eye

The visual design of a CTA is as important as its placement and wording. It must stand out from the rest of the email content without being jarring or out of place. This involves careful consideration of color, shape, and size. A button that contrasts with the email’s color scheme while still aligning with the brand’s visual identity is more likely to catch the reader’s eye.

Rounded corners, subtle shadows, or even animated effects can make the CTA button more clickable, enhancing its visual appeal and effectiveness.

4. Psychology of Motivation

Behind every CTA lies an understanding of the psychology that motivates people to take action. Creating a sense of scarcity with limited-time offers, highlighting exclusivity, or tapping into the reader’s fear of missing out (FOMO) are strategies that can make the CTA more persuasive.

Additionally, ensuring that the promise made in the CTA is immediately fulfilled upon clicking builds trust and credibility, factors that are crucial for long-term engagement and conversion rates.

CTAs are the linchpin of effective email marketing campaigns. Their ability to motivate reader response hinges on strategic placement, compelling wording, and eye-catching design, all underpinned by an understanding of psychological motivators.

Personalization and interactivity have transcended the realm of innovative email marketing strategies to become the new norm. These elements are now fundamental in crafting emails that not only resonate with recipients on a personal level but also engage them in a dynamic, two-way conversation.

The evolution of technology and data analytics has enabled marketers to tailor experiences and content to individual preferences and behaviors, fostering a deeper connection and driving higher engagement rates.

1. The Power of Personalization

Personalization in email marketing goes beyond merely inserting a recipient’s name in the greeting. It encompasses a comprehensive strategy that leverages data insights to deliver content that is highly relevant and tailored to the individual’s interests, past behaviors, and stage in the customer journey.

Unlayer, a leading tool in the design and optimization of email campaigns, emphasizes the significance of using merge tags and dynamic content to create these customized experiences. For example, an ecommerce brand can send personalized product recommendations based on a customer’s browsing history or previous purchases, significantly increasing the likelihood of conversion.

2. Enhancing Engagement with Interactivity

Interactivity introduces an element of participation into the email experience, transforming passive recipients into active participants. This can take many forms, from embedded surveys and polls that solicit feedback to interactive images and videos that reveal more information on hover or click.

Brevo highlights how these interactive elements not only boost engagement but also provide valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors, which can be leveraged for further personalization.

3. Fostering a Closer Relationship

The integration of personalization and interactivity in email marketing serves a dual purpose. It not only enhances the user experience by making emails more engaging and relevant but also signals to the recipient that the brand values their individual preferences and feedback. This recognition can significantly strengthen the emotional bond between the brand and its customers, cultivating loyalty and trust.

For instance, an email that suggests products based on the recipient’s size, style preferences, or even weather conditions in their area shows a level of care and attention to detail that can set a brand apart in a crowded marketplace.

The New Standard in Email Marketing

In 2024, personalization and interactivity are no longer optional extras but essential components of successful email marketing strategies. They reflect a broader shift towards more customer-centric marketing practices, where the focus is on delivering value and relevance at every touchpoint.

In the intricate tapestry of email design, the footer might often be seen as an afterthought—a space relegated to legal disclaimers and unsubscribe links. However, as we navigate through 2024, it’s becoming increasingly clear that optimizing the email footer holds untapped potential for enhancing brand identity, providing actionable information, and reinforcing the message conveyed in the body of the email.

1. A Foundation for Brand Identity

The footer is a prime area to solidify the brand’s identity and leave a lasting impression. By incorporating brand elements such as logos, taglines, or a consistent color scheme, businesses can strengthen brand recognition and cohesion across their communications. This consistent branding effort helps to build a sense of trust and familiarity with the audience, key ingredients in fostering long-term relationships.

2. Actionable Information at Your Fingertips

Beyond brand reinforcement, the email footer can serve as a hub for actionable information. This includes not just the standard unsubscribe link—a legal requirement—but also links to the brand’s social media profiles, customer service contacts, or even a short feedback survey.

By making these resources readily available, brands demonstrate transparency and accessibility, encouraging engagement beyond the email itself. WebFX highlights the strategic inclusion of such elements in the footer as a means to extend the conversation with the recipient, offering them various avenues to interact with the brand according to their preference.

3. Reinforcing the Email’s Message

Moreover, the footer can play a crucial role in reinforcing the email’s core message or call to action. A succinct summary or a final reminder of the main offer can capture the attention of those who skim through the email content. It’s a last chance to convey value and encourage action, making it a critical component of the overall email strategy.

The email footer is far more than just a placeholder for compliance and legalities. It’s an integral part of the email design that, when optimized effectively, can enhance brand identity, provide valuable resources, and reinforce the email’s message.

As we reflect on the insights and strategies explored in this comprehensive guide to designing stunning emails in 2025, it’s evident that email marketing continues to be a dynamic and potent tool for brands aiming to connect with their audience in meaningful ways.

The journey through understanding the importance of design, leveraging the latest trends, and incorporating advanced technologies like AR and AI, underscores the evolving nature of email marketing. We’ve delved into the significance of imagery, color, and personalized, interactive elements that make emails not just a form of communication but a compelling experience that resonates with recipients.

The emphasis on personalization and interactivity as the new norm, alongside the strategic use of calls to action, showcases the importance of engaging the reader beyond the superficial level. This approach fosters a deeper connection, encouraging a two-way conversation between the brand and its audience. It’s clear that the future of email marketing lies in its ability to adapt, innovate, and personalize.

Brands are encouraged to experiment with these best practices and trends, continuously refining their strategies to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of email marketing. By doing so, they can create memorable, effective campaigns that not only reach but truly engage their target audience, paving the way for sustained success in their marketing efforts.

Design Stunning Emails in 2025 [Examples & Best Practices]

• 1Designing with Purpose
• 2Trends to Watch
• 3Leveraging Technology
• 4Embracing Nostalgia
• 5Imagery and Color
• 6Calls to Action
• 7Personalization and Interactivity
• 8Optimizing Email Footers
• 9In Our Experience
• 10FAQs