The Iconic Visual Design of Squid Game: Lessons for Web Designers

When Squid Game hit our screens, it was an instant cultural phenomenon. Beyond its gripping narrative and unsettling critique of societal inequality, one element stood out with almost hypnotic power: its visual design.

The bold colors, geometric motifs, and unnerving simplicity of the sets were not just backdrops; they were pivotal to the story’s impact.

For web designers and creatives, Squid Game offers a masterclass in leveraging visual storytelling to evoke emotion, communicate purpose, and captivate audiences.

The Power of Color Psychology: Designing with Purpose

One of the most striking aspects of Squid Game is its audacious use of color. The guards’ uniforms, in their eye-popping pinkish-red, convey both menace and playfulness—a stark contrast that mirrors the game’s duality of childlike fun and deadly stakes. The players’ green tracksuits, on the other hand, symbolize a sense of unity and vulnerability.

In web design, color is often an afterthought, relegated to aesthetic considerations rather than strategic ones. Yet, Squid Game’s use of color shows us how intentional choices can evoke visceral reactions.

Think about your website’s primary color palette: Are you using bold, contrasting colors to guide user attention? Or are your choices diluting your message?

Many websites fail at color because they over-prioritize accessibility at the cost of emotional resonance. While inclusivity is vital, Squid Game proves that bold, purposeful choices—even polarizing ones—can make your message unforgettable.

Minimalism Done Right: The Power of Subtraction

The sets in Squid Game are strikingly simple. A staircase inspired by M.C. Escher’s impossible architecture. A barren dormitory with towering bunk beds. A childlike playground with pastel-colored slides. This minimalist design ensures that nothing detracts from the emotional weight of the story.

Web designers often misunderstand minimalism as merely reducing clutter. But true minimalism is about clarity of intent. What elements on your site are unnecessary distractions? Are you prioritizing flashy design trends over user experience?

Squid Game teaches us that less is not just more; less is everything when done with purpose.

The current trend of overloading websites with animations, micro-interactions, and video backgrounds is diluting the impact of digital storytelling. Sometimes, a stark white background with a single bold headline is more effective than a carousel of mediocrity.

Geometry as a Narrative Tool

The use of geometric shapes in Squid Game—the triangle, circle, and square—serves as a visual shorthand for hierarchy and order. These shapes appear everywhere, from the guard’s masks to the game arena’s layout. Each shape carries meaning: triangles denote action and authority, circles suggest equality, and squares symbolize structure.

For web designers, geometric shapes can be powerful tools for guiding users through a site. They create visual flow, establish hierarchy, and even evoke specific emotions. For example, a circular call-to-action button feels approachable, while a triangular navigation arrow suggests movement and direction.

Most web designers fail to use shapes intentionally. They either overload designs with arbitrary patterns or stick to safe, boxy layouts. Squid Game demonstrates the narrative power of geometry—a lesson many designers ignore at their peril.

Creating Tension Through Contrast

One of Squid Game’s most unnerving elements is its constant juxtaposition of innocence and horror. The cheerful pastel colors of the playground starkly contrast with the bloodshed it hosts. This tension heightens the viewer’s unease and keeps them emotionally engaged.

Web design can use a similar approach to evoke emotion. Contrasting elements—like a sleek, modern layout paired with vintage typography or dark mode punctuated by neon accents—create visual tension that captures attention. However, this requires finesse; too much contrast can overwhelm and alienate users.

Designers have become too risk-averse, relying on safe, harmonious designs that blend into the digital landscape. Squid Game’s success reminds us that tension and contrast—when balanced correctly—can be far more compelling than uniformity.

The Role of Mystery and Ambiguity

Squid Game’s visual design thrives on mystery. The faceless guards, the labyrinthine staircases, and the surreal, windowless environments all contribute to a sense of disorientation and intrigue. These elements keep viewers guessing and invested.

Web designers can harness this principle by embracing ambiguity. Instead of laying out every detail upfront, consider designs that invite users to explore and discover. Hidden interactions, easter eggs, or unconventional layouts can create an engaging sense of mystery.

The obsession with hyper-clear UX has led to overly prescriptive designs that leave no room for curiosity. While clarity is important, Squid Game teaches us that a little mystery can go a long way in captivating an audience.

The Takeaway for Web Designers

Squid Game is more than a binge-worthy show; it’s a blueprint for impactful design. Its use of color, minimalism, geometry, contrast, and mystery offers invaluable lessons for web designers looking to create more than just functional websites—designs that evoke emotion, tell stories, and leave lasting impressions.

However, adopting these lessons requires courage. It means taking risks with bold colors, embracing minimalism that’s not just aesthetic but purposeful, and designing for emotional impact rather than just usability.

The question is: Are you ready to step out of your design comfort zone and into the arena?

Louise North

Louise is a staff writer for WebDesignerDepot. She lives in Colorado, is a mom to two dogs, and when she’s not writing she likes hiking and volunteering.