Best Email Designs of 2025: Trends, Inspiration & Insights

Your email design can be the difference between high engagement and an instant unsubscribe. 

A well-designed email grabs attention, keeps readers engaged, and drives conversions.

In this email design review, we’ll analyze five of the best email templates of 2025, breaking down what makes them effective and how you can apply the same principles to your own emails. 

Whether you’re looking for email layout inspiration or want to improve your email template design, you’ll find plenty of actionable insights here.

Let’s dive in.

Why Great Email Design Matters

If you want your emails to perform well, you need to review your email designs regularly and look at what others are doing successfully. Here’s why:

To create high-converting email templates, study the best email designs and apply their strategies to your own campaigns.

My 5 Favorite Email Designs & Why They Work

After reviewing dozens of newsletters built on beehiiv, I found five standout email designs that nail both aesthetics and engagement. Let’s break them down.

1. Status News (Bold, Editorial & High-Impact)

📧 Newsletter: Status News

Why It Works:

• Magazine-Style Layout – The full-width hero image paired with a bold, editorial headline feels straight out of a newspaper front page. The striking contrast between large visuals and clean typography makes it visually authoritative.

• Monochrome With a Punch of Red – The color scheme is simple but high-impact. Black and white dominate the design, while the bold red accents (used sparingly) draw attention to key elements like the Subscribe button.

• Strong Hierarchy & Readability – Headlines grab attention instantly, and the right-aligned list of featured articles makes skimming effortless. The use of negative space ensures the design feels clean despite the heavy content.

💡 Lesson: If you’re running a news-heavy newsletter, bold headlines and clear CTAs are essential.

2. Prof G Markets (Data-Driven & Engaging)

📧 Newsletter: Prof G Markets

Why It Works:

• Muted Background With Strong Accents – The brownish-orange theme with a beige backdrop feels mature and premium, while dark, bold typography keeps readability high.

• Visually Distinct Sections – The separation between the main stories and subcategories (No Mercy / No Malice) makes navigating the newsletter intuitive. The Subscribe CTA is bold but unobtrusive, reinforcing engagement without feeling pushy.

Lesson: If your emails include data or insights, present key numbers in bold typography to make them pop.

3. Just Go Grind (Founder-Focused, Clean & Professional)

📧 Newsletter: Just Go Grind

Why It Works:

• Warm, Minimalist Aesthetic – Unlike high-contrast, visually loud designs, this newsletter leans into a soft, neutral color palette (beige, brown, and white) that feels welcoming and aligned with personal storytelling.

• Consistent Branding & Layout – The structure is highly predictable and easy to follow, with each edition maintaining the same header, typography, and sectioning.

• Content-First Approach – There are no unnecessary visuals to cause distraction. Instead, each edition highlights text-driven storytelling with thoughtful spacing and readability.

💡 Lesson: Founder-focused or storytelling newsletters benefit from a clean, well-structured layout with personal branding elements.

4. Big Desk Energy (Minimalist, Smart & Conversion-Focused)

📧 Newsletter: Big Desk Energy

Why It Works:

• Pixel-Perfect Readability – The entire design is built around clarity and whitespace. Large, well-spaced text ensures every word is effortlessly readable.

• Retro-Inspired Branding – The 90s-inspired pixelated logo and blue-gray theme add personality without feeling gimmicky.

• High Social Proof – The 4.9/5 rating from 91,539 readers is front and center, boosting credibility and conversions.

• Call-To-Action That Feels Natural – The Subscribe CTA is placed just below the credibility statement, subtly nudging users to take action after seeing strong social proof.

💡 Lesson: A minimalist design with strong typography and clear CTAs can significantly boost conversions.

5. Creator’s Toolbox (Engaging, Educational & Community-Focused)

📧 Newsletter: Creator’s Toolbox

Why It Works:

• High-Energy Aesthetic – The black-to-purple gradient background creates a bold, creative, and modern feel, perfectly aligning with its audience (creators).

• Skimmable, High-Energy Layout – Uses short-form content blocks, bullet points, and concise subheaders to make content digestible.

• Mobile-Optimized First – The hero section immediately showcases newsletter previews on smartphones, reinforcing the idea that it’s easy to read on the go.

• Community-Driven Elements – Incorporates interactive features like Q&As, polls, and tool recommendations, making it more than just a newsletter—it’s a hub for creator resources.

💡 Lesson: If your newsletter is educational, ensure it’s highly skimmable, visually engaging, and actionable.

What I Learned From Reviewing These Email Designs

After analyzing these email template reviews, some common patterns stood out:

✅ What Works in Great Email Design

• Strong Visual Hierarchy – Headlines, subheadings, and sections should guide the reader.

• Engaging Color Schemes – A cohesive brand palette enhances readability.

• Optimized Mobile Layouts – Every email should be responsive.

• Clear CTAs – The best designs determine what action to take next.

❌ Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcrowded Layouts – Too much text or clutter leads to disengagement.

• Weak CTA Placement – If users can’t find your button, they won’t click.

• Poor Font Choices – Stick to clean, readable fonts across devices.

How beehiiv Helps Create Stunning Email Designs

Creating visually appealing emails doesn’t have to be complicated. beehiiv makes it easy with:

• Drag-and-Drop Editor – Customize templates with zero coding.

• Pre-Built Templates – Professionally designed for high engagement.

• Advanced Customization – Modify colors, fonts, and layouts.

• Mobile Optimization – Emails that look great on every device.

Whether you’re building a news digest, a data-driven email, or a founder’s newsletter, beehiiv gives you the tools to create stunning, high-converting emails.

Final Thoughts: Designing Emails That Stand Out

A great email does more than just look good—it drives engagement and conversions.

Key Takeaways

• News & Editorial: Use bold headlines, high-contrast colors, and structured layouts to establish authority.

• Data & Finance: Let numbers be the visual anchors—highlight key figures with size and contrast.

• Founder & Storytelling: Stick to warm, neutral colors, and a predictable layout to build trust.

• Conversion-Focused: Prioritize readability, social proof, and clean whitespace to drive action.

• Community-Driven: Make content skimmable, interactive, and mobile-first to keep engagement high.

Want to build your own beautiful, high-performing emails?

🚀 Sign up for beehiiv today and start designing emails that captivate and convert!