Today’s UX UI Design Trends

Today’s UX UI design trends inform the trajectory of the vertical in the future. There are continual corrections that occur in the field, which streamline design to fit consumer trends. Additionally, the exponential growth of technology has spurted various design trends, all directed towards improving the user experience. A satisfied user is one that is likely to promote your product/service, and also keep coming back to it.

Here are some of the latest UX UI design trends that are likely to improve user engagement:

1. Animated Illustrations

A simple animation has the power to guide a user to a section, facilitate task execution, and gives the overall design a human touch. They are a great way to grab the attention of a user and deepen their engagement. Animations can tell a story about your company without using a single word. However, they can go wrong too by taking the user’s attention away from important sections in a website/app. Caution is necessary while using animation. 

Source: Google

2. 3D Graphics in Web and Mobile Design

With the advent of 4G and 5G networks, web browser capabilities now allow graphic designers to introduce 3D graphics which vastly improves visual appeal and functionality. The level of interaction is at a much higher level, which in turn increases engagement with the product/service. A designer must be wary while considering 3D design in their product/service, as it requires some specific skills and no small amount of work.

3. AR/VR

A unique phenomenon occurred where the innovation of the VR was a result of gaming taken to the next level but ended up benefiting many other industries. AR is now being used in mobile phones to increase the level of interaction not seen before.

Google Street View can help users navigate in real-time with their phone and the place they’re in, universities are using AR to train students in surgery, warehouses have greatly benefited with this technology, artists are selling digital sculptures online. As more people see the use of AR in their field of business, designers will have to be prepared to learn new tools and the principles involved in creating an engaging AR experience.

Source: Medium

4. Microinteractions

They are contained product moments that revolve around a single use case—they have one main task. Every time you change a setting, sync your data or devices, set an alarm, pick a password, log in, set a status message, or favorite or “like” something, you are engaging with a microinteraction.

5. Asymmetry

There has been an influx of new designs that aim at being asymmetric, with the purpose of giving more character to the content. Moreover, it adds a personality to the design and gives the layouts a dynamic feel.

6. Storytelling

Many websites have effectively used storytelling to teach complicated concepts of UI UX design. Storytelling can be a strong tool, but one needs to know their own subject matter well to use this method.

7. Bold and Large Fonts

This works as a double-edged sword; it is a great way to attract a customer and it conveys a brand personality. Bold fonts designed differently can showcase dominance, power, and evoke many other feelings. One of the functional uses is that they can be used to define a visual hierarchy. It can be used as a demarcation point. Although this sounds ironic, nothing speaks of minimalism like a large bold font user properly. 

8. Subtle Colour Gradients

Bright and flashy are out, simple and subtle gradients are in. Many designers now prefer to use muted colors, that can sometimes border pastel. Gradients are a must in graphic design, to create depth effects, but now it’s just not with loud colors.

9. Dark Mode

With great improvements to mobile and other interactive screens, the blacks have gotten deeper, the colors richer, and resolution higher. Additionally, dark mode greatly helps save battery power on mobile devices. And, it reduces eye-strain, helps in highlighting important areas with better accuracy, and has a modern/futuristic look to it.

10. Mixing photography and graphics

This trend has been evolving over time, and it has now come to a hybrid approach. This way, designers can evolve by involving photography and illustrations to their designs and create inspiring visuals.

11. UX Writing and microcopy

Today it is not enough to have a good product or service. Additionally, it is important for the user to know a little bit about the personality of the company, its history, and why it’s unique. Companies can communicate a lot through informal language, bringing the customer closer to the designs and brand values. Moreover, modern-day users don’t prefer formal messaging, and rather want something informal, attune to regular dialogue.

Source: Forbes

Our thoughts:

As designers, we focus on following the trend that helps bring out the best for our clients. We are absolute superfans of these UX UI design trends and feel that the use of one or more of them can help create an engaging user experience.