UI is User Interface and UX stands for the User Experience. Both of the terms are interwoven and hence it is difficult to define one without the other. There is a strong correlation between the design of the interface and experience. This correlation is up to an extent where both the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Just as everything around the world has evolved over a time period, UI/UX trends have also changed with time. The graphic designers have to stay updated with such trends to design stellar websites and graphics to stay on the top of the game. It is 2021 and the UI/UX trends of 2019–2020 are obsolete in 2021.
This blog focuses on the UI/UX trends that will be there in 2021. Let us take a look.
1. Motion Graphics:
The human brain works in mysterious ways. And since childhood, we all have observed that it is easy for us to remember the information if it is something we can see. This kind of information is visual in nature. For instance, if someone talks about a brand, and we have not experienced it, we will not be able to relate to it.
But on the other hand, if you have seen the advertisements, or logo of the brand, it becomes easy to remember certain things about it. This is applicable with motion graphics as well. As the use of social media is on the rise, content creators and contributors are focusing on presenting visual information.
This visual information is presented in the form of motion graphics. Motion graphics make the user attend to it or suggests the next course of action. The transitions with motion graphics are smooth and very fluid. The key here is to not overdo it else the user will get distracted.
2. Immersive Full-Screen Graphics:
Mobile devices have increased screen sizes yet the span of attention is decreasing. This increases the bounce rate where the user jumps off a website because it was either slow or was not very interesting. To prevent this, the designers offer web design with full-screen graphics.
These kinds of graphics take up all the space of the screen to offer the user an immersive experience. This provides user engagement, interaction, and interest. Also, with such graphics, the screen does not provide any kind of distraction and the user can focus solely on the graphics on the screen.
With full-screen graphics, the notification panel of the mobile phone is also hidden for a while which prevents any kind of distraction.
3. Interaction through Voice UI:
In the last few years, we have become addicted to watching our mobile screens for a maximum amount of time. It causes screen fatigue where we are tired of looking at our mobile phones. This has led to the development of voice-based user interfaces.
The devices are being taught to learn the language of humans through natural language processing capabilities. These days, voice search is the trend. Most of the people use a Bluetooth mic attached with a headphone to give out voice commands.
Moreover, it seems natural to have voice-based control and interface to enable the technology to understand the human language. And it looks like it is the next step in UI/UX design.
4. Glassmorphism:
2020 was the year where the UI/UX trend offered a concept called neomorphic which was widely used. It combined skeuomorphism and flat design for UI/UX Design. Both these concepts stand opposite to each other on the spectrum.
In 2021, the designers started using glassmorphism which is a blurry effect or has a blurred background. Whenever a user takes a look at the element, it looks like the element is placed on the other side of the glass. It is like the user is looking at the element through a glass window or a glass barrier.
5. Minimalistic UI/UX:
Minimalism seems to be the trend everywhere these days, be it designing the interior of a house or UI/UX Design. We come across various graphics on a daily basis. Sometimes, the design seems cluttered and overcrowded.
This distracted and overwhelmed the user and hence the trend of minimalistic UI/UX Design came into existence. In such a design, the elements are minimal and prevent the overload on the user. Moreover, such a design tends to keep the user engaged from distraction.
6. Large Typography:
Typography plays an important role in product design. In some cases, the products are designed entirely on the basis of typography. The selection of the right kind of fonts and font size can often bring out amazing results.
UI/UX trends have also seen this trend come to rise. Graphic designers use large typography to attract the user’s attention and keep it there. Users these days only skim the information. They don’t read every single thing that you put.
Thus, UI/UX Design trends envelop large typography so that the user can quickly find what he is looking for.
7. Blurred and Colorful Backdrop:
Gradient graphics have been hugely popular in the last few years and even today, the trend is still alive. The gradual evolution of gradients has made it lighter and complex in nature.
Initially, the designers used only 2 or 3 different colors to design linear gradients. But, UI/UX design today uses up to 10 different colors to design gradients.
Websites are increasingly using such colorful backgrounds that have gradients made up with more than 3 colors. Moreover, to keep the main content in focus, the graphics use a blurred background.
This makes the background attractive yet very discreet so that the main content does not lose the user’s attention.
8. 3D Illustrations:
Three-dimensional viewing has amazed humans since its advent. This stands true in UI/UX designs too. 3D imagery has been a trend and may continue for years to come.
With widely available tools, the designers can easily create 3D graphics and illustrations for UI/UX design. Also, the designers use 3D animation on full screen to provide the user with an immersive experience, which is also a trend.
The developers design the apps in a way that the top screen looks like it has popped out of the screen.
9. Mobile-first Design:
This trend is a no-brainer. With the increased use of mobile phones, the users want everything to be served on their mobile phones. No one wants to open their laptops to check a website or an application.
Thus, mobile-first design is going to be a trend in the coming few years. It has become essential for UI/UX designers to design apps that look great on mobile screens.
10. Onboarding:
Onboarding is a concept that states the importance of making the user understand the application. This makes it easier for the user to understand the key features of the application.
Modern UI/UX design includes the application screens that enable the user to understand how the mobile app works. The UI/UX design services for onboarding insist on clear and clutter-free designs and the readability of the text. Also, the apps should have high-resolution designs and images.
Conclusion:
The design trend in 2021 will focus heavily on minimalism, simple UX design, along interactive UI design. The article lists out the UI and UX design trends that are here to stay at least for 2021. The same trends are applicable to website design trends.
Top comments (1)
Informative article, thanks for sharing! :D (would have been great if each trend had a descriptive image)