It’s not a surprise to see the new UI/UX design trends list every year. That’s the thing about trends – always bringing something new to the table. And the design industry itself is ever-evolving, changing circumstances demand for new and innovative design solutions.
But here is the thing, it is inevitably impossible for designers to follow each and every trend; thus, it becomes crucial for graphic designers to try the trends from time to time to see what’s working and what they can offer to their clientele.
Considering the changing work environments worldwide, we researched and prepared a list of the latest UI/UX trends for 2021. These latest trends will possibly change the design industry – in a good way.
And as said by Mark King, “Design is the body language of your marketing. Don’t slouch.”
So, let’s dig in and explore what’s in the store for designers and brand owners.
Brand Transparency
What makes a good UX is the ability to provide users with an easy-to-navigate interface where users can easily find menus, contact info, and other relevant buttons without needing them to ask. Navigation, nevertheless, is not the only lesson that UX has to impart out there for users. There has been a significant increase in the UX, that is, focused on reflecting the brand’s ethics, storyline, or work culture – showing the users exactly how services or products are being provided and handled.
Such representation of transparent processes makes it easier for users to invest their faith and trust in the brand. This may include social media popups, banners, or overlays that express the brand’s transparent ways of doing work or terms and policies around how website content or user’s data is updated and used.
In 2021, we will see a boost in brand transparency executed through good UX, allowing brands to develop brand trust among users. Because most brands have finally realized that the first interaction visitors want to have on any website is not necessarily a call-to-action button that’s being shoved in their faces; instead are more considerate about the brand’s values.
Advanced Personalization
It has become important more than ever for brands to create customer loyalty with personalization. Personalization in design means showing content and product suggestions based on user preferences such as previous search history, preferences, and buyer journey on the website, age, marital status, order history, etc. All of these components help brands come up with designs that complement the user’s search. To present the users with highly personalized design and content, it is crucial to understand their intent, intention behind the search, where they stand in the buyer journey, whether they seek a solution or merely visiting the web pages for inspiration.
The ultimate goal of personalized design is to make the users feel that the content is specially designed for them. This advanced personalization strategy often helps in increasing the user conversion rate.
Presenting your products and services in a personalized manner is a way to go for brands looking to improve user retention.
Contactless Interactions
In the wake of the pandemic, a new trend has been walking around the corner – touchless interactions. Even when we talk about UX designs, there has been a shift in how users interact with their devices. The intrusion and excessive use of voice control interfaces can be seen.
Even before the advent of the pandemic, voice searches were taking over already. As per Google report, approx. 27% of the population (worldwide) used voice searches in 2020 on mobile devices. And roughly 70% of these voice searches were made using regular conversational language. Considering the rising trend and excessive use of voice search, brands should consider incorporating a voice-search interface within their design modules to expand the web’s reach and usage.
For example, brands can add a voice chatbot to their website that would solely cater to users who prefer to use voice search for communication and searches.
This trend is expected to double in 2021, considering the current situation and voice search usage across the web.
Realistic Textures
“An attempt to drift away from the flat designs” – (pun intended). That’s not the case. In fact, flat design and minimalism still play a major role in shaping modern UI/UX designs among all the new trends. However, most designers or even brands now feel the need to bring something fresh to the table.
One of the trends that will take the design industry in full swing is adding some real-life images of objects/subjects in discussion with their natural and unrendered look and textures. Thus, many visual artists and graphic designers are now reaching out to perceptible aesthetics that give a more authentic feel to the users. Giving an impression and feel to the users that they can almost touch the design screens/products with their hands – thanks to realistic textures.
This is something worth considering as it creates a feeling of connection between users with brands.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, 2021 is the year of UX design trends, and it would definitely bring new opportunities to look forward to. What are your thoughts? Do you have any predictions as well? Do let us know!