The faster the digital industry grows, the more in demand the UI/UX designer profession becomes. UX and UI are the design principles of any user interface (mobile applications and websites), where both appearance and usability are important. In fact, these concepts are already more than 70 years old. But only recently have they begun to receive due attention. Interface and experience are interrelated terms. UX is responsible for user emotions, adaptability, and product functionality. UI is the visualization of the interface while maintaining a single style and logic, as well as user interaction with the product.
UI/UX is constantly evolving: new trends appear regularly, which sometimes radically change previous ideas. They cannot be ignored – especially when working in highly competitive niches. Before you consider the exact UI UX design services you need, let’s talk about 7 key trends that will determine the development of UI/UX in 2022.
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1) Behavioral Research
User experience testing and analysis will become even more essential in 2022. Many brands place a lot of emphasis on the optimal experience. But the problem with the creators of the product is that they are not actually users. Therefore, they cannot foresee all the difficulties that a person may encounter. It is necessary to analyze what kind of support the user will receive if he made a mistake and did not get the expected experience. Launching a website, online store, app or interactive tool is only the first step. You can evaluate how successful everything was only after seeing how the product is used.
2) Improving the onboarding process
This principle is used in mobile applications, but in fact, it has wider potential. We are talking about the initial screen pages with tips. They greatly simplify the work, especially for people who have never encountered the product before. A clear and quick instruction at the very beginning of the user journey is exactly what will save you from mistakes and frustration. Adaptation will be faster, and the client will get the experience he was counting on.
3) Animated user interface
This principle is useful for improving customer interaction. Animation guides the client and reveals the potential of the interface more effectively than static graphic elements. More brands are expected to test this tool, trying to add animated buttons and other elements to the interface instead of standard pop-ups or banners. The same buttons have great potential, as they visually indicate that a certain action has taken place. This can increase efficiency – especially in mobile applications.
4) Dark Mode
Yes, this trend is not really new, and it has been developing for at least 3 years. The dark mode is offered by the most famous products and big brands: Instagram, Android, and Google. The dark theme will continue to be relevant this 2022. Here are some reasons:
- on a dark background, it is easier to highlight the necessary design elements;
- ultra-modern appearance;
- for devices with OLED/AMOLED screens, battery life is significantly saved;
- the load on the eyes is less.
The dark theme has great potential for development on both mobile and desktop devices. If in doubt, you can add a dark mode activation button to the application, and then investigate what percentage of users chose the new feature, and how many preferred the old light design.
5) 3D development instead of 2D solutions
It’s time to leave “flat” images and other content in the past. Modern concepts of successful user experience and interface are based on the principles of originality. For example, 3D objects: initially they were used only in the gaming industry, but now they have spread to mobile applications and websites. The development of 3D effects can make the user interface more informative and interesting. An example is the 360-degree view function. It belongs to a different category but performs the same function as 3D objects: making things more realistic.
6) Design for quick interfaces
The 5G technology is actively developing and influencing trends, including user experience and design. Internet speed has increased significantly. Because of this, modern apps and websites need a user experience that loads instantly. This creates a contradiction. On the one hand, thanks to the high speed, you can afford more interface elements. On the other hand, an increase in the number of parts reduces the speed. What to do? In this situation, a detailed analysis of the target audience is important. Study the users and add to the design only those details that are of undeniable value and do not have a decisive influence on the loading speed. You can use free tools to determine the page load time and find the reasons why it is slowing down.
7) Augmented reality
This trend is not new to UI/UX design, but 2022 will open up new opportunities for innovation. What does augmented reality do? It expands the possibilities of UX design for mobile devices and provides a wider experience for users. It removes physical barriers to user interaction with the application. Consequently, the experience of communicating with a brand changes completely. By integrating VR elements into the physical space, developers allow users to interact with the product in-depth. Augmented reality has enormous potential, especially for brands that are engaged in online sales, education, media, or entertainment. The virtual fitting room and interactive learning tools – there are only some ideas.
Conclusion
All these 7 trends together form the general overview of modern user interface design. It aims to simplify the work of UI/UX designers through the emergence of new generation technologies and tools. Generally speaking, all modern tools for working with interfaces are concentrated on such goals.
- reduced routine when using:
- synchronization of actions of designers and developers;
- comfortable environment for development;
- opportunity to work on joint projects remotely.
The active development of UI/UX in 2022 will provide many opportunities for developers. Brands will have to work simultaneously in several directions – from the introduction of a dark theme to the 3D visualization of elements. Each global change requires a balanced analysis because at stake are positions in a competitive niche, reputation, and commercial performance.
