The notion of UI and UX “trends” might seem like a shaky proposition. User experience rests on well-established principles, rooted in psychology, that respond to core needs, rather than the vagaries of fashion. So predicting changes for a discipline rooted in consistency could feel a bit dubious even in less uncertain times. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make an informed, objective look at what the future might hold for interface design and user experience. In fact, some interesting and unexpected trends are starting to gain traction despite the constant flux in technology, business model, and consumer tastes.

The idea of predicting the future is a slippery one; it’s easy to get yourself sucked into prematurely declaring what will come next. But that’s no reason to dismiss it entirely. There are some conspicuous, concrete steps that can be taken to figure out where we’re headed. UI and UX design trends can serve as starting points to help you plan, and even predict, your company’s future, no matter how far away it might seem. This is especially useful in a world where new trends pop up every day. Moreover, it’s a great opportunity to get on the right track to stay relevant, because it is crucial in the current scenario.

UX Trends 2022

Today, UX design and user experience trends are diverse and appear to change with lightning speed. But you shouldn’t ignore a few key projections for the future, namely, that of the disruption of traditional advertising models, the expansion of VR and AR in the enterprise, and changes in how we consume content. UI and UX design principles have been relatively stable for a long time; it is worth noting, though, one trend that might become more prevalent in the coming years. Therefore, here are some of the top UX trends that are likely to shape the user experience in the near future:

1. Remote User Research Becomes the Norm

As companies pushing for a customer-centric perspective, most have moved on from the traditional one-way focus of marketing and instead focused on getting user feedback. They invested time and effort in involving their customers in the design process so that they can gain insights to improve their products. But digging deeper into the customer's psyche and obtaining a better understanding of their needs, wants, and expectations can be a challenge. Not only is it difficult to reach out to each customer directly, but it is also difficult to get them to accurately articulate their needs or have an honest discussion about what they do and don't like. The solution seems straightforward: find out what they really want by analyzing their web browsing history. This can be done by using remote user research tools that offer users an incentive in exchange for voluntary participation in usability studies.

2. Virtual Whiteboarding Brings more People to the Table

One of the crucial things about effective design work is to be able to get your point across to your client. When it’s done right, you’re able to make a design that will translate well in user experience. However, this process can be challenging if you don't have any real-life examples or a visual representation of what you have in mind. That’s where virtual whiteboarding comes in. To understand what virtual whiteboarding is, consider this scenario: your client wants a bold, unique logo and asks you to sketch out some ideas on paper. The problem is that the best way to brainstorm design solutions is face-to-face. It’s impossible for your client or you to be in the same room for a design project, especially when you’re working remotely. With virtual whiteboarding, you can use a tool like Google Draw to sketch out a concept and share it as a link through which your client can view and comment on the changes you make in real-time. This is an effective approach for remote collaboration that will help remove roadblocks for more innovative design solutions.

3. Prepare to be Nudged, in a Good Way

Nudges are subtle ways of encouraging people to reach a goal. They are based on the assumption that people know they need to change something, but they lose interest. Nudges have proven helpful in getting users to take action; however, there’s still work to be done when it comes to the technique itself. One of the biggest hurdles with nudges is their complexity; it’s hard for them to be effective when they’re not easy enough for people to understand and act upon easily. Nudging is about making it easier for people to form a habit and making them feel good about it. In the future, companies will be using user analytics to understand the actions of their customers and adjust the nudge accordingly. The hope is that simple nudges designed with a heart behind them will make people more likely to take action. This approach puts humanizing at its core, rather than persuading users to take certain actions.

4. Expect more Work-tech Insights

As technology and business continue to evolve, the role of UI and UX in organizations will also change. In the past, computers were designed primarily to automate manual tasks within an organization. Now technology is offering companies more options to improve user experiences and make them more effective overall. This is a trend that will only grow in the future as technology advances and businesses are forced to react to it quickly.

5. The Big Virtual Reality Push Means More Avatars and 3D Visualizations

Virtual reality is expected to be a hot topic in the coming years. Virtual reality systems are already being used in industries ranging from architecture to medicine to education. One thing is for sure: virtual reality will be widely adopted throughout the world for both professional and consumer uses. Therefore, you should anticipate a radical change in your company’s use of visualizations and avatars. It is expected that by 2022 there will be more companies using virtual reality technology specifically designed for user experience design, helping organizations navigate through their product pipelines with ease and efficiency.

UX Creeps Closer to AI

Advances in artificial intelligence are likely to restructure the way we approach designing user experiences. With the help of new machine learning techniques, we are able to combine the behavior and personality traits of users with data about their preferences and behaviors. That equips us with a more accurate picture of a user’s preferences, prioritizing what will appeal to a customer and making better predictions about their behavior. This helps us design more effective experiences based on customer input while reducing the time it takes to develop them.

UI Trends 2022

What UI design trends will influence the industry in 2022? Many experts contend that user experience design is no longer in vogue; however, it is still a trend. UI and UX design is a functional trend, and the ensuing trends in UI design will affect the overall user experience. Let’s take a look at some of those anticipated trends:

1. Branding with Unique Illustrations

Infographics have dominated the infographics industry for a long time; however, they are becoming increasingly common now. And why not? They are incredibly easy to produce and can be used in a variety of ways. Their visual appeal makes them effective tools for content marketing and social media engagement, which is why they tend to be so popular among marketers. The trend of using infographics has also influenced the way we use illustrations.

2. Custom Cursor Interactions

These interactions are popular among developers because they are a great way to customize your website and make it more engaging. Plus, they add a level of interactivity that was not previously possible. Using custom cursors to interact with different elements on the page makes it easy for users to see where they are clicking and provides an opportunity to build memorable and recognizable brands.

3. Delve into the Metaverse

The metaverse refers to the virtual world that houses websites, apps, and other digital content. These virtual spaces are being created by tools that enable users to create a completely immersive environment for gaming, socialization, and other activities. Moreover, the metaverse allows users to find other like-minded individuals who share a similar lifestyle.

4. Utilizing 3D in E-commerce

In 2022, we will most likely see a shift in UI design toward e-commerce platforms. There are a lot of new trends popping up that are focused on 3D. This is primarily attributed to the advancements in hardware that make it possible for developers to produce these 3D designs. As we move forward, we can expect to see more virtual reality features integrated into shopping experiences and more organic creative interfaces that reflect the growing demand for UI and UX design.

5. Bolder and More Characteristic Fonts

Fonts have always been and will continue to be an important part of a company’s branding. They can define a company’s personality, mood, and overall perception. The biggest trend we are likely to see in the coming years is bolder fonts. In the past, many companies have taken a subtler approach when it comes to branding; however, as bolder fonts become more popular within UX and UI design, we can expect them to be implemented into branding efforts as well.

6. Low code and No-code Platforms

Low code is used to describe platforms with a UI programming language. This allows developers and designers to use their own skills to build the sites they need without necessarily having to learn low-code programming languages, which would be helpful if they choose not to invest in the required skills. Low code platforms are particularly useful for businesses that want to get started quickly in developing their site and then expand from there.

7. Dynamic Color Palettes

The anticipated rise of artificial intelligence means that colors will also play a bigger role in UI and UX design. We have already seen the impact on our lives more than ever before, with AI constantly being integrated into our lives. In order to correctly address this, companies are turning to color palettes that are dynamic and will change depending on an individual’s activity or mood and the colors will always be distinct and recognizable.

Conclusion

UI and UX is a highly debated topic. The difference lies in the level of involvement they have in the overall design process. UI focuses on the visual aspects of an application or website, while UX design focuses on the functionalities being provided by those applications or websites. A UX design website, for instance, will concentrate more on the functionality of the site, while a UI website will focus more on the visual aspects of the website and how they can give a better user experience. Kapsys is a software development company. We develop & implement products that increase conversion, reduce cost and build an excellent user experience. Considering industry standards, the client’s product vision, and non-functional requirements, we provide custom application development services with consistency. Kapsys provides a wide range of services that meet the needs of both UX and UI design. We provide UI design services for our customers, and we offer UX design services for our clients.