Top 7 UI Trends Every Designer Should Know
Navigating the Top UI Trends Reshaping Design Landscapes.
In the ever-evolving world of user interface (UI) design, staying on top of the latest trends is crucial for creating visually appealing and user-friendly experiences. Let’s explore some of the top UI trends that every designer should be aware of.
Minimalism: Less is More
Minimalism draws inspiration from the art movement of the same name, emphasizing simplicity and clarity. Originating in the 1950s, it aimed to strip away excess and focus on essential elements.
Minimalism in UI design embraces the mantra “Less is more.” Rather than cluttering screens with numerous elements, this trend advocates for using fewer components to reduce visual noise. It directs attention to what matters most, fostering a clean and uncluttered interface.
For instance, the Apple iPhone interface epitomizes minimalism, with its clean lines, simple icons, and intuitive layout.
Flat Design: Simplicity Reigns Supreme
Flat design gained popularity in the early 2010s as a reaction against skeuomorphic design, which mimicked real-world objects. Microsoft’s Metro design language played a key role in promoting flat design principles.
Flat design revolutionized UI aesthetics by simplifying elements to their essential forms. It eliminated unnecessary embellishments, shadows, and gradients, leading to faster loading speeds. Bright colors and creative typography become the stars, injecting character into designs.
For example, the Windows 10 interface adopts flat design, featuring clean lines and a focus on functionality over ornamentation.
Bold Typography: Breaking the Rules
Typography has a rich history, evolving from traditional print to digital interfaces. Bold typography as a design trend emerged as a rebellion against conventional typographic norms.
In this trend, typography steps into the spotlight, breaking traditional rules. Words may twist, turn, or vary in size, challenging readability norms. Successful implementation requires a deep understanding of typographic principles, ensuring that bold choices serve a purpose.
The website for the Museum of Australian Democracy uses bold typography to convey a sense of dynamism and modernity.
Neumorphism: The Realistic Minimalism
Neumorphism isn’t just a fancy word; it’s a cool way of making things on your screen feel like they’re real. Imagine buttons and toggles that look like they’re popping out from the background, making you want to touch them. This is what neumorphism does — it combines simplicity with a touch of realness.
Unlike the older idea of copying real things (called skeuomorphism), neumorphism takes a different path. It’s not about copying your grandma’s radio or your dad’s old camera; it’s about creating things that could exist in real life but look super cool on your screen.
When you use the Todoist app, you’re diving into the neumorphic world. The buttons and toggles don’t just sit there; they feel like you can touch them. It’s not just about looks; it’s about making your clicks and taps more fun and intuitive.
Glassmorphism: The Translucent Illusion
Glassmorphism might sound like a big word, but it’s all about making your screen look like a see-through glass. Imagine your icons and buttons having this cool frosted glass effect, like they’re floating in space. Getting this look involves some clever tricks, like blurring the background and making outlines a bit see-through.
This trend came into play around the early 2020s when designers wanted to add a bit of depth and see-through magic to their designs. It’s like having a window to another world right on your screen.
If you’ve ever used a computer with Microsoft’s Fluent Design System, you’ve experienced glassmorphism. Their apps create this awesome illusion of layers, making you feel like you’re interacting with elements that are not just flat but have some depth.
Animation/Motion: Adding Life to Design
Motion UI is like giving your screen a bit of a dance. It’s not just about static pictures; it’s about making things move and flow. Imagine a loading animation that’s not boring but actually keeps you interested. That’s what motion UI does — it adds life to your digital experience.
But, you’ve got to be careful with all the fun animations. They need to make sense and not just be there for show. For instance, they can guide you or make you want to tap on something. It’s about making your clicks and scrolls feel more natural and exciting.
When you see the loading animation on Slack, it’s not just a spinning wheel. It’s a small dance that keeps you engaged while you wait. Motion UI turns waiting moments into a little visual party.
Dark Mode: A Soothing Experience
Dark mode is like giving your screen a bedtime look. Instead of bright whites, you get soothing dark tones. This trend became popular in the mid-2010s because it’s not just about looks; it’s about taking care of your eyes, especially when it’s late at night.
Imagine reading your tweets or scrolling through messages with a dark background. Studies say it can be easier on your eyes and might even save some battery power. But, it’s not just about going black and white; it’s about choosing the right shades to make your screen easy on the eyes.
X (formerly Twitter) dark mode is a perfect example. It’s not just about looking great; it’s about giving your eyes a break. It’s like switching from bright daylight to a cozy lamp when the sun goes down.
To Sum Up
In the dynamic landscape of UI design, embracing these trends empowers designers to create interfaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also responsive to user needs. As technology continues to advance, staying attuned to evolving trends ensures that designers can deliver engaging and user-centric experiences.
References
Brown, S. A. (2017). “The Power of Motion in User Interface Design.” Journal of Interactive Design and Engineering, 11(2), 61–76.
Johnson, J., & Clayton, B. (2021). “Transparency and Blur Effects in User Interfaces: An Analysis of Glassmorphism.” CHI ’21: Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1–12.
Kocaballi, T., et al. (2020). “Effects of Visual and Kinesthetic Embodiment on Enjoyment and Performance in Exergames: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(12), e19927.
Li, R., & Guo, D. (2018). “The effects of color and brightness on user’s experience of dark mode in human-computer interaction.” Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences, 8(1), 1–18.
McFarland, M. (2022). “Flat Design: What It Is and How You Can Use It.” WebFX. Retrieved from https://www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/flat-design/
Ryan, D. (2021). “Understanding Minimalism in Web Design.” Smashing Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2021/09/understanding-minimalism-web-design/
Soule, S. (2019). “The Principles of Beautiful Web Design.” SitePoint. Retrieved from https://www.sitepoint.com/premium/books/the-principles-of-beautiful-web-design
