Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence (AR, VR, and AI respectively) have made room for UX and UI designers to test new design trends. The new technologies encourage to develop more engaging experiences while also challenging designers to rethink their creative approach.
01. Colorful, bold design
Use of vibrant colors and bold fonts are becoming more appealing, which is why a lot of the latest UX/UI designs appear to render similarly. Neon-like color palettes and high saturation images create lots of positive energy, that you can feel in digital form.
02. Less flat design
Aside from vibrant colors, flat UI design is slowly on a downward trend. Giving room to a renewed interest in creation of more immersive web experiences as layers and use of drop-shadows. A Great example of showing a web experience in a layered style, parallax scroll is seen in Bear Grylls website.
03. Increased adaptability
As with any other industry, music, film, or fashion, UX/UI design cycles also happen because of over saturation. After some point, everything begins to look and sounds the same. The downward trend of flat design is part of a periodic nature.
UI designers need to accept that the key for any industry’s survival is adaptability, especially with the upward trend of AR, VR, and AI. Artificial Intelligence, in fact, has already made a noticeable impact on society, from controlling and managing our smart homes to driving our cars. AI has already started have an impact on the work of UX/UI designers.
Although AI has not fully taken over responsibilities of UX/UI designers, latest trends should teach designers that they should learn to adapt and adjust their skill sets as design styles shift and new tech emerges. As more companies develop specific tools for designers and developers, we all need to be open to leveraging them appropriately. Eventually we will move onto something else entirely, so it’s good to test new techniques as tech emerges.