Top 10 UX And UI Trends For 2020

User experience trends are changing all the time, often subtly, and to make this happen, user interface designers work hard behind the scenes.

2020 is in full swing, and it is a great chance to review which UX and UI trends are rocking this year.

1. Hand-Drawn Illustrations

Among all UI trends this is the winner. The trend has emerged in 2019 and continues to grow.

Illustrations are a visual representation of a concept that helps the user to better understand the idea of the product. There is something really charming about hand-drawn illustrations.

They make mobile apps and websites stand out, maybe that’s because they evoke a human-centric feel.

In addition to the fact that some good illustrations give originality to the idea, they communicate the message much better.

2. Animations And Motion Design

Motion design and animations aren’t newcomers to UI design. They are the most visually pleasing kind of content however the most expensive ones to create.

Video creators use animations to visualize how the product works or to tell the brand’s story.

Animations and videos have always been an effective way to hold users’ attention, so, if you want to increase the trust of your customers to your product, it is time to hire an animation designer.

3. Creative Scrolls

Creative scrolls are not a brand-new concept, but their popularity keeps growing every year.

This can be attributed to the fact that new scrolling patterns have appeared after the advent of smart devices with touch screens, for example, horizontal scrolling, color scrolling, parallax scrolling and so much more.

So, now users are enabled to “swipe” in the manner that they prefer rather than the traditional vertical scroll.

4. Custom Fonts

This is a particularly strong direction in web design. Fonts perform the dual task of attracting customers and reflecting a brand’s personality.

Custom fonts have incredible power when used appropriately. Firstly, they draw users’ attention to the message you want to convey. Secondly, they visually separate blocks and sections from one another.

Fonts like Roboto, Open Sans, and Lato are good to use when you want to ensure the best accessibility on any device.

However, if you want to build a website that stands out, it is better to use more conspicuous fonts.

5. 3D Graphics

It seems that flat images are overused these days. If you want to make your UI design eye-catching, 3D graphics are a great way to add to the visual appeal.

Although #d graphics are more time-consuming than 2D and require special skills, it is worth that.

VR and AR apps, in particular, can benefit 3D graphics for things like viewing furniture in a room.

Another example is the 360-degree product view that is extensively used for e-commerce websites.

6. Microinteractions

Microinteractions are a crucial part of any quality product design. Yet, they are still overlooked.

Microinteractions are effective not from the ROI perspective but rather they contribute to the product stickiness and create positive word-of-mouth for the brand.

Microinteractions have the potential to offer users a truly human experience and, thus, improve customer satisfaction and retention.

They can be used in different ways: to collect feedback, help with the website navigation, or just create a moment of delight for users.

‍7. Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality

There are some suggestions that in just a few years screens will become obsolete and we will be able to enjoy user experience without physical device impediments.

Virtual reality is aimed at exterminating the physical world and bringing users into an imaginary world that provides live experience.

VR technologies are already utilized in pilot training, engineering, health, and many other niches. Virtual Reality is widely used in game design, offering users a thrilling experience.

8. Onboardings And Tutorials

You may turn down users if your product is too complicated, has poor UX or UI design.

If there is something in your product they don’t like, they will likely abandon it, even if they know that your product can solve their problems.

First impressions matter, so if there is something wrong with your product, it probably won’t get a second chance.

If your product has some flaws and you can’t fill the gaps, the most sensible thing would be to create tutorials for users – they will make users’ introduction to your product smooth and enjoyable.

To make your onboardings interactive, you can create some illustrations, wrap them into storytellings, or do anything else to make your users say “Wow!”.

9. Low-Code Approach

UX and UI designers are highly dependent on developers and quite often lack the freedom of creativity.

Low-code platforms provide them with flexibility as they allow for doing the front-end development work without developers’ deep involvement.

As a result, designers have more time to explore new trends, produce new ideas, and focus more on users’ needs.

In the digital era, when people don’t want to wait until they see the result, low-code platforms provide a huge advantage.

10. Storytelling

Storytelling helps to build a lasting emotional connection between users and your product. Stories usually have certain characters that draw users’ attention to the message transferred through the product.

Storytelling is often talked about in terms of UX however UI designers can also play a significant role in the process.

Using the right combination of colors, fonts, animation, and interaction design, UI designers can help convey the value for UX.

You can effectively guide your users through the benefits of your product through thoughtful animations, relatable images, and amazing typography, all thanks to storytelling.

Bottom Line

The best UI and UX trends are visually appealing while providing a greater degree of usability and accessibility to end-users.

The trends covered above will continue to evolve, and possibly new ones will emerge as early as the end of 2020.

UI design and UX design are all about innovation and, just like the previous years, 2020 is about generating new ideas. To put it briefly, designers will keep doing what they do best: research, ideate, and iterate.