15 Upcoming UI/UX Design Trends For 2024
Sometimes, global events transform processes in society and lead to major changes in design, including UI design. So it was in 2019, when a global pandemic swept the whole world, including digital technologies.
As UI designers, we must always take these changes into account and prepare for future design trends. To understand what may await us in 2024, let’s first look at the UI/UX trends of 2022-2023 and see which ones will be relevant in 2024.
And if you need help applying a design trend to your product, we can help you with that, all you have to do is contact us.
Review of Recent UI/UX Design Trends
Here are some of the design trends coming out in early 2024.
Top UI Design Trends
- Bright and colorful hues on a white background
- Creative and relevant images of people
- Nature and stability
- Multiple fixed-size cards
- Massive typography
Top UX Design Trends
- Interface accessibility
- UX writing
- Remote UX research
- VUI and voice search
- Rise of VR and AR
Design Trends Gaining Momentum in 2024
Let’s look at the general design trends currently in demand.
#1 Social Distancing
Social distancing is one of the first restrictions that affected people all over the world. Keeping your distance is now mandatory and necessary, so applications that replace real-life communication or help minimize it will continue to develop rapidly.
#2 Devices That Require Direct Contact Will Be Replaced by Contactless Ones
Since 2019, personal hygiene has been actively becoming the number one trend. Already, touchscreen interfaces will be replaced by non-contact ones, and designers around the world are working to improve this.
#3 New Products and Services with a Pro-Social Mission
The development of interfaces for solutions that help people find work, housing, food, and ways to keep themselves busy is trending right now. Examples of such products include software applications for food delivery or take-aways, and applications for job searches or remote work.
#4 Out-of-Home (OOH) Brand Strategies Will Go Hyperlocal
Since there are many restrictions all over the world (limited transportation, office work, etc.), many companies are restructuring and switching to a remote mode. Their development is now highly dependent on promotion on the Internet and the presence of a quality website or application. Therefore, the trend of transferring business online will continue in 2024, and many new applications will replace our usual offline activities.
A List of UI Design Trends for 2024
Taking into account the current trends in UI design, we can come up with the following list of post-Covid trends:
#1 Friendly, Playful, Optimistic Design
In 2024 people will want apps with colorful, vibrant interfaces that can improve their mood and create a positive experience.
A vibrant color palette with unique graphics will encourage your users to open your app more frequently.
#2 Focus On the Environment and Design Inspired by Nature
Lately people began to walk more and ride bicycles and scooters to experience social interaction again and offset the confinement of working from home. Some have reconsidered the meaning of nature, and many have begun to pay attention to what’s happening around them.
As a result, applications with shapes and palettes inspired by nature and the use of hand-drawn illustrations that convey the values
#3 Nostalgia and Retro
This year, we’ll see a resurgence of 70s and 80s aesthetics, infused with modern elements. Think vibrant colors, bold typography, and playful imagery with a contemporary twist, adding a touch of nostalgia and fun. Designers will continuously use graphics that evoke a feeling of nostalgia, retro fonts, palettes, and patterns that, in general, will remind users of life until 2019.
#4 Voice User Interfaces (VUI)
Design is not only about visual effects, animations, fonts, etc. The popularity of VUI is rapidly increasing, as it’s a great way to impress the user and be remembered. Voice interfaces are widely used in applications for translating, taking notes, and other apps where users need to leave messages. It’s more convenient for the user to input a message by voice in situations like when they’re driving, or they’re otherwise unable to type.
#5 Authenticity and Honesty Towards the User
Because of the information overload, people are tired of disinformation and constant analysis of the news. They’re looking for a sense of truth and authenticity, a sense of caring. They want to engage with brands that care about their problems. Therefore, graphics about social topics, and photos of real people with real problems, will be in high demand.
#6 Community
During the pandemic in 2019-2022, people realized the importance of communicating with friends and colleagues. So there will be an ongoing trend in services that simplify human interaction at a distance.
#7 Artistic Typography
People’s desire for something brighter and funnier will also be reflected in typography styles. We’ll see an increase in the use of bright fonts in interfaces with unusual shapes that resemble different characters. Designers will also widely use volumetric fonts and different styles.
#8 3D Illustrations and Graphics
Over the past few years, 3D graphics have been gaining momentum, and their use in interfaces will increase even more after 2022. Using 3D help blur the line between 2D interface elements and the real world. Consequently, 3D design elements create a feeling of comfort.
#9 Animation
It’s been easy to find animation in interfaces for several years now, but this UI design will be especially popular in 2024. Animation not only directs the user’s attention in the right sequence but also makes your product unique and stands out from the numerous other companies that took their business online because of the pandemic.
#10 The Use of Metallic Effects
Recently, people began to give preference to comfortable clothes. The lack of luxury and elegance will result in some companies adding luxury elements to the designs of their applications. A good way to add shine and shape is to use a metallic effect and textures that mimic a metallic surface.
#11 Video Communication
As we all know, communication via video calls in 2022 has become commonplace. In 2024, video communication will remain and video calls and chats will increasingly be in demand in designs As a result, the interactions with brands will improve as users receive better service or advice through video consultations. The interfaces will contain functionality that replaces offline consultations, which will help companies cut costs.
There will also be a lot of growth in team collaboration apps. Since many companies have redesigned their processes and are discussing work via video calls, we will see the growth of applications for team interaction and communication via video.
A List of UX Design Trends for 2024
Of course, UI trends are closely related to UX trends, and here’s the list for 2024.
#1 Interface accessibility
One of the popular UX design trends seen at the end of 2022 is the accessibility of interfaces or, in other words, the development of a design that focuses on how a person with disabilities gains access to the site, interacts with it, performs the necessary tasks, or benefits.
The elements and options that have become popular are larger fonts, special themes for interfaces with different color variations, disabling animations, etc. In general, the accessibility of interfaces should always be kept in the field of attention of designers and not just be a temporary trend. But in this context, accessibility is becoming popular, and paying attention to this problem is a post-Covid trend.
#2 UX writing
At the beginning of 2023, a particularly interesting trend was UX writing, i.e., writing human-centered texts that help users complete tasks in any digital product, regardless of platform. In addition, this is the part of the design that will undoubtedly add personality to your product and help convey the necessary emotions to the user. Does your product need to be serious or playful and fun, child-centered or educational? In each example, writing well-thought-out copies has a huge impact on the desired design impression.
#3 Remote UX research
It’s hard not to say about remote UX research. Previously, designers had many choices for interviewing and testing their designs or collecting the necessary data: online forms, video calls, and offline formats. It was the offline format that was almost completely limited due to the coronavirus and social distancing. Against changes in 2019-2023, remote research has greatly increased, and now this format has become a trend.
#4 VUI and voice search
At the beginning of 2023, we saw an increase in the number of interfaces based on voice input. Voice assistants are becoming more literate, and the usability of software applications is getting better and more comfortable every day. This shapes one of the significant user experience trends that inevitably affect the design of interfaces (see examples above).
#5 Rise of VR and AR
Augmented and virtual reality is definitely a UX design trend in 2024. First of all, we’ve seen the rapid growth of games based on augmented reality, which adds an entirely new experience of interacting with the interface and surrounding objects. Also, more and more applications help the user perform various tasks much more conveniently. Examples are navigation, training, information displaying, and many other areas where augmented or virtual reality can greatly improve the perception of design for users.
Is there a place for artificial intelligence in UI/UX?
The emergence and spread of AI technology has disrupted virtually every industry by the end of 2024. Naturally, UI/UX design is no exception in this regard, which is why it is about to change further both the aesthetic and practical aspects of user interaction with digital products. In the case of interaction design, the use of AI is a general technological trend that will define the direction and reinforce certain tendencies in design. Here are the ways AI will shape the design practice for 2024:
- A new level of personalization. AI opens opportunities for hyper-personalization of services and experiences. Since it can swiftly analyze vast amounts of data and find patterns, AI will push personalization in UX design further, making each user’s experience more tailored to their needs and preferences
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). AI has made huge advancements in its interaction with IoT and smart objects. Along with AI, AR and VR technologies will elevate human interaction with such technology and impact decision-making in UX/UI design.
- Interactivity and voice commands. As we mentioned, VUI remains a significant UI/UX trend in 2024. Paired with the current advancements in NLU, it encourages users to expect higher interactivity and precision in voice interaction with technology and digital products.
- Operational efficiency in design processes. AI technologies will reshape operational efficiency across all organizational units, including the design department workflows, eliminating the need for human attendance on all automatable tasks.
- Data analysis. Companies and their design teams have access to profound insight into their product’s performance and user behavior with AI-powered tools. This way teams can react to changes and meet user needs faster to stay on top of their game.
- AI-generated illustrations. The affordability and simplicity of creating images with the help of AI will make it an operational rather than aesthetic trend in 2024.
What to Do Now with UI/UX Design to Stay in Trend in 2024?
To develop products of higher quality and better design, you need to understand people and their fears and needs. There was a lot of chaos and upheaval in 2022 that affected people and their perception of the world. In 2024, people will want bright colors and impressions, positive emotions, and communication, so future designs will have to provide them.
To understand which design you need, you need to pay more attention to researching users and their behavior. In 2024, we’ll see an increase in the use of bright graphics, realistic photos, and 3D illustrations that add uniqueness to products. If your design gives users the feeling that the brand cares about them and their problems, they will definitely appreciate it – and your product will be trendy.
Contact us if you need a helping hand in updating your design to the latest UI\UX trends.
- What UX design trends will never be relevant again?
- Apart from the emergence of new design trends, there are those that come back periodically due to various processes in society. Therefore, it's difficult to name trends that will never be relevant again. However, certain UX/UI design trends can fall out of favor as they become overused or outdated. As a result, it's important for designers to stay up-to-date on current trends, pay more attention to researching users and their behavior, and adapt their designs accordingly to keep them relevant and effective.
- What are the biggest challenges you face as a design team?
- One of the biggest challenges designers face is understanding changing needs and perceptions of users. Designing for new technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, can also put forward new requirements for designers. Another challenge is creating UI and UX that stand out in a crowded market, which again requires a deep understanding of users, as well as creativity and innovation. However, experience, passion, and a systematic approach help to cope with these difficulties effectively.
- What UI/UX trends does your design team use?
- The article lists UI/UX trends gaining momentum in 2023 and post-Covid UI design trends. The Django Stars designers may incorporate some of these trends into the product design based on their research, understanding of user needs, and requirements received from the business side. For example, they may use friendly and playful design elements, focus on nature-inspired design or UX writing, implement voice search, video communications, remote UX research, etc.
- What UI trend will definitely bring success to my software?
There is no such specific UI trend that is guaranteed to bring success to software. The point is that the success of a product depends on many factors beyond just its UI/UX design. However, based on the above, it can be assumed that designs that convey empathy, authenticity, and honesty towards users are more likely to be appreciated and trendy. Therefore, incorporating design elements that show care for users and their problems may be a good approach to achieving success.
The Django Stars design team considers it essential to rely primarily on research and user testing to determine which UI design elements are most effective for a specific software product and user base. Get in touch with us if you are ready to discuss the trends that can be beneficial to your product.
