UX Trends to Apply in 2024
Worldwide UX design trends change incredibly fast, and we’re here for you to catch up on the most popular of them. Since the design and user experience represent businesses, they are in charge of the products and brand awareness.
Whether you are a specialist who keeps up with new tendencies or a company owner watching for the latest UX trends, this blog post will enlighten you. You will learn about the fundamental principles that will shape the future of UX design, proven case studies, and more.
Additionally, we will explore cutting-edge techniques, such as AI and VR, and see how various companies implement each UX design trend. The most daunting part of choosing a reliable direction is to evaluate business needs and customer expectations. Therefore, we created this article to view the latest tendencies comprehensively.
Keep reading to leverage Limeup UX designers’ knowledge, summed up in one blog post.
12 Best-proven and innovative user experience trends
It’s time to reveal what UX design trends will benefit you and your business. If you don’t use them yet, it’s the perfect moment to dive into innovations and make them a part of your upcoming business strategy.
Since the UX design industry involves more technologies, businesses have to be ready to implement the most appropriate ones and receive the maximum benefit. To facilitate your search, we’re about to review, analyze, and evaluate the following UX trends:
- Upgraded personalization,
- Storytelling,
- Micro-interactions,
- Cross-platform experience,
- East meets West,
- Emotional design.
Are you looking for a UX design agency in London to implement trendy and creative ideas successfully? We have a selection of industry leaders to help you with this.
1. Upgraded personalization
Hyperpersonalization is one of the primary key factors to reach and keep the end-user. In 2023, it became a must-have feature. When the UX design of any website offers a personalized experience, it drives the interest of every user and later on results positively in sales of services or digital products. In addition, personalization turns an occasional visitor into a loyal customer.
Brands want to avoid being behind an effective UX design trend that has already proven its long-term benefit. That is why this approach is currently prevalent among businesses.
Note: If you want improved personalization benefits through UX trends, it is essential to periodically conduct a UX audit to analyze and collect feedback on your website’s performance.
Example: Apple has introduced an online shop with an assistant over video content on their website.
Users can now connect with Apple specialists through secure, one-way video calls directly within web pages. This means team members will help clients choose the right option with the camera turned on and screen sharing, but the client, in turn, connects to the chat without video.
The new shop with a specialist over video experience on apple.com.
2. Storytelling
The human brain processes visual information 60,000x faster than text. Observable storytelling is a powerful tool that prevents user frustration, and you can harness it if you learn how to implement it properly.
UX Storytelling is one of the UX trends methods of creating a narrative that guides the user through specific experiences.
It is more than just a product showcase; it tells a story and builds an emotional connection with customers. As a result, it evokes empathy and creates a precise associative array. The average time of staying on the website is up to 54 seconds. UX designers use storytelling to provide a unique user experience, even in short terms.
The emotions evoked by such a minimalistic design create specific associations on a personal level. This helps to create a brand identity and call the customer to action non-intrusively.
Example: Zulu Longines showed how to highlight the brand’s uniqueness using breathtaking UX storytelling properly. By playing up the list of products in the style of a historical reference with facts about the pilots, they emphasized their many years of experience and reliability. Users who visit this page feel like they are part of a visual story.
The scroll jacking, motion design, and subtle animations keep the user’s eyeballs glued to the screen and begging for more. Did you also want to buy this watch after seeing it?
Storytelling example.
3. Micro-interactions
Simply put, micro-interaсtions are animated detailed design elements that make interactions with relevant content more immersive. They grab attention and provide instant feedback on users’ actions.
It’s a way to guide users to do specific actions, so every micro-interaction should have its purpose. In addition, they may serve as decorative parts that add motion and flow to your design.
Micro-interactions example.
Here is the list of the most popular micro-interactions:
- Loading animations — small indicators demonstrating to the user that a specific process is currently being loaded. They can be used when a page is loading, a form is being submitted, or an action is being processed.
- Progress indicators — usually a horizontally placed bar showing the process’s progress. The main task of these UI elements is to inform the user that the system has not hung and to illustrate how much is left.
- Popover — a layer that displays some content above another. These small windows appear when users hover over or click on something. Typically, they provide additional information and do not take extra space.
- Drag-and-drop — a part of the UX design trends methods that allow moving objects from one place to another on the screen. Usually, it focuses on how the users interact with the design, making it more accessible and giving them a sense of command.
- Haptic feedback — vibration pattern that is provided to users through sensations. It can be used to confirm the user’s selection, to give control, or to provide an immersive experience.
The described approach creates a pleasant user experience, making users feel comfortable interacting with the resource. Often, such contact positively affects user behavior and guarantees that the user will stay on the site, studying it and buying certain products.
4. Cross-platform experience
According to the latest research, 50.9% of people worldwide buy things online using smartphones at least once a week. Moreover, 69% of internet users use phones to do product research. Human beings are used to the fact smartphones can provide us with necessary data anytime, and here is where mobile optimizations change the game.
The advancement of technological devices has raised customer demands and user expectations. Nowadays, cross-device experience has become a necessity. This new trend is essential for many UX designers, as it leads to a better understanding of the business value of cross-platform experiences for end-users. There are several reasons for this:
- User engagement. When users are constantly provided with excellent access to your resource from any device, the likelihood of product interaction increases significantly.
- Brand perception. This point emphasizes the brand’s professional approach and reliability.
- Cost reduction. When considering budget constraints, evaluating the option to co-create a seamless cross-platform experience is more cost-effective by focusing on a single code base.
- Maximized reach. This approach immediately lets more people learn about your business, which is an excellent advantage in driving sales.
Looking to hire UX designers to create a cross-platform product? Our experienced team is well-equipped to handle it!
Business value of cross-platform experiences
5. East meets West
The adoption of Eastern UX trends is rapidly gaining momentum. Companies like Airbnb and Uber are actively adopting multifunctionality features from popular Chinese mobile apps such as WeChat, Alipay, and Didi. Customers can buy groceries, make payments, send gifts, and chat with friends within one app.
Uber has done the same. They have created an ecosystem where, for example, clients can order food delivery and taxis. This is just the beginning, as industry leaders already embrace these UX industry trends.
WeChat and Uber Eats application interfaces.
6. Emotional design
Such practice in UI design trends is meant to create a design that evokes certain emotions, negative or positive.
Positive emotions build trust and loyalty and encourage customers to take action. Negative emotions have another purpose. Think of the goosebumps you get when you watch a horror film. This approach can attract attention, generate interest, and create an air of mystery.
Microsoft Teams is a bright example of how emotional design techniques can be used. Users can see an animation on the screen congratulating them on their accomplishment when completing a task. Simple but genius, isn’t it?
Congratulation animation from Microsoft Teams.
7. AR and VR
Over the years, AR and VR have become more accessible to users and integrated into many products and services. AR and VR integration is currently a dominant tendency in the design communities despite the challenges and benefits they present. Indeed, it’s essential to review how AR and VR benefit UX designers and the immersive impact of this trend.
Speaking about the benefits of AR and VR, these new technologies significantly impact user experience. AR and VR provide users with a sense of immersion and inclusivity. Virtual reality offers a presence effect, a game-changer in the design world.
How did Gucci implement VR technology? While everyone is talking about the prospect of VR in the future, Gucci has already managed to surprise its customers. They have created a mobile app where you can try on shoes virtually. Moreover, they have designed shoes that can be worn exclusively in VR format for $13.
Gucci VR technology.
Additionally, everyone can now visit the Gucci garden for free, taking an interactive journey complemented by virtual reality to experience the feeling of being a visitor. Users also have the opportunity to purchase branded goods online.
Lancome’s “Virtually Try On” service. Lancome has done what we all needed. All users of the site have the opportunity to try any cosmetic product virtually. To do this, they turn on the camera (or upload a photo), adjust the lighting, and choose the right tone. Then, make their purchase with peace of mind.
Lancome's "Virtually Try On" service.
Interestingly, AR and VR combine the hyper-personalization and customization everyone is hunting for. Augmented reality transports digital information to the real world.
Meanwhile, virtual reality bridges a new digital environment, unlocking new options and entertainment. This creates a perfect, individualized user experience, which is the main reason for the high demand for this feature in the upcoming years.
The impact of AR and VR on design through UI UX review is significant for numerous reasons. Firstly, boosted reality is essential for 3D space design as it considers all details and design elements and seamlessly integrates them into the physical space. Secondly, getting familiar with this technology will impact further projects since the industry is developing rapidly, and for more reasons.
8. AI revolution (Conversational UI, AI chatbots)
Nowadays, more personalized suggestions are AI-based to maintain positive experiences. Who would think that “AI” and “personalized” would be in the same sentence, not to mention united, for the same purpose of upgrading a website’s usability?
It’s essential to admit that users easily fall for any personalized service, much as Netflix shows recommendations based on previous choices, Instagram customized feeds, or Spotify personalized music suggestions.
The AI revolution in Netflix recommendations.
AI takes the spotlight in almost every niche, including UX strategy, but despite that, it gives a greater focus on personalization. Conversational AI models provide prompts and messaging that a user expects.
As for the Conversational UI, in November 2022, Open AI released ChatGPT, and since then, we witnessed its powerful influence in almost every software we use. Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Miro, Notion, Grammarly, and many design tools have incorporated AI. But what is expected in all these updates is the conversational UI feature.
Customers set prompts or messages and get what they want. This is not limited to AI generation, as they can receive personalized responses by adjusting settings through toggles and buttons within minimalist interfaces.
Adobe Firefly combined simple input fields and design customization buttons to generate personalized results that cater to individual preferences.
The Intercom platform, a leader in customer support services, has also integrated artificial intelligence. They have developed an AI chatbot called Finn to process all the company’s FAQs and documentation, generate customer answers in seconds, and keep users engaged.
The Intercom support widget is an element of UX work that doesn’t require human operation. Moreover, it not only references documentation but can also rephrase it to provide step-by-step instructions. How soon will such chatbots be able to replace customer support?
Intercom AI chatbot.
Note: When you aim to enhance the data-driven design of your product or implement new technology, like machine learning, it is crucial to create a strategy first. In our blog post, you can learn how to do so and understand its importance.
9. Voice User Interface (VUI)
To quote the latest research on VUI:
- 72% of people worldwide used voice assistance in the past 6 months.
- 123.5 million people used voice assistants in the year 2022.
Voice assistants like Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, or Cortana unnoticeably become a part of our daily lives. Speech recognition technology allows for seamless interaction with devices through voice commands.
This not only simplified life but represents a new step towards inclusiveness. Such technology is now successfully integrated into search engines and mobile apps to improve customer service significantly.
Example of the voice assistant.
10. Blockchain
Blockchain is a revolutionary technology, also implemented among UI UX trends, based on an immutable, distributed ledger system that operates through a network of computers or nodes without a central authority.
Example of blockchain app.
For example, the UX trend enables secure, transparent, and reliable storage and data exchange in CRM design. Another aspect of blockchain’s impact on UX design is the emergence of the possibility of creating decentralized applications (dApps).
This is a type of application that is built based on blockchain networking and can be used both for social networks and digital currency transactions. The main advantage besides engaging users is that they have control over their data privacy, allowing them to interact safely with others on the platform.
11. Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication technology uses a person’s biometric data to confirm identity and provide users with an outstanding experience. Biometric data is a unique physical and behavioral characteristic. This mechanism instantly identifies customers by scanning their features with maximum accuracy in seconds.
Types of biometric authentication.
This UX design trend transformed the user experience by eliminating long waiting times and irritation by enabling seamless data protection. These are the most popular confirmation methods:
- Fingerprint recognition,
- Iris recognition,
- Voice recognition,
- Facial recognition,
- Palm vein recognition.
12. UX writing
This trend is closely related to AI-powered tools and is in charge of guiding visitors through personalized user experiences. It means that every CTA button or just a piece of text you see via the web page or an app aims to provide users and make them buy the product.
There’s no pointless content regarding UX writing; each word is valuable since it directly interacts with potential leads. UX writing is used within chatbots for scripts, AI assistants, and other tools to communicate more straightforwardly.
How to evaluate a UX trend before implementing it?
UI UX trends tend to change rapidly, and they are not standardized for any type of project, so the skill to evaluate if it’s suitable for you is essential. Considering the impact of a particular design can take place in several ways, let’s overview each of them.
First, it’s better to set up applicable metrics according to the business goals you want to achieve, such as receiving user attention. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to use metrics from those who have already implemented the techniques.
Then, you can receive insights about the trends and communicate the impact with design teams. The step is crucial for business owners to ensure the KPI will be as high as possible. Moreover, specialists know numerous ways to test the trend through UX design examples.
Another essential stage stands for evaluating the functionality and visually appealing design. The problem many designers may need help with is that they prioritize building nice graphics instead of quality features.
6 strategies to successfully apply a UX design trend
Example of UX design trends.
- Understand the trend. Before investing in a new trend, ensure you understand its essence and the reasons behind its popularity, backed by quantitative data. Understanding the context and your business’s uniqueness according to the trends will help you prevent losing money and other resources. For example, if you run a small business or are a UX designer who creates such solutions, there is no reason for costly VR solutions.
- Consider your audience. Experiments and changes in user experience trends are great, but is it the right choice for your company? Different products may require completely different approaches. Think about your target audience, its specifics, and needs. In the past, there have been many cases where global brands have faced backlash for not considering the consequences of blind adoption without cultural sensitivity.
- Do your research. Trust, but also verify. Why is it essential? Many resources and information are already available, but you can search for how businesses in your industry have implemented a particular trend. After analyzing, you can determine whether it will increase user interactions and identify any mistakes to avoid.
- Test and iterate. After implementing a new trendy feature, checking user behavior is essential. Sometimes, it makes sense to roll out a beta version of the update (depending on the scale), test it, identify any shortcomings, and fix them. Openness to feedback is what will help you become better.
- Make a review. A UX review is a quick evaluation of the usability and user interface design of your product’s one or several user flows. Usually, it takes up to one week, depending on the amount of data, to evaluate your project.
- Be patient. Sometimes, even a tiny implementation requires much time and effort to increase user engagement. It’s okay, even if you delete it later or have to redo it. It indicates that you are committed to growth and exploring new solutions, which means you are on the right track. Launching and post-designing support also require time to be evaluated and define what didn’t work for your target audience.
Summing up on UX design trends
We have discussed a wide range of top UX design trends, and it’s up to you what approaches and technologies to choose, keeping in mind that end-users’ are the first to care about. Nowadays, there are many ways to simplify and diversify the UX and engage users; almost all trends boil down to this.
Limeup experts are always on the cutting edge and have extensive experience creating innovative UI UX design solutions for various projects. Probably by now, you have gained some ideas on implementing UX trends for your business. Why not discuss them together? Please get in touch and share your thoughts with us!