New decade means new trends for the web design industry. With increasing competition in almost every niche on the internet, successful UI and UX designers are getting essential for companies. Because they can change users’ habits, they can affect how users consume technology.
Expected Changes for UX/UI Design World in 2020
So what’s happening in the UX and UI designers’ world and what changes will become more mainstream in 2020? We asked this question to award-winning web design agencies all over the world. Let’s jump on the answers and see what they predicted to see this year.
Closing the Line Between Designers and Developers
Closer ties between UX, UI and front-end code. We’ll start to see more and more design tools and systems that enable designers to interact with their ideas on phones and devices without having to bother a development team. Many of these systems already exist but I’m expecting them to strengthen this year.
3D Designs
By KOTA
Realistic 3D designs and animations seem to be on the rise. With 3D modelling software so readily available and more powerful than ever, the sharp, hyper-real effects will start to become common place on the web.
Online technology like WebGL can create interactive 3D designs and animations that engage and wow the user, and with the introduction of 5G networks, these effects will soon be able to be viewed whilst on the go.
Collaboration Across Disciplines
by Crowdform
More collaboration across disciplines. As a designer – with the rise of tools like Figma that bring together designers and developers in a more efficient and file-less design workflow, it is now so much easier to share work. Collecting feedback in realtime from business stakeholders, developers and users means we can create better and more intentional work faster.
Simplicity for UX/UI
By KOTA
Both in UX and UI, designs will need to start to become less cluttered in order to cut through the visual noise. Users (especially younger ones) need to absorb information and access what they need quickly before they lose interest or move to an alternative that can give them what they need. Simplifying journeys and layouts is key.
Increasing Usage of Collaboration Tools
By Tangent
The line between designer and developer will continue to blur as an entry point to web development is continually simplified by tools such as Webflow or Semplice. In addition, I believe the idea of designing UI/UX in a static form will continue to feel more and more antiquated, with the ever-growing popularity of tools such as Figma, Adobe XD and UX Pin enabling more advanced prototyping from the outset.
Dark Themes
By KOTA
After software companies started creating dark rather than light UI modes in 2019, we are sure the trend will see a lot more interface design moving that way in 2020.
Alongside this, Neomorphism styling (where due to shadowing techniques components look like they are ‘pushing’ themselves through your display) seems to be gaining some traction. This new styling creates a soft, minimalist look that will mean in 2020 we may well all be using the type of interfaces Batman himself would be proud of!
Shift into mobile-first web experiences
by WEBITMD
Obviously, it’s not something new but still, in most companies, designers explain the user experience from the desktop version first. The first reason is habits. It’s not changing quickly, especially for corporate companies. The second reason, you can put more CTA’s on the desktop. You don’t need to be sure exactly about the sales funnel, and you can decide them on the road.
On the desktop, there are more spaces to show something to the user. However, we should acknowledge for most of the industries; desktop website experiences are getting less valuable every day and designing an excellent mobile experience needs more confidence about what to do.
Goodbye to Giant Design Files
This has been teased for the last few years, but it’s finally time to officially wave goodbye to giant design files. With so many programs created specifically for design collaboration, I think 2020 is going to be a big year for agency/brand design teams. The collaboration will hopefully lead to more innovative solutions and efficiencies along the way.
UX Designers with More Skills
In 2020, we are bound to see UX designers becoming more versed in other disciplines such as; animation, development, etc. UX Designers are expected to have a good idea of these things in order to design and write documentation for them, but I think there will be more designers learning these disciplines to help even further communicate their ideas.
We will also see a shift towards designing for a post-truth era along with the inevitable rise of online micro-communities.
Why Adapting UX/UI Design Trends Are Essential for Companies?
User experience and user interface are directly affected how people use your website. They already know where to click for signing up even when they come for the first time to your site.
It’s an obvious example to show you why it’s crucial. When users are getting used to seeing fewer ads on the web, you can’t bombard them with advertisements, if you want them to stay. Instead of it, you should find a way to do what you are doing more intelligently for improving your website’s UX. Therefore, a UX/UI designer should follow trends carefully but tweak them when needed.
Future Vision of UX/UI Design – Summary
A mobile-first approach needs more simplicity. Maybe it sounds like a quicker process but it needs more experience. We understand that web design agencies agreed on increasing usage of collaboration tools like Figma and Adobe XD.
It means the line will be blurred with the front end developers and UX designers. One more effect of this situation, UX/UI design will be more multi-disciplinary work.
So achieving the high converting websites for companies will not be possible just with a UX designer. It needs a team-work. Also when it comes to UX/UI design trends, dark themes and 3D animations will become more mainstream on the web in 2020.
