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We humans use digital platforms every day. UX/UI design is what allows us to navigate these platforms painlessly. UX and UI are about elaborating and improving the overall experience the user has in the face of the product or service. A positive user experience and a good user interface are key elements for success in digital solutions.
Appearance, usability, navigation and technology are elements that should fit together. With relevant and good content, you will be able to arouse the feelings and interests of the company's target audience. Simply explained, UI designers handle how the service will look, and UX designers handle how it will work.
UX design deals with the overall user experience. Here one deals with how all the different systems and design elements interact with each other and how this is perceived for the consumer. The goal of a good UX design will always be that the user experience is intuitive.
A simple example that will more easily allow you to understand this is Tinder. Tinder gives the user the option between rejecting or liking the person shown on the app. Two different options that can be easily done with two simple buttons. But instead of using buttons, Tinder uses a far more interactive way reminiscent of gamification! Swiping makes the experience completely different. Not only is it a fun way to get the user to navigate their way through other users, but the design also prevents the app from having too many symbols and buttons getting in the way. This results in a neat app with far more space for pictures of your next potential match.
UI design, also called User Interface, encompasses the graphical elements of the product or service. This can be anything from buttons, text, images or shapes. It's up to a UI designer to make sure the look of the product/service is attractive, visually stimulating, and properly thematized to fit the rest. They ensure that all the visual elements match, both aesthetically, as well as functionally.
Dark theme
Increasingly, we see established apps implementing this feature. Dark-themed services can be argued to be more comfortable to use. There are also documented effects that people with visual impairment perceive readability as better.
3D Claymorphism
3D trends have evolved into a simplified version of what we have seen before, which has led to a new style trend within 3D UI elements - claymorphism. The elements look as if they are made with clay - something one achieves by setting both inner and outer shadows for depth. They will be showcased as more “fluffy” 3D elements than another popular trend, called neumorphism.
Glass morphism
This trend is everywhere. Its purpose is to create the illusion of a glass-like panel overlying the background. For example, the trend is used in MAC OS Big Sur.
Personalization of user experiences
A rising trend that, at first, we see no end to is pointed personalization of content. An intriguing example of this is Netflix, which shows different movies and series based on gender, age and other information that allows the service to be user-oriented.
Gamifikation
Gamification/gamification is about taking elements from the gaming industry to make other platforms more interactive. We find examples of how this is used by McDonald's and their app. Here they have mini-games that you can try your hand at weekly, where your performance in these games can earn you promotional coupons on different foods they offer.
Infographics
Not necessarily a new concept, but we're seeing new trends and creative ways to use data visualization. Users love to gain insight into their own data and to compare with others. Look no further than Spotify Wrapped, a huge success that gives users a better insight into their own user activity.
Did any of these trends sound exciting to you? We can help you or your company identify areas of improvement and together design a better solution. Please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to help you on the way and to the finish line.
References:
https://uiuxtrend.com/top-ui-ux-trends-2022-to-follow/
https://www.wix.com/blog/2021/12/ux-design-trends/#viewer-7l6kg
https://medium.com/user-experience-design-1/2022-ui-design-trends-guide-22ddc386557b
https://maze.co/blog/ui-vs-ux/
By Vegard Kallhovd
