In 2024, UI/UX design will be defined by a combination of user-centred design principles, digital innovation, and emerging technologies. To remain on trend, designers should look to create delightful user interfaces that are equally as visually appealing as they are user-friendly and technologically advanced.
From Voice User Interface (VUI) to Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), these trends will define the UI/UX landscape in the coming year, ensuring that our digital experiences continue to evolve and improve.
Leaning more toward interface design/UI, 2024 will include the widespread use of 3D design, providing visually striking interfaces, and the minimalist approach, emphasising essential elements in UI. The combination of these trends enhances user interactions by adding depth and interactivity while maintaining a clean design aesthetic.
Notably, companies like Apple are already utilising 3D design to showcase their products, allowing users to explore them with lifelike realism directly on the website.
This trend extends across various sectors, from e-commerce and architecture to fashion and education, promising increased convenience and aesthetic appeal, as well as transparency. For instance, in real estate, 3D tours offer potential buyers a virtual exploration of properties, fostering interest and trust before an in-person visit.
The popularity of Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) is on the rise, driven by the widespread use of smart speakers and voice assistants. VUI design is the process of designing digital products that can be controlled using voice commands.
As this trend continues to grow in 2024, designing effective VUIs requires careful consideration of the natural language processing capabilities of the targeted device and ensuring user interfaces are easily comprehensible and navigable through voice commands.
Users are becoming increasingly more comfortable interacting with technology using their voices, so UX designers must ensure they continue to deliver intuitive and user-friendly VUIs for a seamless and conversational experience.
The popularity of virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa shows that VUIs are here to stay and evolve in the coming years.
The significance of personalisation in UX is reaching unprecedented levels, with user experiences catering to individual preferences and needs.
In 2024, personalisation is set to dominate, delivering curated content, product recommendations, and user interfaces unique to each user. This approach not only facilitates easier and quicker access to information and products but also enhances overall user engagement and enjoyment.
Designers should increasingly focus on allowing users to customise their experiences, offering options such as colour schemes, layout adjustments, and even the creation of avatars with finely-tuned details for a more relatable feel.
Platforms like Netflix are leading this trend with personalised movie recommendation systems built around individual user preferences, predicting viewing preferences based on past activity. The popularity of these types of personalised platforms is setting a precedent that will define the UX space in 2024.
Design systems are collections of reusable components guided by clear standards to be used to build coherent elements. They help creative and strategic teams achieve consistency and develop uniform components.
Google’s Material Design is an example of a popular choice among SMEs and enterprises alike for its simple interface, expansive functionality, and cross-collaboration ability. Project components are stored in a single library available to all team members, encouraging simple information transfer across departments and locations for consistent collaboration.
Design systems allow businesses to create at scale across organisations and 2024 will see the continued rise of and refinement of design systems used by brands.
In our fast-paced digital world, slow page loading speeds on websites or application pages are just unacceptable. Sluggish loading times drive bounce rates faster than Lewis Hamilton on a clear day and negatively impact the user experience.
Optimising your websites and applications is crucial to align with evolving UX trends that demand more output. Designers face the challenge of crafting interfaces where optimisation seamlessly integrates with the main product, ensuring that animations and media do not compromise speed.
Designers have a few tricks up their sleeve, like compressing graphic data that doesn’t sacrifice quality. Optimised resources not only enhance user experience but also seem to rank well with search engine algorithms.
To engage users during page loading, incorporating unique and attention-grabbing elements in UX design is recommended, steering away from the traditional blank screen approach.
In 2024, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will play a pivotal role in transforming UI/UX design, expanding their applications beyond gaming, education, and e-commerce.
We have some exciting advancements to look forward to, including AR providing real-time instructions for product usage, while VR can create virtual showrooms for users to explore and try on products before purchase.
These technologies are set to revolutionise user experiences by offering immersive and engaging interactions. From AR-enhanced shopping to VR-driven gaming interfaces, designers will need to embrace these possibilities to craft captivating and user-centric designs.
The fusion of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) is expected to reshape various industries, offering immersive interfaces that blend the physical and digital realms. XR (Extended Reality) will provide users with new ways of engagement, from virtually trying on clothes to exploring 3D architectural designs.
As society aspires to greater inclusivity, so too must our UX design. Focussing on the user’s needs, inclusive and accessible design prioritises race, gender, age, socio-cultural background, language, disabilities, etc. in each design process. The aim is to make access to digital tools and services safe and comfortable for every user.
UX design in 2024 will continue to drive accessibility for everyone by adding manually adjustable layout, display, audio, transcription, voice, and many other elements that help people access information according to their specific needs.
In 2024, UX design will continue to prioritise user needs over products, aiming to craft enjoyable digital interactions marked by simplicity and accessibility. As technology and user expectations progress, UX designers are tasked with consistently delivering meaningful digital experiences that captivate and delight users.
Are you looking to add any of these trends to your business’ website or mobile app? Get in touch with us today to see how WeAreBrain can help.
An executive’s guide to AI and Intelligent Automation. Working Machines takes a look at how the renewed vigour for the development of Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Automation technology has begun to change how businesses operate.