The landscape of user interface design is undoubtedly one of the most rapidly evolving industries. With each passing day, fresh trends emerge as individuals and businesses alike look for innovation to distinguish themselves from the competition.
As we find ourselves in 2024, the realm of user interface design is undergoing an even more captivating transformation. Notably, the integration of AI is playing a key role in reshaping the field, resulting in a new era of User Interface (UI) Design.
If you're in this field, you should know about these UI Design trends in 2024:
- Minimalism and buttonless design
- Voice control interface
- Neural interfaces
- Emotion-based interfaces
- Dark mode in the light version
- Glassmorphism
- Scrollytelling
- Micro-interactions
- Card UI component
- Large font size
- Immersive 3D environments
- Integrating AI
- Retro UI
- Neuphormism
These trends will take you to the next level as a designer, or even if you adopt these in your product, it’ll help you stand tall in the crowd. Okay, let’s explore the hot UI design trends of 2024; no more waiting around!
Many UI design trends have been gradually taking place since the latter part of 2023. However, these are some of the most trending design practices that make a difference in the industry.
Minimalism And Buttonless Design
Imagine you have a messy room, and someone comes in to clean it up. They take away all the extra things lying around and arrange what's left in a smart way. This makes the room look simple but really nice. Well, that's what UI minimalism is like – cleaning up a design so it's simple but works well. It's like making a message clear and things looking good.
Now, there's this other idea called buttonless design that goes along with this simplicity trend. Instead of having buttons on a screen that you need to click, the design itself is so easy to understand that you know what to do just by looking at it. It's like having a picture that shows you what to do.
People nowadays are sophisticated, and they like easy things, work well, and also look nice. So, when designers use both minimalism and buttonless design, they make the screen less overwhelming. This makes the whole experience better for the user.
Voice Control Interface
Who doesn't like getting more work done with less effort? Imagine doing your tasks just by talking, without needing to click, tap, or touch anything – it's like having your own personal assistant.
Thanks to technology getting better, people are using automated systems more. This year, in 2023, one big trend is incorporating voice-controlled interfaces in designing UI, and designers have started to emphasize more on it. Instead of pressing buttons or moving your fingers, you can tell your device what to do, like a friend helping you out.
Then, when it comes to user demand, a study says that 71% of people like to talk to their devices instead of typing. Talking is an efficient way to command a computer what you want, and it's super handy because you can keep doing other stuff with your hands while it listens and follows your instructions.
Neural Interfaces
Neural User Interfaces (NUIs) are a special way you can use to talk to technology using your thoughts. NUIs work by using a special tool called a brain-computer interface (BCI), which helps your brain talk directly to a computer or another device.
BCIs have sensors that can catch electrical signals from your brain. Then, these signals are turned into commands that can make a device do things. What's cool about NUIs is that they let us control technology without using our hands. This is really helpful for people who might have trouble using their hands or in situations where using their hands isn't possible.
Even though NUIs are in their early stages, they are becoming popular in designing user interfaces in 2023. One reason is that they make talking to technology feel more natural and easy, which can make using things more fun.
Another reason is that they can make special interfaces that change and adapt based on what each person likes and needs. This can be super helpful! Also, NUIs can make using technology feel lighter on our minds and bodies. This means it's easier and more convenient to use technology.
Emotion-Based Interfaces
A few years ago, many smartphones started using camera interfaces that could capture pictures through expressional commands. But back then, there were some problems with accuracy and response time. As technology improved, they got better at this.
Now, designers are using this idea more often for different products. These products that understand emotions use colors, shapes, and other things to make people feel certain ways. They look at how people first react, how they use the device, and what they remember about it later.
Instead of having buttons you press, like on a remote control, these interfaces understand how you feel and what you want to do. This makes it easier for you to get things done. And now, in 2023, with smarter computers, this idea is getting even better. Today, Designers focus more on what people need, so this is a popular topic in making things easier to use.
Dark Mode In The Light Version
A survey published on Medium revealed that 82.7% of respondents utilized the dark mode on their devices. The results of studies conducted by Android Authority and Polar were comparable, with 91.8% and 95% of respondents expressing a preference for dark mode.
Apple claims that dark mode “makes it easier to concentrate on work.” Also, according to Microsoft, the dark mode can “reduce eye strain and extend battery life.” Google claimed that this function “improves visibility for people with limited vision and those sensitive to bright light. The marketing message was received: Consumers desire the product.
The dark mode UI is a style of design in which the text is light, and the background is dark. Even in the lite version of an app, people expect dark mode. This color scheme makes device screens less bright, and some studies have shown that it helps improve visual ergonomics by making it easier on the eyes. Extending eye fatigue is helpful for interfaces where people have to read a lot of text on top it saves some battery power. As a result, dark mode is in trend now for user interface design.
This example of the dark mode website will make the concept clearer.
Glassmorphism
Glassmorphism is an attractive design style that's becoming increasingly popular in UI design this year. It's about making things on the screen look like glass, like when it is frosty, and you can see through it. Plus, they use really bright and colorful colors. This style started catching on back in 2020; even big companies like Microsoft and Apple are using it.
When you use glass morphism in your designs, it makes the things on websites or apps look modern and deep, like they have more layers. This makes people who look at them find them really interesting and nice. Also, if there are things that are more important, like buttons you want people to click, you can make those stand out more with this style.
The idea of making things look like glass isn't new, but in 2023, it's a big deal to add this kind of depth to websites. This year, we'll see more of this style using colors that look a bit cooler, and they'll remind us of glass. So, designers can choose if they want to use this trend for their designs or not. But it's good to know what's cool and new in design to help with making things look good.
Scrollytelling
Scrolly telling is a cool design trend where scrolling and storytelling combine to make stuff interactive. It's like telling a story with pictures and stuff that you control by scrolling up and down. It has become a buzz for UI design in 2023.
It's like when you read a story, but instead of turning pages, you just scroll on your screen to keep the story moving. This way, you can go at your own pace. And it's not just words; pictures and sounds make the story more meaningful.
This kind of storytelling changes stories into something you can play with and makes reading more fun. Many people like it because it makes things more interesting, like when playing a game. Even companies use it to show their things in detail and make you feel special when you look at their stuff.
Even governments use it to tell you about important stuff that's happening. It's a cool way to make long and confusing stuff easy to understand. People are talking a lot about it this year because it's one of the cool new things for making stuff online more fun and exciting.
Custom Cursor Interactions
Custom-cursor-interactions-UI-trends Technology provides more opportunities than ever before as our devices and their software continue to advance. Websites frequently implement micro animations and overly flashy interactions to stand out among other websites. Musemind website has also used a customized cursor to present a unique UI.
The primary objective of using a custom cursor should be to boost the number of interactions. For example, encouraging users to view more by clicking on a link or image.
Rather than making the cursor entirely stylistic, concentrate on creating cursors that improve the user experience. You can also experiment with it, using multiple shapes and sizes, but know when to stop and when it is appropriate. We don’t want to frustrate users.
One of the most fashionable interactions is when the movement of my cursor functions as an input, producing lively and entertaining outcomes. If you want to explore some more quirky & unique hovers and cursor interactions, check out AWWWARDS. You’re welcome!
Card UI Component
A card UI component is like a digital playing card. It holds similar information together and can change its size. You can use it to show different things, like products, pictures, or articles. Cards work well on phones because you can scroll through them easily. You can also change what's in a card, like adding different content or media.
They're super helpful to tidy up information, which is extra important when there's a lot of data. People have been using card UI for a while, but in 2023, it's going to be even more popular. People will use cards to make flexible designs that look great and can do many things. Designers can make awesome and modern interfaces using cards that are easy to use and look good.
Large Font Size
Using larger text for UI design is becoming increasingly popular, especially this year. The idea behind this trend is to make it easier for you to read and understand information without straining your eyes. This trend is becoming popular for a few reasons. First, larger text is easier to read, especially on smaller screens, which means you can go through information more smoothly.
But it's not just about readability – designers are using bigger fonts to create more user-friendly and engaging designs. This can enhance your experience when you're using apps or websites. Plus, big fonts lend designs a modern and stylish look, making them stand out with a bold visual impact. And with screens getting bigger these days, using larger fonts makes good sense – it fills up the space nicely and goes well with the preference for larger screens in devices.
Immersive 3D Interface
Among the year’s top trending UI design trends, 3D graphics are soaring above creative experiments. Integrating diverse 3D graphics into mobile and web interfaces is unquestionably a difficult task requiring specialized skills and an artistic eye. Additionally, it is time-consuming. However, the benefits are extremely important:
It is undeniably appealing, and users will never ignore it. The 3D renders frequently appear photorealistic, which is a significant advantage for user interface design: graphics of this type may save the game in cases where photo content is either impossible to achieve or very expensive.
Nothing can help you more than a futuristic atmosphere.
For user interface design, the fact that 3D renders frequently resemble photorealistic images is a big plus. Graphics of that kind may even allow you to win the game if the photo content you need is either extremely difficult to obtain or prohibitively expensive. There is no better way to create a futuristic vibe. The industries that are using 3D graphics the most are games, food, home decor, e-commerce apps & NFTs.
This might interest you; one of our talented designers created a 3D modeling website for scooters. We would love to get your views.
Integrating AI
Artificial intelligence in design is going to be a big trend in 2023 and is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. This helps designers make things that people like using more. With AI in design, designers and creators can come up with new and exciting ways for people to enjoy what they use.
AI helps make things just right for each person, makes hard tasks easier, and makes things work better overall. Thanks to AI, designers can make cooler stuff, better websites, and even think up new stuff quickly. AI is like a super helper for making things people love to use. In the future, AI will become even better at understanding what we say and how we move and act.
Retro UI
Retro UI is a trendy design trend that's gaining a lot of traction in 2023. What it does is mix together old-school stuff like simple shapes, textures, and natural colors. It's like taking inspiration from things like vintage styles, the 80s and 90s vibes, and even magazines and posters from back in the day.
The neat thing about this trend is that it makes websites and apps look unique and different. Instead of going with the usual styles, Retro UI catches your eye with its unconventional look. It's all about making visitors go, "Whoa, that's interesting!"
And guess what? Retro UI is one of the big design trends of 2023. It's all part of the plan to make users feel at ease using products, help brands stand out from the competition, and make them appealing to everyone.
Neuphormism
Neumorphism evolved from skeuomorphism to develop a whole new UX style. It’s a new, simple way to design things that look like they were pushed out of soft plastic. The interface appears to have been vacuum-formed. You will discover a lot of catchy neuromorphic designs on Dribbble and Behance, and it’s becoming a trend in and of itself.
The way neumorphism deals with depth is crucial. It will appear raised until you press a button; once you do, it will appear sunken. Shadows and gradients are used to create a three-dimensional look in Neumorphism, resulting in a clean and modern interface design. Neumorphism relies on low contrast, monochromatic color schemes, and subtle shadows to convey a sense of depth.
This sort of design may have potential accessibility concerns due to its low contrast, especially in dark mode. People with vision impairment, blindness, and color blindness will have a difficult time interacting with this interface style.
Therefore, to guarantee that the interface is accessible despite its low contrast, a successful neuromorphic design requires additional attention to design aspects and principles like typography, space, and hierarchy. As problem solvers, designers can develop various methods to ensure accessibility in neuromorphic designs.
Wrapping Up
Everyone has witnessed the rise and fall of iconic fashion items and artistic movements. The same holds for UI design trends as well. Trends in UI design shift from interfaces that imitate real-world objects to interfaces with no embellishments. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. With an understanding of these UI trends, you can create and test new ones, which is crucial for innovation, advancing the design industry, and enhancing your design practice. Simply put, I am excited to see what the future of UI holds.
