Last year’s trends help us speculate the changes we may have in the future. The UI/UX designs have had a significant hold on how things are supposed to be. With over 1.9 million active websites on the internet right now, the scene is massively competitive in terms of gaining and retaining the visitor’s attention. It is a given for these technological shifts to happen since society is dynamic and the way we think are bound to shift with time. Today, finding ways to reflect the present world in the technical trends is a theme that seems to be ongoing at large.

Generally, design (and actions, too) speak louder than words. It is what keeps your audience attracted and motivated to stay and take a look around. It is the first thing a visitor notices. Given that, we’d want our design elements to work in sync with each other while making usability smooth and pleasing to the eyes.

The world has, over the past two years, sought balance between socializing and solitude. We’ll dive into the balance that user interface seems to have in store for the year ahead:

Adaptive UIs That Allow for Dark-light Switching

Dark is the new good in terms of design trends for 2022. While usability, personalization and pleasantries always top the list of importance for users upfront, designers have found a way to embrace the dark side and it has remarkably taken away all the spotlight. From system UIs and applications coming up with the dark mode pre-built in it, it is undoubtedly a go-to move. Dark matte black may not be the option though. Darker shades of already dark colors are peeking from the horizon. In this regard, dark/light switching might become a part of new features for various platforms as developers try to find ways to keep navigation, contrasts and usage issues at bay regardless of the time of the day.

Increased Use of Chatbots

Businesses are shifting online entirely and the corporate world has seen a surge in remote working opportunities and thriving off of it. The pandemic did give away some form of closure regarding the use of office spaces as automation and digitization seek to keep it that way for the years ahead. Regardless of the shift, customer service still holds a lot of significance leading to a requirement of a promising presence of a quick and accessible mechanism to answer any queries they may have. Online customer service, especially chatbox, have seen a tremendous rise in its inclusion on company sites with numerous establishments from diverse sectors aiming to develop their chatbots alongside the attempt of reducing real-time customer services.

All-in-one Products

The ‘all-services-under-one-roof’ concept has overflown into the world of technology as well and is no longer limited only to retail outlets. There is a massive boost in the concept of “one-stop” product offerings for the consumers. For instance, Instagram is no longer just a photo-sharing platform. It boasts live streams, reels, shops, DMs and so much more. The end-users are more likely to be able to avail all these services under a single login and enjoy seamless convenience as they connect with the world. It has also given rise to so many startups, utilizing multiple platforms as such to reach more accounts and build an online presence.

Minimalism All the Way

With “one-stop” product offerings being on the rise and reflected on company apps and sites, it is of utmost importance to ensure clean interfaces to keep the user base interested in their services. A cluttered website or an app with too many tabs and buttons is only a recipe for a drop in user experience, which may also translate to a bad conversion ratio for your company. Taking this into consideration, the year ahead is certain to see a focus on minimalism with little of the crazy stuff in terms of visuals. White spaces and prominent display of relevant information, swiftly segregated into similar tabs will seemingly be the standard. Neon colours and heavy imagery, however, may be used to accessorize the digital space a little – intentionally for sure to spark an interest in an area on the site.

A Potential VR/AR Boost

AR and VR have always been around. But with artificial reality taking a grip and branching out into all sectors these past years, AR and VR can have significant growth too. Corporates are actively carrying out meetings online and discussions are being done across the globe. And with the metaverse being on the hype and showing promising ways of becoming a whole new world in itself, virtual and augmented reality sees limitless possibilities to expand. Gaming with Pokemon Go was apparently only the tip of the iceberg. Having a world with your digital miniatures in it is the next big thing. And AI, AR and VR have a lot to contribute for that to happen.

E-commerce

E-commerce is bustling now more than ever. Whole shops are being integrated online and we’re all here for it. Taking the complexities of quality check on 2D images online as you shop, technology now seeks to upgrade the game with a 3D design that will allow users to have a 360 degree look to access quality and design in a minute perspective. Attention to detail is going to have its fanbase with corporations that will enjoy teasing us with a 3D render of product launches in real-time. Designers are more than willing to go beyond just the X and Y axes. Software optimization, development of equally capable hardware and rapid improvement of semiconductor production has made even low-end devices capable of handling 3D technology like never before. We ought to bring the most out of this.

Self-design Sites for Websites

Deciding on the user interface is no longer limited only up to the designers. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace etc. have been on the rise allowing the end-users to directly design sites with the visuals they seek for. Given the simplicity and ease of access, low-code and no-code software platforms are thriving and will continue to do so in the years to come. To make the most of this, however, industry knowledge and familiarity with backend processes will go a long way.

Micro Animations and Parallax Effect

Parallax effects and scrolling will become a visual boosting element that will help tell stories and draw the visitors in. UX writing is sure to hold utmost importance alongside strong typography and animated elements. This will create an excellent user interface as information with a touch of creativity is sure to go a long way in keeping the visitors coming back.