Newest 2022 UI/UX Trends Used by Top Tech Companies
Since UX became a thing with the rise of computer programs and the internet in 1993, developments in the niche have been a roller coaster ride. Every year, designers strive to meet the market demands and impress users in ways that designers have not tried before. The result is ever-changing trends of UX designs and features that, for better or worse, have shaped the digital world.
UX trends have seen a particularly drastic shift in 2022. As devices become more powerful, working memories increase, screens become more pixel-dense, and connection speeds faster, it is only natural that UX trends evolve with the times. At the forefront of shaping these trends are cutting-edge tech companies with their bloated roster of UX researchers and designers.
This post will explore the top seven UX trends influencing the user experience design world in 2022.
1. Extended Reality (ER)
We already know that new as they are, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have stagnated as far as getting incorporated into everyday designs go. The adoption of Extended Reality (ER), on the other hand, is at an all-time high in 2022.
Companies like Adidas, McDonald’s, Ikea, and Instagram are integrating ER in their internal training and interaction software. This new trend is proving invaluable in helping employees learn using realistic simulations. Users can ‘try on’ products in a virtual environment and connect to real people to communicate, for entertainment, and in games.
So, what exactly is ER in UX design?
ER encompasses multiple concepts of virtual interactions. These include AR and VR. As developers push the boundaries of what is possible in the virtual world, designers are tasked with developing better and more realistic interactions. ER is special as it incorporates the latest interaction technologies, including holographic displays, spatial and audio augmentation, and tactile feedback.
Mixed reality researchers and developer WebXR take the credit for leading the push into ER for traditional apps and games. As AR, VR, and 3D become more mainstream, more designers are finding ER the best design approach for all the platforms.
2. Scrollytelling
In a world dealing with social media addiction and other problems, the word ‘scrolling’ has become synonymous with mindless boredom. UX researchers know this and have developed something new and better to replace scrolling: scrollytelling.
Scrollytelling, as you can tell, contains part scrolling and part telling a story. This new kind of narrative can be presented within an app and on a web page.
Scrollytelling is implemented by making each illustration, text, font, and any other element on the page come to life with each scroll. Much like in a parallax video game, scrollytelling is presented as a maze of symbols and styles that takes the boredom out of scrolling. This makes the user an active participant in manipulating the events on the screen rather than just a mere consumer.
The popularity of scrollytelling is rising, and it is only a matter of time before every interactive website features it. Users are tired of static pages stuffed with content that demands their attention, one-pixel roll after another. Scrollytelling is activated by a scroll and does not require clicks, making endless choices, pop-ups, or aggressive swiping.
3. Neo-Brutalism
The neo-brutalism UX design is inspired by the 1950s brutalism architecture that produced some of the most striking building designs post-WWII. These designs proved to be both shocking and controversial, largely because of their emphasis on a rugged and unpolished look that almost looked intentionally ugly.
The neo-brutalism design of websites and apps celebrates the underlying structure and the materials of design. They feature raw, bold, and reactionary features that made the original brutalism design a hit of its time.
For far too long, the world of UX design has obsessed over and even perfected, the art of clean designs. Conventional websites feature lean and clean elements that make them uniform, even dull. This new design approach turns out to be raw, honest, and with visual experiences that stand out from the crowd.
Some features that define neo-brutalism include overlapping elements, intense color palettes, and gridless layouts with crowded chaotic elements. Oddly sized and monospace typography, minimal or total lack of navigation give this design its ‘open floor’ design with a brutal and rugged look.
4. Inclusivity
You have probably come across the term inclusivity countless times in marketing. In UX design, inclusivity refers to experiences that cater to all ways people may engage with a website or app. Inclusive UX is different from diverse UX in that it focuses on functionality and ensures that the largest possible audience can find value in their experience effectively.
While it is more than a trend, inclusivity is becoming a crucial aspect of every UX design. Big tech companies discovered the various forms of inclusivity and put them into practice and now everybody is striving for it. Some notable examples of new inclusive design trends are Twitter’s language identification, Pinterest skin tone selector, and Clue’s non-gender-specific language.
As the world becomes increasingly globalized and complicated, the spectrum of differences between users becomes more apparent. Inclusivity is a design paradigm that nurtures the empathy designers need to have to design experiences for users across the spectrum of differences. These differences cover languages, cultures, genders, races, sexualities, abilities, and disabilities.
5. Data Visualization
There was a time when users cared little about data; they only paid attention to what the data implied. Today, however, thanks to the enlightenment of users and the proliferation of fake news and skewed facts, users care more about data than ever before. For this reason, there is an evolution in how companies present data and information about them.
New data visualization methods are useful in conveying data and information about the data in a simple and engaging way. UX design is as much about presenting data as helping the user make a quick informed decision about complex datasets.
The new emerging ways to visualize data include video infographics, real-time data graphing, leveraging color gradients and transitions, interactive visualizations, and responsive mobile-friendly visualizations. These data visualization strategies also serve to attract and retain the user’s attention with visually entertaining elements- especially when the data is extensive or datasets complex.
People get tired of reading data that demands attention to understand and interpret. Consequently, designers are using these new design methods to make data pop up, but in less dramatic ways. Some of the most frequently visualized data types today include scatterplots, maps, bar and radar charts, and line and area charts.
6. Immersive Animation
Animations have been around for as long as art has existed. Today, more companies are using animation on apps and websites for a lot more than making elements look good. They also use them to make content more fun and interesting and improve user immersion and experience.
Traditional animations are becoming blander with time. The new style of mixed animation that combines 2D and 3D elements with stop-motion has become very popular. Designers use graphics and physics-based animations to produce unusually-styled solutions that generally manipulate user psychology to improve the overall quality of the interaction.
In 2022, immersive animation plays a role in design that regular animation has not before: product branding. Companies invest millions to produce unique animations that improve their brand’s animated identity. These animations add character to content, including text and images, and complement brand voice and tone.
As new facets of animations emerge, UX designers are jostling to set the trend in using animations to make a story anywhere on the screen and to make the loading and error page more entertaining. Captivating cursor effects that were insanely popular in the early 2000s are back with a bang. Immersive animations are also used to make explainer videos more captivating and make kinetic typography more fashionable.
7. Microinteractions
Microinteractions refer to the small interface and feedback changes that assist the user to navigate an app or website. They often include visual, audio, and kinetic effects that serve as feedback or prompts for the user. They are built into apps and websites to inform users what happened, prompt them to take action, or suggest what comes next.
Microinteractions are not new; they have been around for over three decades. However, these UX effects are getting a new lease of life, especially when combined with immersive interactions such as animations. Designers now use microinteractions to keep users engaged and develop a positive user experience.
One key aspect of modern microinteractions is how harmonious they are with other elements of UI and UX. For instance, using splash colors to complement animated data is a noticeable tactic to keep the user’s attention from scattering. Microinteractions play a key role in adding meaning to the various elements on a device screen.
UX Designers in top tech companies use barely noticeable but psychologically impactive microtransactions in various ways. For starters, they are useful in helping navigate a website or app, explaining various functionalities, and even introducing new elements. Processes that were previously lengthy and dull are now ‘gamified’ through microinteractions that help the user perceive information better.
Conclusion
Digital design, and especially user experience, is a constantly evolving art. Every new emerging and re-emerging trend serves a new purpose and often helps the user in a myriad of ways. However, despite all the developments and trends, the role of design remains the same. When I design and build an app, I cannot afford to overlook any new trends set by top tech companies.
