We exist in a world where consumers seek entertainment to escape the ordinary pressures of day-to-day life—and brand sites are adapting accordingly. Designers are looking forward to artificial intelligence, hover effects, and new navigation styles to implement the creation of stimulating brand experiences.
The goal of UX design is two-fold:
First, to take care of emerging demands and provide users with the best experiences when they interacted with products.
Second, to ensure that brands and businesses across all sectors have the tools needed to keep up with the newest developments that satisfy customers.
As we move further into the year, the importance of user experience (UX) design only continues to grow.
Let’s put the spotlight on the biggest UX design trends to watch in 2023, from voice-activated tech to mixed reality to imaginative personal experiences, and more.
In this blog, we look at what the experts have predicted will be the trends for and in UX design in the upcoming months of 2023. From the integration of newer technologies to rethinking design from the bottom up, we have it all here to help you stay ahead of the curve and create the best possible experience for your users.
So, let's help you dive in to see what the future of UX design holds!
1. The rise of voice interfaces
While the use of voice assistants and smart speakers is growing slowly, the trend for the coming years is definitely been progressive.
With this proliferation of smart speakers and other voice-activated devices, we’re likely to see more companies incorporating voice user interfaces (VUIs) into their products and services. This will require UX designers to consider how to design effective and intuitive voice experiences.
2. The emergence of mixed reality
The number of smartphone users across the world continues to grow, and so does the use of augmented and virtual reality (VR), i.e. mixed reality technology.
As virtual and augmented reality technologies, particularly in smartphones, continue to advance, we’re more likely to see more companies and UX designers using mixed reality to create more immersive and engaging user experiences.
In 2022, we saw brands making use of AR on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat for marketing purposes.
In terms of product/service use cases for AR/VR, designers will incorporate mixed reality in distinct, different, and useful ways.
3. Increased focus on accessibility
As awareness of accessibility issues grows, we see more businesses prioritizing accessibility in their products. This requires UX designers to have a deeper understanding of accessibility best practices and to design for a wider range of users, including those with disabilities.
Some examples of incorporating accessibility best practices can be using ALT text for images, closed captions and screen-reading options, and screen magnification options.
4. The rise of personalization
As companies gather more and more data on their users, the first-being party data, we’re more likely to see personalized user experiences to a greater extent. As a result, UX designers should brainstorm about how to use the data effectively to create experiences that are both relevant and engaging.
A quick note: there’s a basic difference between personalization and customization. The former refers to practices from the business side, whereas the latter refers to tweaks a customer can make themselves. Both can go for making great UX experiences, but AI advancements are making personalization an even better asset.
5. Bolder visual choices
Designers are also taking a bolder visual design approach to better differentiate and provide more unique experiences moving into 2023.
While lots of white space and minimalist design have been popular for several years, more and more sites and apps are making use of gradient backgrounds, 3D objects, and immersive/parallax scrolling.
Gradients became popular this year, but without a doubt, its popularity will still remain next year. We notice how customers are increasingly inclined to the implementation of the gradient in design.
A gradient is an excellent element to enhance audience engagement and illustrate the virtual space, especially since users are already actively interacting with these visual elements.
Immersive scrolling should be considered in 2023. It allows for more information to be presented without too much space, making it a progressive UX design trend for digital products.
6. Mobile-first design
Okay, so mobile-first might not be a trend, but it's definitely good practice and something to keep front of mind. For many internet users, mobiles are the only way for them to access the internet at all.
The idea of mobile-first design is to consider mobile users in the first phases of design, and develop for desktop use from there. If your product or service is primarily digital, this point of the mobile-first
design is especially important, as the experience needs to be seamless across all devices.
Mobile-first design allows digital product creators to build seamless experiences that are responsive to any device, regardless of how people are accessing the site.
From utilizing more concise language to ensuring that all elements of the interface are still easily viewable on smaller screens, there are a number of things you can implement to ensure an optimal mobile experience.
7. Emotional design:
This is another concept within UX design that’s been on a slowly increasing trajectory of importance. A common line of thinking within the design is the idea that a “better” user experience is tied to easily measurable metrics, e.g. everything must be faster. But the emotional experience for users is becoming more important.
Designers will need to consider the UX of wearable tech as the market grows. This includes alternative interfaces and making use of shortened text and voice commands, and using simplified buttons.
8. Generative AI:
In UX design, we’ll likely see an increasing number of tools with generative AI features that help designers come up with ideas quickly, such as Adobe Express.
Naturally, there are concerns regarding ownership and the level of “creative license” generative AI provides, however, it can be used for simple tasks such as generating a website color palette or removing certain elements of a design’s background.
Trends that center on technology, such as generative AI, are nearly always subject to fast-paced changes given their speed of progression. This time next year, we could even be talking about AI-generated AR/VR content. How cool would that be?!
9. Turning negatives into positives
With the heightened uncertainty of current events, many users are looking for a sense of relief and entertainment online… even when they get lost! In the case of 404 and loading pages specifically, it’s all about turning the frustrating error messages and waits times into positive experiences.
Brands must keep in mind that 25% of internet surfers will leave any site that takes more than 4 seconds to load. So if a 404 or loading page is going to happen, make sure it includes silly animations, playful videos, or funny imagery that are in line with your brand personality.
By adding a sparkle of interactivity, it keeps visitors engaged and entertained throughout your brand experience; rather than making them check out.
For example, if you have a content-heavy experience that requires a loading indicator, give your users a fun, simple task to do in the meantime. Increasing the levels of cohesion and consistency in your design shows off your brand’s funny, human side.
Visitors will appreciate all the attention to detail and care are taken into every aspect of the experience, building trust in your brand and connecting with your users on an emotional level.
Looking ahead at UX design in 2023
In 2023, websites will demand your attention more than ever. Complex, overwhelming and interactive experiences in a mixture of a plethora of especially hovering and scrolling effects work together to dominate every millimeter of web pages. Breaking and bending the laws of UX, these trends are starting a revolution, and we are here for it.
Overall, the UX design trends we’re seeing in 2023 look toward creating more engaging and imaginative experiences through the use of new technologies, and moving away from minimalist visuals and toward uniquely bright and bold UI.
If you’re looking for someone to help you inculcate, implement and keep up with these upcoming trends, You are at the right place.
We, at Dezy It do it through:
Providing our professionally equipped UX/UI designers to the client's project.
Maintaining close contact with the customer i.e. scheduling frequent meetings and calls. This also includes informing them about the minutest of updates and letting them be the decision maker.
Empathizing with the customer through understanding their perspectives, problems, aspirations, pain points, etc.
Giving our heart and soul into the project we are handed over with so that updates can be carried out along with keeping up with their deadlines.
To learn more about our services or product, you can click here.