As UI/UX design products like websites and apps, evolve, so do user expectations. Users get accustomed to new technologies and features, they come to expect that from all digital products that they use in their life. In this way, UX design standards also change and new features become a norm. Therefore it becomes extremely important for designers to keep track of new trends and adapt to them so that they meet consumer demands. By doing this, they are able to boost user engagement and satisfaction for their own products.

Users expect that designers will incorporate the latest design trends and provide them with the best possible interface. For designers to be able to do this, they first need a solid base or foundation and then ensure that they keep track of any new trends that arise in the UI/UX design space. The next consideration is to see how to incorporate this seamlessly into your own design.

Let’s look at the top 7 UX design trends 2022 making waves, so that you can stay updated with the latest trends that users have come to love and expect in 2022.

1. Increased Personalisation

From Netflix curating the perfect list of shows for us to watch to Spotify accurately predicting the artists you want to listen to next, personalisation is no longer just a trend, it’s become a part of our daily lives. And it’s only going to get better in 2022. 

Hyper personalisation is expected to play a much bigger role in UX in 2022. Personalisation is now going beyond the realm of customer satisfaction and actually focusing on a much more data drive online experience that addresses customer needs, even before users ask for it.

Localisation will also play a big role in creating a personalised experience for users. For example, users in specific regions may want options in their own local languages to sign in.

2. AR and VR led designs

Just like Meta has announced plans to create immersive digital experiences through augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR), so will other companies too. A digital reality beckons, and along with it user experience design standards are bound to change. 

These technologies will change how users interact with products and boost engagement. Several eCommerce stores have now integrated AR technology in their apps to let users virtually try on garments and accessories from the comfort of their homes. This will provide users with a much better user experience and also retain their attention a lot longer – meaning they’re more likely to convert to paid users. 

It is essential that UX professionals and designers keep up with these advancements in technology and adapt to changing user requirements to create the best possible customer interactions on their app.

3. Data Visualisation

The visualisation of data has already become very prominent in digital marketing but it is expected to get even bigger in 2022. Being able to present data in a way that is prominently visual and easy to understand is crucial for UX designers. Because users don’t want boring hard to read information, they want data that is presented in an appealing manner. This makes them interact with the product a lot more. Spotify wrapped is a great example of this. Showcasing the songs and artists that users listened to the most along with their listening time is a great way of validating their interests and also elevating engagement. When users share and show off their stats on social media, it builds up a lot of excitement and buzz and also acts as a great marketing tool. 

4. 3D Design and Animation

Many brands especially in the creative niche are moving towards creating unique websites and apps that showcase their brand story and what makes them unique. While 3D design and animation is not new and has been used for quite sometime to add flair to the user interface, they also play an important role in UX design industry. Using 3D techniques can help build exciting visuals that boost the overall user experience and engagement.

New design tools in the market are becoming extremely popular with UX designers, and will make 3D designing a lot more accessible.

5. Micro-interactions

Micro-interactions refer to the small visual elements that have a big impact on UX. These could be anything from the ‘like’ button on social media platforms, to scroll bars that show users where to navigate, micro-interactions really elevate user experience and will become the standard for UX design in 2022. Designers will need to get really creative how they implement micro-interactions to ensure that they stand out from their competitors.

6. Minimalism but with a twist

While minimal UX designs and clean user interfaces have become extremely popular in the last few years, in 2022, designers will be expected to keep the product minimal but also add their unique twist to draw in users and retain their interest.

Conclusion

UX design trends constantly keep evolving, and thus having a strong design foundation and knowing your design principles is essential. Once you have a design process in place, you can adapt to the changing trends. Dedicated UI/UX courses are a great way to learn the core principles.