Future UX Trends in Web Design: Improving User Experience
The World Wide Web of today looks extremely different to what it did 35 years ago. And one area that is almost unrecognisable is the area of UX. When web design first became a thing, the user’s experience was the last thing on designers’ minds. This is a stark contrast from today, where UX has become its own specialist area and also a crucial consideration within web design. But to keep offering the optimal user experience, businesses and web developers must factor in how user demands are going to change.
What is UX?
If you are completely new to the area of UX, it stands for user experience. In the world of web design, the user is the person who is using a website or mobile application. The experience refers to how seamless it is to complete tasks such as finding products, making a purchase or simply finding the information that they require.
The job of a UX designer is to optimise websites in terms of structure to offer the most user-friendly process. In terms of the process of designing a website, a UX designer will hand over to a UI designer, who will then add visual designs to complete the site.
3 UX Trends To Consider
Consider New Ways of Browsing
The shift from desktop to mobile browsing has heavily influenced the way we design. It means that simply having a mobile website is no longer enough, your mobile site must now be a priority. This shift also created the need for mobile-first design that considers how screen size impacts text size, navigation menus and content.
Going forward, browsing habits will change again. Many people are already beginning to experiment with things like virtual reality (VR) devices and voice recognition devices. As a result, designers must now start considering hands-free browsing and how browsing via these types of devices will require bespoke UX patterns.
Voice-first design will particularly impact the way we search for items, and could soon replace filtering systems of today. VR, on the other hand, will test designers’ ability to blur the lines between the digital world and the real world.
Prepare for Web3
Web3 is the term given to the latest iteration of the web. Web1 refers to the era in which we could only read content, while Web2 is when sites like forums emerged, meaning we could read but also contribute written content. In Web3, we will be able to read, write and own content in a shift from a centralised web to a decentralised one.
The decentralised web is closely linked to the emergence of decentralised technologies, including blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs. As a result, designers must find ways to integrate this new technology into websites and apps.
Features of Web3 will include things like token-gated access, crypto payments and NFT-shaped assets—all of which are designed to take control away from central intermediaries and pass it on to the user. Adding these features to a website is one thing, but doing so in the most user-friendly way is a whole different task. In fact, one of the main criticisms levelled at Web3 projects is the lack of user-first design that exists in the space, which many people believe has subsequently impacted adoption rates.
Artificial Intelligence
There are a lot of people speaking about AI at the moment, and there’s no doubt that AI is developing at an alarming rate. But while many people are quick to criticise AI, others are beginning to realise the potential benefits it brings. This is causing businesses all over the world to compete when it comes to harnessing the power of AI, whether that’s a content marketing agency or a financial institution.
In the world of web design and UX, many people believe that AI has the potential to offer a higher level of personalisation. AI tools are capable of analysing vast quantities of data, which can then be used to offer more personalised recommendations or even completely different experiences.
It’s also worth considering how AI trends may not just benefit the end user, but also the designer. Software such as Figma and InVision, which come with steep learning curves, could be replaced by generative AI tools that are capable of producing wireframes and interfaces based on prompts and inputs.
Final Thoughts
Nobody knows for certain how the web design landscape will change in the future. But it is important to stay on top of trends and technological advancements to give you the best idea. As mentioned above, things like virtual reality, cryptocurrencies, and AI will have a knock-on effect, which will be felt in the world of UX and beyond. Being quick to react to these trends and tailoring experiences accordingly is key. If you are a UX designer or have aspirations to be one, it’s well worth connecting with more experienced designers and gathering opinions on how UX will change in the future.