According to David Allan Coe “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it is the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” Similarly, to create a timeless app that will stand the test of time, special attention must be directed to the mobile UI/UX trends during its development process.
A study finds that most people make decisions based on their first impressions of something. Therefore, in just twenty seconds, a user or viewer on your platform can form an opinion about your company’s brand based on the UI/UX design (which is the first thing he/she sees) and decide whether to like your mobile app or forget it exists. Though a charming architecture is impressive, yet, the services you render and experiences they bring also determine your client’s stay or exit.
The fast pace at which the mobile apps and design trends advance, calls for serious attention. To go with the flow, it is essential for all companies to update the existing design of their apps and adjust to the latest trends to attract new clients and extend the user experience of the existing ones.
What Is Mobile UX Design?
User experience (UX) design in mobile apps is a process of creating products and services that extend and improve the quality of the time the user spends in an app. Once a mobile UX design fails to achieve this goal or purpose, the result is always disastrous.
We all know that a successful app must be dependable, fast, easy to use, and not a battery killer. However, before an app can achieve the aforementioned, it must be fully operating on the latest UI/UX trends. So, why don’t we start exploring the new UI/UX trends, which are growing fast in popularity in 2020?
The List Of The Latest Mobile UX Design Trends
- Storytelling
- Augmented reality
- Virtual reality
- Micro-interactions
- 3D Graphic in Mobile UI
- Asymmetrical layouts
- Dark mode
1. Storytelling
Recent evidence revealed that a customer engages with your products if there is a kind of emotional trigger that pushes him/her to respond to your call. This kind of behavior achieves your goals and works in your best interests. We can’t ignore the fact that customers don’t only buy with their minds, but also with their feelings.
However, what is an emotional trigger? They are simply those reactive force places inside you that become activated in response to something, and influence our decisions.
Storytelling is a good example of these triggers as it captures the consumers’ attention by the means of images, illustrations, pop-ups, call-to-actions, and anything else, which possesses a strong emotional and creative impact on users’ minds.
Mobile UI Storytelling
Source: Duolingo
Mobile User Interface storytelling is designed to keep users interested during their journey in your app. And since good stories always captivate the audiences, no doubt that your users will be stuck in your app for a longer period, just because there will be more for them to see. Therefore, the application of visual storytelling in UX design is simply a means of rendering engagement of users, which in return, will create a mass positive attitude towards your brand.
As an important trend in mobile UX design, mobile apps built with appealing and creative narrative contents or stories always outperform others, because emotional attachment is high. Such natural and engaging involvement of users is beyond any comparison.
The advantages of storytelling in UX design
- User’s full activeness
- It makes a product description easier to comprehend.
- It extends users’ experience in a positive way.
- It enables emotional triggers.
2. Augmented Reality
The present state of mobile app development would have been so different if it weren’t for the Augmented Reality, not to mention its future. Even though this interactive experience of a real world is already very popular and widely accepted, yet, it gives room for further creativity.
Augmented Reality is built to integrate digital information with a live reality; a process made possible through the help of cameras on mobile phones. Even though firstly it gathered lots of followers in games such as Pokemon Go, Dino Trek, and others; however, today, its functions can be employed differently; which in its turn can make the experience in AR more exclusive.
Source: PokemonGo
A trusted report reveals that several successful tech companies are desperately investing huge funds into further development of Augmented Reality. Therefore, its growth will be rocketing in different industries in 2020. The renowned mobile and accessories firm, Apple, also contributed to the development by creating ARKIT 3.5; an advanced tool to create products with AR foundation.
Therefore, based on all these reports, no doubt that Augmented Reality will be among the leading trends in Mobile UI design. Therefore, all designers and developers around the world should buckle down to implement AR while providing their users with an impressive experience.
3. Virtual Reality
The term Virtual Reality simply means “near reality,” that’s an experience closely related to real-life situations. VR system is the application of modern technology to create a simulated environment.
Unlike the old system whereby users infiltrate the computer world merely by sitting right in front of a screen and viewing it; instead, Virtual Reality places the user inside an experience just as placing a piece on the chessboard. Users are able to interact directly with the 3D worlds. How is this possible? It’s through its interface and the VR headset. The interface contains complex detailing, which users adapt to in order to interact with the environment.
Today, VR is mostly used in the gaming world. However, VR experts think their previous launch of the Oculus Quest is a good shot in expanding their tentacles. Concurrently, VR mobile apps are now available in different categories.
A good example is Google Expedition, an app designed to enable the user to enjoy and explore our magnificent planet without moving outdoors. As a user on a virtual tour, you get to visit places like Mount Everest, and more. Furthermore, an educational tour of various subjects such as the anatomy of human skin is also available. The 360-degree images contain pieces of information and provide an exciting experience.
Source: Google
4. Micro-interactions
The concept “Micro-interaction” can be described as the tiny moments where the user of an app and its design interrelate. These concepts exist in all apps, though we may not always pay attention to them, yet, they go a long way to determine your app credibility.
If the app interfaces are well designed, micro-interactions add to it by engaging the users in a more fascinating way, but if otherwise, the whole users’ experience is jeopardized. A good example of micro-interaction is the “Like and Dislike” buttons, which can immensely enhance our opinion about the app in a second.
These details (regardless of the size) make impact, and if you remove them, the app value decreases. Just imagine seeing different photos on your Instagram page, but being not able to like or comment on them, how would you feel? Have you perceived how people react to posts, photos, videos, and statuses on Facebook lately? It made a huge difference when the new Facebook animated emotions of different types appeared that allow users to react to any post more expressively! UI of the app can positively influence your mobile experience if you pay more attention to these tiny, but highly essential elements.
Source: Autolikes
Today, a successful Modern UI design without employing micro-interaction is simply a delusion, and such an establishment will certainly become unproductive. Therefore, modern app designers and developers shouldn’t limit themselves to what they have known, but strive to integrate innovative ideas to their app and provide an excellent user experience.
5. Asymmetrical layouts
Asymmetrical layouts can change your design into a mind-blowing concept. Though, some people call these patterns “imbalances” and some designers may even refrain from the whole Asymmetrical project, however, the concept has more hidden gems than you ever imagined!
Aside from the full layouts, there are packages such as mix and matching symmetrical and Asymmetrical concept in design, and balancing them.
The opportunities you will be deriving from adopting asymmetrical layouts in your project are numerous when you put your customers’ needs first. Once all important concepts had been put in place; the sky is your starting point in the app interface design.
Source: Detaen
6. 3D Graphics in Mobile UI
The 3D graphic is widely accepted and adopted in mobile app UI design as it depicts the world in a more real manner than 2D pictures or flat images. The development of AR and VR app further makes its use spread like wildfire, as these two integrated 3D graphics in their interface. For example, IKEA app adopted 3D and the experience of AR to display furniture in a user’s room.
Source: Appstore
A product shown in the 3D format tends to appear more appealing and attractive. The reason why many brands are now integrating 3D models is to provide their clients with the real-life shopping experience. These brands depict their products in a full view to lure customers and keep them in their e-commerce app for a very long time.
7. Dark mode
This app feature has been in existence before its fame rose up in 2019. Apple had a success when they announced in June 2019 that, a light-on-dark color scheme will be available across all native applications in iOS 13 and iPadOS. Furthermore, In 2020, WhatsApp also announced dark mode available for iOS and Android.
The race has begun. The dark theme has assumed its rightful track in Modern UI design and will proceed to glory. The dark theme has a lot of benefits — it reduces eye strain, appeals, and reduces excessive power consumption.
Source: Android Central — Whatsapp
“Nobody knows tomorrow, but today is certain.” The dark mode was unknown yesterday, but today, the three main companies in the technological industry (Apple, Google, and Facebook’s mobile app) have adopted this function in their apps. Therefore, this trend might grow beyond our imagination tomorrow, leaving familiar interface behind.
Why Is UI/UX Design So Important?
The UI/UX Design of the mobile is essential because it accomplishes three things.
- Firstly, it creates an appealing users’ experience platform.
- Secondly, it gives users satisfaction and makes your services more addictive.
- And lastly, it strengthens the bond between you and your customers.
It’s a duty that we owe to help you develop your idea and a user-friendly app. Our team has what it takes to turn users into admirers in a moment, and If you’re interested, check out our portfolio at Dribble.
The Final Thoughts
If you want your mobile app design to be the top, don’t neglect the trends. They are your friends when you wish to keep your users engaged and satisfied. The mobile design trends for 2020 enlisted above and many more were created to improve the users’ operation on your platform and in the end, boost users’ experience.
The creativity in app design is quite important in enhancing the users’ experience, so it is really worth paying attention to all the details. And if you have the agenda of creating an app and applying the latest trends in UI/UX design, our team of professionals can bring your ideas to reality. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
