Future-Ready UI: Design Trends for 2024

InfoThis is a summary of the following YouTube video:

Web & UI Design Trends for 2024

Jesse Showalter

Dec 28, 2023

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Education

Intro

  1. Dimensionality and layering will continue to be a significant trend in 2024, building on its popularity from 2023. This involves creating depth and complexity in design through the use of layers and three-dimensional elements, enhancing the visual experience.
  2. 3D elements are becoming more prevalent in web and UI design, offering a more immersive and engaging user experience. These elements can range from subtle enhancements to full 3D environments, depending on the design's purpose and audience.
  3. Complex animations are set to be a major trend, providing dynamic and interactive elements that capture user attention. These animations can be used to guide users through a website or application, making the navigation process more intuitive.
  4. Vibrant colors and gradients are making a comeback, adding energy and life to digital interfaces. Designers are using bold color schemes to create striking visuals that stand out and attract users.
  5. AI imagery is becoming increasingly integrated into design, allowing for more personalized and adaptive user experiences. This technology can generate unique visuals based on user data, enhancing the relevance and appeal of the design.
  6. Dark mode continues to be a popular choice, offering a sleek and modern look while reducing eye strain for users. This trend is particularly favored in applications and websites that are used frequently or for extended periods.
  7. Bento grids are emerging as a new layout trend, providing a clean and organized way to display content. This grid system allows for flexibility and creativity in design, accommodating various types of content seamlessly.
  8. Morphism, including both skeuomorphism and neumorphism, is gaining traction, offering a blend of realism and minimalism. These styles create interfaces that are both familiar and innovative, appealing to a wide range of users.
  9. Massive typography is being used to make bold statements and capture attention. Large, impactful text can convey messages quickly and effectively, making it a powerful tool in design.
  10. The rise of no-code builders is democratizing web and UI design, allowing more people to create and customize digital interfaces without extensive coding knowledge. This trend is empowering individuals and small businesses to develop professional-quality designs.

Trend #1

  1. Dimensionality and layering involve placing elements like text, images, and shapes on top of each other, creating a scrapbook style. This approach adds interest and life to designs, moving away from flat interfaces.
  2. The trend of dimensionality is gaining popularity as it brings vibrancy and dynamism to web and UI designs, making them more engaging.
  3. 3D elements, which became prominent in 2023, are expected to continue growing in use, enhancing the depth and realism of digital interfaces.

Trend #2

  1. The use of 3D elements in web and UI design is becoming more prevalent due to their ability to create engaging and interactive experiences. This trend is driven by the availability of affordable and user-friendly tools like Spline and Adobe Dimension, which make 3D design accessible to non-specialists.
  2. 3D design is no longer limited to splash screens or isolated moments; it is being integrated across entire applications, enhancing user interaction and storytelling.
  3. Complex animations are emerging as a significant trend in web and UI design, offering dynamic and engaging user experiences.

Trend #3

  1. The trend focuses on advanced animations beyond simple movements, including scroll animations, scroll hijacking, and parallax effects. These animations enhance interactivity and user engagement by making interfaces more dynamic and enjoyable.
  2. Interactive animations are becoming more prevalent due to their ability to make even serious websites more engaging and fun, providing users with a dopamine boost.
  3. Tools like Gap and Rive are driving this trend by simplifying the creation and integration of animations across various platforms, including native apps, web applications, and software.
  4. These animations are lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to incorporate into projects, making them accessible for a wide range of applications.
  5. There is a shift from neutral and calm color palettes to vibrant colors, reflecting a broader trend towards more visually stimulating and engaging design.

Trend #4

  1. The use of gradients is becoming widespread, with styles like brutalism and Neo-brutalism embracing playful and fun color schemes. This trend is expected to be prominent across websites and mobile applications, making digital interfaces feel fresh and engaging.
  2. 2024 is anticipated to be a year of fun in design, moving away from the serious and corporate styles of the past. This shift will lead to more interactive, colorful, and vibrant experiences in both web and mobile design.
  3. AI artwork, which saw significant growth in 2023, is expected to further explode in 2024. The advancements in AI tools over the past year will contribute to this trend, enhancing the quality and integration of AI imagery in design.

Trend #5

  1. The text discusses the shift from stock imagery to AI-generated imagery, emphasizing the customization and precision AI tools offer for design projects. Tools like Midjourney and Adobe Firefly are highlighted as key resources for creating tailored visual assets.
  2. The importance of improving prompting skills is stressed, as it will enable designers to generate the exact assets needed for their projects using AI technology.
  3. The year 2024 is predicted to mark a significant change where previously optional design trends will become essential. Among these, the adoption of dark mode is expected to become mandatory for digital interfaces.

Trend #6

  1. Dark mode is now a crucial feature in web and UI design, no longer just an optional extra. It is essential for designers to understand and implement dark modes effectively.
  2. Many websites and applications support both light and dark modes, often allowing users to toggle between them. This flexibility enhances user experience by catering to different preferences and environments.
  3. Advanced implementations of dark mode include automatic adjustments based on time of day or device settings, providing a seamless user experience.
  4. Designers must become adept at using various shades of black and dark colors to create branded and aesthetically pleasing dark modes.
  5. The Bento grid, influenced significantly by Apple's design philosophy, is emerging as a major trend in UI design.

Trend #7

  1. Bento grids have gained popularity, notably used by Apple and previously by Microsoft in their Surface design. They are appreciated for their organization and modern feel, encapsulating different elements cohesively.
  2. Bento grids are versatile, applicable to web, mobile, and native software, offering a fun and interactive design style suitable for various projects.
  3. Morphism is identified as an emerging trend for 2024, attributed to collective design practices.

Trend #8

  1. Morphism, including skew, new, and glass morphism, is making a comeback in design. This trend is driven by a desire to move away from overused flat, modern, and sleek designs towards more textured and tangible elements. Morphism will not dominate entire interfaces but will appear in small, joyful moments that provide dopamine hits.
  2. Designers are encouraged to become comfortable with morphism as it is expected to remain relevant. This trend emphasizes the use of textures, shadows, and real-world applications to create a more tangible feel in digital interfaces.
  3. Massive typography is another trend that has been popular for some time and is expected to continue. This trend is noted for its interesting and fun approach to design, making it a staple in modern web and UI design.

Trend #9

  1. Massive typography is becoming a staple in web design, expected to remain popular in 2024. This trend involves using large text sizes that dominate the visual space, creating a bold and impactful design statement.
  2. In web applications, massive typography is used creatively, often offset or partially offscreen, adding a dynamic and engaging element to the design.
  3. This trend extends to mobile applications, where the typography may not appear as large but is significantly bigger relative to the smaller screen size, enhancing visibility and user engagement.
  4. 2024 is anticipated to be a year of fun and experimentation in design, encouraging designers to push boundaries and incorporate playful elements into their work.
  5. The final trend discussed is the rise of no-code tools, which are increasingly being used to build digital products without traditional coding, making design and development more accessible.

Trend #10

  1. The text discusses the impact of no-code tools on web and application design, highlighting their ability to simplify the creation process. Tools like Webflow, Framer, and Wix Studio are mentioned as key players in this trend.
  2. Webflow has expanded its capabilities beyond website building by introducing variables, applications, and logic, making it a versatile tool for various projects.
  3. Framer is noted for its AI-driven website creation, offering a Figma-like experience that enables fast and responsive website development with advanced features like CMS.
  4. Wix Studio is highlighted for its drag-and-drop interface, allowing agencies and individuals to create without coding knowledge, emphasizing the importance of having a vision.
  5. The overarching theme is the reduction of friction in the design process, making it easier for creators without technical skills to bring their ideas to life.
  6. The text encourages engagement by asking readers for their thoughts on the discussed design trends and inviting them to subscribe for more content.