Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Design ›› These are the UI/UX trends you need to keep an eye out for in 2021

These are the UI/UX trends you need to keep an eye out for in 2021

by Ather Nawaz
5 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

1400x765UXtrends1

What are the trends that product innovators and product designers need to look out for in the coming year? What areas will play critical roles for our products to stand out? Let’s take a firm look.

All industries change over time. But the evolution of the design industry is the one that gets highlighted a lot. Design is one area in a product that needs to improve and advance more frequently than others. That is why product innovators and product designers should always stay ahead of the competition to make the products usable and aesthetically attractive.

What are the trends that product innovators and product designers need to look out for in the coming year? What areas will play critical roles for our products to stand out? Let’s take a firm look.

AI is going to be everywhere.

UXtrends

When we think about AI, we picture complex robots and technologies of the future. But AI is more than just the over-the-top stuff you see on TV. AI plays a big part in UX without us even realizing it.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a complex chatbot or a virtual assistant. AI can be involved in creating the most basic UI elements.

Think about the personalized music suggestions on Spotify. The suggested videos on Youtube or Netflix recommendations. This personalization was achievable because of AI. It helped us improve the experience for the user through design!

You might say that we don’t necessarily need AI to do that. “Even a bunch of developers can help us put custom content on the page.”

This is where personalization differs from customization.

Nielsen Norman Group describes the primary goal of personalization is to:

deliver content and functionality that matches specific user needs or interests, with no effort from the targeted users.

On the other hand, customization is about a direct change in the interface that occurs due to a user’s action. It’s about controlling the elements on the screen according to their preference.

So how does it relate to UX?

That’s a fair question. This all seems like something that the developers came up with and has nothing to do with design. But when you look at the outcome of using AI, it’s got more to do with the user experience than the technology.

In our Spotify example, the outcome of using AI in the product is to make the interface more personal to the user by generating content that is relevant to them.

This improves the user experience. And even though we don’t use Figma or other design tools to create it, the technology is used to improve the products UX.

Studies have shown that people tend to prefer a product and brand that makes them have a personal connection with them.

Mobile-first design is more critical than ever.

The importance of responsive design is well documented by now. The analytics from websites keep suggesting why it’s crucial. But one crucial factor might just have made the mobile-first design even more vital.

UXtrends

Source: Hygge — eCommerce II by Daniils https://dribbble.com/shots/12211663-Hygge-eCommerce-II

Google recently announced its “Mobile-first indexing best practices” which outlines how Google predominantly uses the mobile version of indexing and ranking content.

This means that the Google bot will now use your websites’ mobile version to index your content. According to Google’s documentation,

Responsive design is no longer an option. It’s a priority. As a product designer, this might be the time for you to sharpen your responsive design skills.

3D is love, 3D is life

Many UI trends come and go from time to time. You might say that flat design is right now the king. The neuromorphic design never had a lot of fans. But 3D elements are receiving some new-found love.

UXtrends

Source: Animation from Protopie https://.protopie.io/

One of my favorite websites these days is the landing page for Pitch. They have used it as their brand as well.

Recently these kinds of illustrations can be seen on many other websites as well. Another good example is Blue Receipt.

3D design got a new boost with apple incorporating it in the new macOS update set to release later this year.

MacOS BigSur has a set of revamped icons with a lot of 3D elements in the icons. Below are just a few of them.

 UXtrends

VR to disrupt the industry?

 UXtrends

Source: MR Player by Volodymyr Kurbatov (https://dribbble.com/shots/11547105-MR-Player)

Earlier in the post, we discussed the part AI will play in the coming year’s design industry.

VR, another “futuristic” technology, is gaining a lot of traction as of late.

It’s not something new. Many companies tried to make it a thing, but it was never quite what we thought it could be.

We saw the likes of the Oculus by Facebook, Gear VR, and Google’s Daydream. But none of these products really took off.

With the recent release of the blockbuster videogame Half-Life Alyx, which was exclusively a VR game, the future for games for the platform seems bright.

There are rumors that Apple is working on a brand new VR glass. We all know how good Apple is with releasing their products.

If the launch is pulled off well, we can see an entire AppStore dedicated to the VR platform.

This means a whole new array of apps for product designers to work on.

If the new VR wave takes off, we might be looking at a quite exciting time for designers soon.

 

The bottom line is that design is an ever-changing field. It’s not always “brand new” concepts; it’s sometimes a throwback. That’s the beauty of the design.

What makes a good designer is someone who doesn’t settle. Someone curious enough to keep our creative minds running.

These are the trends that look to be most promising for the year ahead. But we should always be on our heels and be updated about the latest trends if we’re constantly making a change in people’s lives through products.

 UXtrends
post authorAther Nawaz

Ather Nawaz

I am passionate about digital experiences, and I have primarily delivered experiences for business applications, and also for the end-user application.
I believe in design enablement through vision and strategy. I believe in the advocacy of users, however constantly reflecting on business values through the process of development. I value shipping over anything else and believe in the values of transparency and authenticity.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

Indonesia’s retail landscape is shifting fast. From digital giants to local shops, businesses are adapting with new strategies to stay ahead. What’s driving the change, and who’s winning the retail game? Find out here.

Article by Thasya Ingriany
Scenarios of Change: How Retail Adapts to Economic Shifts in Indonesia
  • The article explores how Indonesia’s retail sector is adapting to economic shifts, balancing digital transformation and traditional strategies.
  • It highlights how large e-commerce platforms are thriving by offering competitive pricing and flexible payment options, while traditional retailers embrace omnichannel strategies to stay relevant.
  • The piece emphasizes the growing importance of hyperlocal retailing, trust-building through immersive brand experiences, and loyalty programs that drive consumer engagement.
Share:Scenarios of Change: How Retail Adapts to Economic Shifts in Indonesia
15 min read

Discover how breaking down silos and embracing cross-functional collaboration can lead to smarter, more user-centered design — and better products for everyone.

Article by Rodolpho Henrique
Beyond the Design Silo: How Collaboration Elevates UX
  • The article explores how siloed UX design practices can hinder product success and argues for cross-functional collaboration as essential to creating meaningful user experiences.
  • It outlines the benefits of working closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to align user needs with technical feasibility and business goals.
  • The piece provides real-world collaboration examples across research, prototyping, design systems, and accessibility to show how teamwork leads to more innovative and effective UX outcomes.
Share:Beyond the Design Silo: How Collaboration Elevates UX
4 min read

Designing for AI? Know what your agent can actually do. This guide breaks down the four core capabilities every UX designer must understand to build smarter, safer, and more user-centered AI experiences.

Article by Greg Nudelman
Secrets of Agentic UX: Emerging Design Patterns for Human Interaction with AI Agents
  • The article examines how UX designers can effectively work with AI agents by understanding the four key capability types that shape agent behavior and user interaction.
  • It emphasizes the importance of evaluating an AI agent’s perception, reasoning, action, and learning abilities early in the design process to create experiences that are realistic, ethical, and user-centered.
  • The piece provides practical frameworks and examples — from smart home devices to healthcare bots — to help designers ask the right questions, collaborate cross-functionally, and scope AI use responsibly.
Share:Secrets of Agentic UX: Emerging Design Patterns for Human Interaction with AI Agents
10 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and