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

Consistency in UI/UX builds trust and efficiency — without it, users feel lost. Learn how top brands maintain it and how AI can help.

Article by Rodolpho Henrique
Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
  • The article examines the role of consistency in UI/UX design for user trust and efficiency.
  • It showcases visual, functional, and interaction consistency in creating seamless experiences.
  • The piece warns about the negative effects of inconsistency, including confusion and frustration.
  • It promotes the use of AI and design systems to ensure consistency across digital platforms.
Share:Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
4 min read

If Mobile-First thinking has revolutionized the UX Design industry, AI-First is promising to be an even more spectacular kick in the pants.

Article by Greg Nudelman
The Rise of AI-First Products
  • The article explores how AI-powered operating systems are changing user interactions.
  • It covers AI-driven personalization, automation, and adaptive interfaces.
  • The piece discusses challenges like privacy, over-reliance on AI, and user control.
  • It highlights opportunities to design more intuitive and human-centered AI experiences.
Share:The Rise of AI-First Products
11 min read

AI is reshaping UX, and Figma may be sinking. As AI-driven systems minimize UI, traditional design roles must evolve — or risk becoming obsolete. Are you ready to adapt?

Article by Greg Nudelman
AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
  • The article explores the fundamental shift in UX as AI-first systems minimize the role of UI, rendering traditional design tools like Figma increasingly obsolete.
  • It introduces the “Iceberg UX Model,” illustrating how modern AI-driven interfaces prioritize functionality and automation over visual design.
  • The piece argues that UX professionals must shift their focus from UI aesthetics to AI-driven user experience, emphasizing use case validation, AI model integration, and data-informed decision-making.
  • It warns that designers who remain fixated on pixel-perfect layouts risk becoming obsolete, urging them to adapt by engaging in AI-driven UX strategies.
Share:AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
7 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