The world of web design is ever-changing. As a discipline at the cross section of creativity and technology – two industries that move at the speed of light – it’s no surprise that new web design trends, tools and techniques are constantly emerging and evolving. So, which popular web design trends will wow us over the next 12 months? Here is the some web design trends predicted for 2022….
Behavioral design is all about using visual cues to shape user behavior. Combining creative design with scientific data, it enables designers to better understand how users think to more effectively influence how they behave. This method is typically used to create products and apps that help users do things such as hit a fitness goal, develop a skill, or maintain a daily habit. Behavioral design employs techniques such as scarcity – like when there’s “only 1 room left” on a hotel booking site – and the CAR model – a strategy based around cue, action and reward.
While gradients may not be a new trend, they’ve certainly come a long way over time. Complex gradients are one of the more recent developments to emerge in video and web design, and are often used to add depth to flat images.
Typography is a super important element in UI design, and we’re seeing some typography trends develop.
Featuring big, bold letters designed to make an impact, big typography can make an impressive visual statement in web design – especially when combined with a more minimalistic design or layout. Opting for a bigger size of text can be great for creating a striking first impression, and also for tying other design elements together.
Continuing our obsession with all things retro, retro UI is now taking off in web design.
4.1. 70’s Inspired Oval and Arched Border Radius
The first retro trend we’re seeing has been coined the “oval and arched border radius”. This style involves cropping images into ovals and arches featuring a thin border set slightly apart from the image, mirroring the archway or oval shape. “This trend is popular in fashion and portfolio presentation and is a nod to vintage 70’s magazine layout,” says Vail Joy. “It is often combined with earth tones.”
4.2. 90s Grunge UI
The next retro trend making a big comeback in UI is 90s nostalgia. There are lots of things to love about the ‘90s aesthetic – including video games, VHS and glitch effects, sparkling bubble fonts, as well as punk and rave culture. And recently, as many ‘90s trends have resurfaced, we’ve seen the grunge aesthetic reemerge in UI design.
Next year, we’re expecting native desktop apps to continue to shine. These apps are installed on your desktop and accessed natively – think Microsoft Office suite as opposed to online Office 365 – and many software companies are now opting to create native desktop apps with user experiences comparable to their popular web versions.
As many of us continue to work from home, a hybrid approach to remote and in-person collaboration is becoming more and more necessary. As a result, in-app communication is required to be more seamless and engaging. Product designers are rising to the challenge of improving in-app comms – particularly in the SaaS and technology space where there’s a clear effort to make in-app collaboration both more coherent and more “human”.
To use Figma as an example again, the company has now introduced a “High five” feature for its online whiteboard, FigJam. This enables users working in teams to celebrate achievements together, greet other teammates, or get colleagues’ attention while working on a file. It eventually fades, similar to a raising a hand in video calling software.
While not necessarily a new trend, 3D designis continuing to flourish in the world of web design. 3D graphics are beingincreasingly used in UI to enhance web interfaces and add an eye-catchingelement to websites. 3D design, which uses computer-modellingsoftware to create objects with a three-dimensional appearance, is also apopular trend in graphic design, typography and digital art. It can be seeneverywhere from professional websites to personal portfolios.
DIY website builders and page-building tools are increasingly popular in the web design space, helping those with no or limited experience to get a website up and running. These platforms are shifting to become more accessible and user-friendly, moving towards a no-code approach. And here is the pick of the top Web Design trends you can expect to see more of in 2022. From the perfect bold font, to UX and UI kits, website templates and themes, all you need to create a seamless, smooth and aesthetically pleasing user experience.
