Welcome to the UI/UX trends forecast for 2024! This year’s design trends are more exciting than ever, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology. Some trends have been quietly evolving, while others are exploding across the web. Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, there’s something for everyone. Let’s dive into these fresh, exciting trends and see how they’ll reshape the user experience landscape.
Remember the old Windows 8 days? If you think back to those animated tiles, you’ll recall the concept of Bento designs. This trend has made a massive comeback-and this time, it’s on steroids! Apple, always the trendsetter, has taken the Bento design aesthetic and run with it, infusing animation and interaction into its grids.
The idea is simple: instead of static blocks of content, Bento designs now offer interactive grids where videos play, images glide, and hover interactions make everything feel dynamic. Some companies have gone even further, incorporating product demos directly into the Bento layout. Imagine hovering over a tile and immediately getting a live preview of a software interface! Relume, for example, has adopted this trend so thoroughly that its homepage is now one big animated Bento grid.
Want to try your hand at this trend? Resources like Bentor Grid offer inspiration, while Figma plugins can help convert Bento designs into interactive prototypes, making it easier than ever to experiment.
Dark mode isn’t exactly a new trend, but its popularity continues to grow in 2024, becoming a UI essential. It’s more than just an aesthetic—it’s a usability choice that enhances readability and reduces eye strain, especially in low-light environments. Besides, dark mode just looks cool. It’s sleek, modern, and offers a sophisticated contrast with vibrant colors and white text.
For designers, dark mode is about balance. It gives you the chance to play with bright, vivid accents and make elements pop. Whether you’re designing a mobile app or a full-fledged website, including a dark mode option isn’t just a feature—it’s a must-have. And hey, we all look better in the dark, right?
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are no longer reserved for gamers or sci-fi fans. 2024 sees AR workspaces becoming a major trend, especially after Apple’s big push into spatial design. VR headsets are now being used to create immersive workspaces where users interact with interfaces floating in front of them. Designers everywhere are creating AR/VR experiences that will change the way we work, design, and interact online.
If you’re eager to jump into AR, tools like Bezi make the process intuitive. It’s essentially the Figma of the AR world, providing easy-to-use tutorials and resources. Apple has even jumped into the fray, offering AR/VR kits in Figma. This makes designing for the third dimension more accessible to the average UI/UX designer.
Move over minimalism-hyperrealism is here to make things… well, real. In 2024, design is about bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds, offering ultra-realistic textures, lighting, and imagery that make interfaces feel almost tangible. Think highly detailed 3D icons, lifelike objects, and elements that seem to leap off the screen.
While flat design is fading into the background, hyperrealism is leading us into an era where digital visuals look as real as the world around us. Platforms like Airbnb are already incorporating hyper realistic elements into their UIs, and tools like Spline are making it easier than ever to create these intricate designs.
In 2024, animations are no longer optional-they’re expected. And while complex animations used to require knowledge of After Effects, today’s tools like Lottie Files make it simple for anyone to create fluid, engaging animations directly from Figma. Designers are no longer afraid to go all out, with Galaxy buttons and interactive elements becoming staples on websites.
Animated interfaces are more than just eye candy-they’re a powerful way to make designs stand out. Apple’s own website for the Watch Series 9 is an example of how live, moving visuals can create an immersive experience. On a smaller scale, interactive animations like hover effects and parallax scrolling add a level of depth and engagement that users crave.
Who needs subtlety when you can make a statement with massive typography? Oversized text is a trend that’s taking over websites and apps in 2024, delivering messages in bold, in-your-face styles. It’s not just about aesthetics; oversized text ensures accessibility, improves readability, and guides users’ attention exactly where you want it.
Designers are using giant fonts to create visual hierarchy, turning headlines into visual art. You’ve probably seen it already-big, bold text that immediately grabs your attention. Whether it’s a product page or a blog post, oversized typography makes an impact. Why whisper when you can shout?
Is flat design dead? Well, yes… and no. Flat design is slowly giving way to pseudo-3D elements, gradients, and depth—ushering in what feels like the end of an era. 3D icons are becoming more prevalent, especially after Reddit’s complete 3D rebrand, which set the design world abuzz. Even Apple’s MacOS icons have embraced a more dimensional look.
Websites today are incorporating more hover effects and parallax scrolling to give a sense of depth. Airbnb, a pioneer in UI design, used 3D animations to showcase new features, and many other brands are following suit. With tools like Spline making 3D design more accessible, it’s easier than ever to add dimension to your interfaces. The shift away from flat design is inevitable as the demand for visually rich, interactive experiences grows.
The days of muted tones are behind us. 2024 is all about vibrant, punchy colors and gradients that give designs an energetic vibe. Bold hues like electric blues, neon pinks, and deep purples are making their way into everything from backgrounds to buttons. Gradients, often seen as a thing of the past, have come roaring back—this time with a more sophisticated flair.
Vibrant colors offer a way to stand out in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. Gradients, particularly those with a multi-hue mix, add depth and dimension to otherwise flat designs. So if you’re feeling a little blah about neutrals, this is your year to go wild with color!
AI has officially entered the design world, but it’s not without controversy. While tools like Relume allow designers to create wireframes with just a prompt, and UIZer helps generate entire UI designs using AI, many designers are relying too heavily on these tools. The temptation to turn to ChatGPT for every design dilemma is real, but it’s important to remember that AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. It can inspire but may not always offer the most nuanced solutions.
That said, AI’s role in design isn’t going anywhere. Adobe and OpenAI have set standards for AI-generated art, ensuring that artists get the credit they deserve. Whether it’s used for inspiration or execution, AI will continue to shape how we design.
In 2024, the grid is not your master. Designers are experimenting with unconventional and chaotic layouts that break free from the rigid, symmetrical structures we’ve become accustomed to. Websites and apps are embracing asymmetry, layering, and scattered elements to create a sense of dynamism and movement.
These layouts create an intentional sense of chaos, often using overlapping images, unaligned text, and playful compositions that defy the norm. But don’t let the chaos fool you—these designs are carefully crafted to keep users engaged and interested. It’s organized disorder, and it works. It’s as if designers said, “Let’s make it messy—but in a beautiful way.”
2024’s UI/UX trends show a dynamic shift toward more interactive, immersive, and intelligent designs. As designers, it’s an exciting time to push boundaries and experiment with new tools and technologies.
Whether you’re embracing the animated Bento grids or experimenting with AR workspaces, this year is all about going beyond the flat, static designs of the past and embracing a new, interactive world. Just don’t rely on AI for all your design needs-you still need that human touch!
So, which trend are you most excited to implement in 2024? Let me know!
