At Synmek, we’re always looking at the latest user experience ( UX ) trends. This year ( 2019 ), we’re anticipating a whole new approach to user experience design. We’ve put together a list of the top 5 design trends for 2019.

1. Shift from Flat Design to Material Design
2. Voice-Command Is Growing
3. Device-Agnostic Design Practices ( Responsive Design )
4. Animations & Interactivity
5. Content & Digital Storytelling

Trend #1: Shift From Flat Design to Material Design

In order to understand this first design trend for 2019, we’ll need to understand what the difference is between Flat Design & Material Design. Over the years, we’ve seen hundreds of websites adopt the flat design patterns, which has been mostly driven by Apple’s design standards. However, Google introduced Material Design patterns in late 2014 to help UX / UI designers make more intuitive designs. Let’s take a look at what separates the two.

Flat Design Patterns

According to the Wikipedia entry for Flat Design, it is defined as follows.

Flat design is a style of interface design emphasizing minimum use of stylistic elements that give the illusion of three dimensions (such as the use of drop shadows, gradients or textures) and is focused on a minimalist use of simple elements, typography and flat colors.

So to summarize the above definition, flat design is a style using minimalistic styles combined with 3D styles such as Drop Shadows, Gradients and/or Textures.

Recommended Reading About Flat Design: What Is Flat Design?

Material Design Patterns

First developed by Google in 2014, Material Design is a set of design principles & guidelines which mixes the classic principles of good design and the innovation of technology. Back in June 25, 2014 Google first debuted the Material Design patterns with Google Now. According to their documentation on material design, they include the following design patterns.

1. Grid-Based Layouts
2. Responsive Animations & Transitions
3. Whitespace & Padding
4. Depth Effects ( Shadows & Lighting )
5. Card Layouts

Recommended Reading About Material Design: Google’s Material Design Patterns

Trend #2: Voice-Command Is Still Growing

From virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri to smart home devices such as Google Home, voice command isn’t something new. However, the trend will continue to grow well into 2019. Most experts are forecasting that 50% of searches will be conducted over voice by 2020. That’s a large number of searches to ignore when it comes to user experience. Some companies have already begun implementing voice activated features in their applications and websites, so we will see this trend continue to grow come 2019.

Companies Already Using Voice Activated Features on their Websites

• https://dictation.io/
• https://www.talater.com/annyang/
• http://browsebyvoice.com/
• https://speechnotes.co/

Recommended Reading About Voice Command Driven Websites: Voice Driven Web Apps: Introduction to the Web Speech API

Trend #3: Device Agnostic Design ( Responsive )

In this day and age, the internet is accessible & browsable from over 6 different devices. From TV Sets to Gaming consoles, websites need to be designed in a way to adapt to any device. Responsive design isn’t a new pattern, but it will continue to flourish in 2019. Having your website optimized for any device can ensure a pleasant user experience no matter how your user accesses it. Remember, you have to keep track of the new connected devices being released. From Apple Watches to Smart Glasses, websites should be friendly and easily navigated regardless of device.

Common Devices Used To Browse The Web

• Smartphones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Desktops
• Smart Watches
• Gaming Consoles
• TV Sets

Recommended Reading About Responsive Design Patterns: Responsive Design Patterns

Trend #4: Animations & Interactivity

Animations are a great tool to incorporate into modern web design. They provide a friendly & interactive user experience which keeps your visitors engaged. 2019 will see an increase in animations and subtle interactions which in turn will produce more engaging websites or apps. Animations are also a part of Material Design Practices mentioned above under Trend #1. 

Check out some of the Best Animated Websites of 2018 by Awwwards.com

Trend #5: Content & Digital Storytelling

As marketers, telling a story is the most beneficial way of connecting with potential customers. By using psychology and methods to build a connection with your user, you can build authority and trust. Building a website which incorporates a story telling design pattern can help increase engagement and conversion rates. Content will continue to play an important role in digital story telling as well as SEO in 2019. Traditional content marketing techniques may no longer have a rapid impact on rankings, but new methods of content creation ( video, podcasts, VR, etc. ) can help bring up website positions.

Final Thoughts on UX Trends in 2019

Ultimately, 2019 brings with it a whole bunch of new trends to look forward to. We at Synmek are continuously looking for the latest and most effective design trends to implement in our own designs. Expecting to see a lot more animations and interactivity within web applications or mobile apps will definitely be a boost to user experience.

Want us to add something to our list? Let us know in the comments below.

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