UI Design Trends 2020/2021

Henry Ling
3 min readNov 4, 2020

Introduction

This article summarizes some of the trending UI designs in 2020 which are likely to continue to be popular in 2021.

3D graphics

Because of the staggering rise of processing power, 3D graphics has been more accessible and this trend is expected to continue next year. By adding this component, you give a sense of realism to the user experience.

Abstract drawings

This is a great way to create unique designs that stand out from the crowd. It also prevents competitors from copying your style.

Animations

When used wisely, awesome animations can really catch the readers’ eyes. This effect can add an extra layer of meaning into your content and make your website more memorable for users.

Bold typography

Large font sizes are extremely easy to read and make the title message speak out loudly. It’s important to use this sparingly to prevent user fatigue.

Dark mode

This is a low light interface that contains a mostly dark surface. Not just a cool scheme, this one actually saves battery power and is gentle to the tired eyes.

Data visualization

It is often easier and faster to present information visually. Dynamic data visualization tells a story in just a few seconds and in a stunning way!

Emojis to emotional design

Emotional designs are very popular in social media, chats,..etc and are a great way to send the message across whether it’s humor, sadness, surprise or happiness.

Geometric Shapes

This is commonly used to create horizontal or vertical dividers for the main page. It’s amazing that there’s literally endless combinations possible with these simple shapes!

Gradients

Provide some depth to your design while keeping it simple. Gradient background keeps the minimalism while adding a touch of fun to any website.

Microinteractions

How about a website with a big-eye-pizza watching over your mouse movement, and a mini pizza flying into the shopping cart once you add it to the shopping cart? This makes a fairly fun and engaging food ordering experience.

Storytelling

Storytelling websites interact with users in a different way in that it attempts to touch the user’s heart. In the following example, a bag is more than a regular bag product once we read through the stories on the website about how it’s designed and manufactured.

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