Mobile UX Design Trends You Need to Know

Today’s mobile web design trends are influenced by infinite variables, with two main forces: user demands and technological advancements. Every year, more people spend more time on mobile, and in 2023, the average person spent 5 hours a day, or around 1/3 of their total time awake.

This extensive use of websites and apps, paired with new advancements in generative AI, reshapes users’ expectations in terms of UI and UX, making them strive for faster, more engaging, and more personalized experiences.

How do these changing expectations reflect the trends in mobile web design? And what do you need to do to survive and go beyond the competition? In this article, we’ll go through the top mobile UX and UI design trends and share tips on creating a high-quality design.

Top 7 mobile website and app design trends 

A mix of simplicity, interactivity, personalization, and realism defines the current mobile website trends. Users expect sites to convey their message clearly, provide personal experiences, value diverse users, and focus on inclusivity.

To stay updated with the latest design trends, read on!

1. Minimalistic and intuitive interfaces

Minimalism will likely continue to be a top trend in website design. It aligns modern users’ values and preferences to prioritize efficiency, simplicity, and elegance. This design approach emphasizes functionalities by minimizing unnecessary elements and clutter. Here are several elements that will characterize minimalism:

• Buttonless UI: The mass adoption of swipe gestures for navigation has paved the way for buttonless UI to thrive. This trend will likely gain more traction and allow users to interact by using voice, gestures, and haptic feedback.
• Rounded corners: Rounded corners improve the compatibility and adaptability of the design, seamlessly fitting various screen sizes and resolutions. Users also find rounded corners more comfortable than sharp corners.
• Flat design: Bright colors and clean shapes with subtle shadows, characteristic of flat designs, have been popular for over a decade. This design approach prioritizes content and functionality over aesthetics.

2. Asymmetry

Moving away from the traditional grid system will likely gain popularity in upcoming years. This intentional imbalance between elements creates a dynamic and expressive visual that captures the user’s attention and curiosity. To achieve this, you can add diverse shapes, sizes, fonts, and colors.

Even though asymmetry can potentially make your site stand out, it’s important to strike the right balance. Too much asymmetry can lead to a confusing and chaotic visual. Therefore, ensure that asymmetry is balanced with harmony to successfully implement this UI trend.

3. Accessibility 

The time of universally designed websites is coming to an end. People no longer want to adapt to a site; instead, they expect the user experience and interface to adapt to their specific needs and preferences. In fact, following accessibility isn’t optional for many states but a legal requirement.

To do that, you must follow the content of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This guideline applies to both website and mobile apps and contains everything from enhancing color contrast, refining typography, and improving navigation.

4. Dark mode

People have been obsessed with dark mode since Twitter started it in 2016. Today, nearly every user has jumped on the dark mode train—from YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Evernote, and many others. It even became the default feature on Android and Apple OS in 2019.

The popularity of dark mode has helped users save their device’s battery life, reduce eye strain, and reduce harmful blue light. Besides that, it makes your site look sleek and more accessible. Designing websites with dark mode is a must if you’re planning to keep up with the trend and satisfy your users, but keep in mind that this might not be a fit for every industry.

5. Customizable and personalized interfaces

Modern users want more control over their experience. Creating customizable interfaces lets them personalize a website’s appearance and functionality based on their needs. This includes choosing a color theme, layout, font, and icons from a predefined option range.

Personalized interfaces also utilize data-driven ways to deliver services and content that match the user’s preferences and context – for example, showing relevant functions by hiding or rearranging specific buttons from the site’s navigation menu.

6. Full-screen graphics

Websites and apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have created a trend of maximizing visuals that take up the entire device screen. The prevalence of full-screen immersive graphics will likely continue due to their ability to capture more attention and allow users to connect to the brand emotionally.

However, even though this approach improves aesthetics and builds a sense of interactivity, it should be applied appropriately. Full-screen graphics may compromise usability and accessibility, cause longer loading times, and collide with the device’s default UI elements, such as the navigation bar and gestures. Finding the right balance between function and immersive visuals is important for successfully applying this trend. 

7. Bringing back 3D graphics

As immersiveness has grown in popularity, 3D graphics are making a return from the roaring past. 3D visuals are one of the best ways of enhancing the sense of depth, interactivity, and perspective of the interfaces. 3D graphics can improve icons, buttons, and other interactive elements to offer a more visually engaging experience.

Besides that, three-dimensional graphics can elevate augmented and virtual reality and offer a more immersive experience (like a virtual try-on). However, be careful when applying these graphics, as they may hinder the overall experience when misused.

Conclusion 

In the upcoming years, the UX and UI design landscape will further merge technological innovation with user-centric design principles. This harmonious blend will continue to emphasize simplicity, sustainability, and inclusivity, allowing designers to create websites that serve the diverse needs of every user.

User preferences will continue to evolve, and your website’s design must keep up with their needs. However, keeping up with the times doesn’t always translate to following the latest trends. It also involves strategically shaping your website’s visual identity to ensure it is relevant and aligns with your user base’s needs.

Yet, the pressure to innovate and take risks can sometimes hold back businesses from following trends that may not align with their goals. That is why partnering with a reliable digital agency can help ensure your UI/UX aligns with your brand and objectives. Schedule a call, and we’ll improve your website based on your user’s needs and desires!