What Are the User Interface Design Elements to Watch for in 2018?

Somewhere around the time that Pokémon Go sent people walking head on into traffic in 2016, web designers started to shifting their focus even more to interface design. They moved the emphasis from purely landing the sale to creating user experience. Coincidence? Probably not.

How users were interacting with screens had been a thing. But now it was a really big thing. And from it all rose some great new ideas in UI design.

As such, 2017 asked designers to focus on designs that were more personalized and would save users time. But, miracle workers that they are, designers still needed to deliver deeper metrics than ever before.

So What Can We Expect from User Interface Design in 2018?

The good times just keep coming.

1. Gradients

Colors are going to be brighter and more vivid. And there will be more use of gradients. Yep. When it comes to user interface, 2018 is going to be the web designer’s dream.

2. Long Form Content

Content continues to be king. Or queen. Or some form of tyrannical royalty. 

The demand for lots and lots of words means that web pages require scrolling. This make writers happy (no easy feat) and is great for search engine optimization. But for designers, it’s challenging when content extends below the fold. So in 2018, UI design trends will be addressing this issue. Because designers deserve happiness too.

3. Full-Screen Video

It’s true that rich stories are developed through powerful writing. BUT, videos can speak a thousand words. Or more. Plus, they don’t require the user to scroll down. Or to read. (Which, for some, is a four-letter word.)

Visitors can more easily immerse themselves in the full-screen video experience. This leads to more involvement and, if all goes well, better metrics. So with that goal in mind, this trend is likely to grow in 2018.

4. Typography 

Yeah, while sites will be heavy with long-form content, full

page pictures (so gradient rich!) and videos, bold and expressive typography is expected to be in the limelight for 2018.

Forget minimalism. That’s so 2016. 

5. Illustrations

While color and typography contribute in their own way to story-telling, illustrations can stand on their own. 

That’s because illustrations are a versatile bunch. They can be sophisticated or simple, playful or serious, calm or animated. And they’re capable of creating unique experiences for website visitors. 

So they’re bound to stay relevant in 2018.

6. Cards

Cards are nothing new. They’ve been used in website design for a while.

They’re getting more attention now though because they’re easy to use in mobile design, are included Google’s Material Design and are such an  effective way to pack information into a small space.

And since people currently have an intimacy with their phones that surpasses what they feel for most other humans, this design element is expected to become even more popular in 2018.

Change Happens Fast - Trends Come and Go

So even though these trends in user interface design are bound to hold for the coming year, technological developments and humans’ capacity for fickleness will forever keep designers on their toes. 

For example, the increasing popularity of voice user interface could point to the possibility of a far less visible UI in 2019 or 2020. Who knows?

Here’s one important thing to remember though:

It Doesn’t All Come Down to the Designer

Sure, typography and custom illustrations depend on savvy designers. But long-form content requires skilled writers. And, of course, the drive for metrics involves experienced marketers. 

The group effort of creating a website requires everyone to play well together. And that’s some real user interface.