Latest trends in User Interface Design

What is a User Interface? Everything that we use and interact with is a User Interface. Right from a washing machine to an aircraft’s cockpit, or any software for that matter, everything is a User Interface. 

Some of the interfaces we come across everyday

The best way to identify a poor User Interface design is to observe the user. Whenever the user is frustrated or pissed off while interacting with product, it is an example of poor UI Design. For example, I always have a tough time in understanding the buttons located on the remote control of a set top box. Moreover, the text on old remote controls is nearly torn off.

As UI Designers, our job is not only to create “Beautiful” stuff, but it is to create more “Usable” stuff. Products or Interfaces, which is not only easy to use, but also create minimum user interface friction.

Sounds like an easy job, which involves just a few properly placed buttons and links, but it is far beyond. Imagine! In companies like 99design, Apple, Google, UI Design is the highest paying job. I think because the industry has now realized the importance of user centric design.

Following are some latest happenings and trends in the UI Design-

     A.      MINIMALISM –

It is the most happening trend in the UI industry just for the reason that designers have realized that everything Usable is simple. Simple background, simple foreground and simple icons, with simple colors makes the UI easy to understand and more usable.

Windows 8, IOS 6, Photoshop, all these interfaces are simply the icons with a contrasting background padding which directly speak for themselves.

Though Minimalism is a great way to design a web application which focuses on user generated content – if done right, users will rarely complain about it. But it is often a pain in the ass of a designer to convince the client for such a design. It will often be too simple for him and he would often think that, why is he paying you so much money for such a simple design? So it is important to understand the stakeholders of your project before actually using such an approach.

Minimal and Clean Windows 8 User Interface

     B.      SKEW MORPHISM-

Apple was the pioneer to adopt this Design approach, later many other companies like Google and Microsoft adopted it. The design approach relies on imitating the functionality and looks of the physical objects around us and further implementing them on our interfaces. For example, using wooden bookshelf with book covers to represent digital content. This is the closest example of Skew morphed UI Design.

This design approach is often argued upon by the critics because according to them, imitating real-world objects necessarily means imitating the limitations that come with them. On the contrary, others believe that such a design gives freedom and friendliness to the user and is more Usable.

Such a design trend should be used while design UI for touch devices. Gesture response is important for implementing such a design. Using it on web apps and projects is not a good idea, although some elements can be used to enhance parts of the interface.

i Books use bookshelf as a whole to depict its UI

     C.      LASER FOCUS-

Laser focus, focuses on exactly the one task that is user is there for. Such a UI is clean and direct. Google search engine is the best example of such a UI. The key benefit of this approach is simplicity – users instantly know what the application is about and what the suggested action is.

Such an approach is best when the function of a website or project is single. This trend can mostly be used in search engines, flight booking websites, etc.

Google homepage with crystal clear function

     D.      CONTENT SENSITIVE NAVIGATION-

Such a trend came up with the rise of dynamic user interfaces. It is best way to hide the unnecessary element in the UI of any project. This approach raises a serious question. What elements should be on the screen all the time and which ones can be shown only in certain situations.

Such a trend is being followed in the social networking sites like Pinterest, Facebook, etc.

Content activates only when the mouse is rolled over the image in Pinterest

     E.       COLLAPSED CONTENT-

This is another way of decluttering your UI elements. The important information is grouped into specific headers and collapses only when required. Many mail portal use such an approach. The best part about such a trend is that despite having infinite functions in your webpage or project, the actions are grouped.

Such a design approach is used in mail portals and in software like Photoshop, Word, and Excel etc.

Collapsible top bar in Microsoft Word

CONCLUSION:

When designing web or mobile pages and applications, good user interface design is of paramount importance – sometimes, that’s what the project is all about.

By becoming a great user interface designer, you put yourself in a rather elite design company – there aren’t a vast amount of talented user interface designers out there.