Top trends in UX in 2023

17.02.2023 Angelika Siczek

The changes that took place in previous years have consequences on the trends in UX design in 2023 – because the design is a response to the people’s needs and UX to the needs of a specific user. We are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, which forced us to close at home and open to the possibilities of the virtual world. Those who occasionally used fast online orders could become addicted to them, and groups of users who never wanted to enter the world of e-commerce were forced to do it and partly stayed there. More users started buying online, but also companies had to move their business online and create their online image from scratch. The introduction of UX principles has tamed virtual reality for many users, and some of them got used to the prevailing standards. Therefore, in 2023, good quality may not be enough to keep the user on the website. Designers must give the customer more to encourage them to do shopping in this store.

Scrollyteling – what is it?

The trend that helps to encourage users to use a website and make them stay on it for as long as possible is called scrollytelling. The name comes from a combination of the words scrolling – scrolling and telling – storytelling. Scrollytelling is an interactive narrative based on scrolling a webpage.

To grab the user’s attention, we must interest them and even involve them in the story we are telling. The designer leads the user through the path, capturing their attention with animations, transforming images, and graphics. The content is often enriched with dynamic elements, which is a form of play that attracts the user. The entire page is a story that has its beginning and end, so it must be scrolled to the end. The designer’s task is to build the audience’s curiosity at each stage of this story.

Data sexy for user

How to attract instead of repel? Data sexy is a way to tame the large amount of data that users must deal with when entering some websites. A large amount of information is often caused by formalities or legal regulations that cannot be reduced. The UX Designer should strive to present this set of data in a clear and user-friendly way. In this trend, the amount of information should be minimized, focusing on the most useful for the recipient, and everything should be presented in the most engaging form for the user. An engaged recipient is a person more focused on the content provided to them.

UX writer + UX content + Ul = emotional design

We can observe an increasing awareness among companies and an understanding of the need for content specialists. There are many applications on the market with similar solutions, and it is no longer enough to have only correctness and readability to attract users. User experience also matters, and new roles such as UX Writer/UX Content are needed. They collaborate with UX/UI designers to create appropriate content and allow for consistent reception of the application.

Many features – one platform

What will still be a challenge for UX designers in 2023? If it’s difficult to create one coherent, well-functioning app that captures the hearts of millions, how do you include many functionalities in one platform? SuperApps – mobile applications that offer many features and services in one place. SuperApps are often seen as comprehensive solutions for different user needs, such as communication, shopping, payments, banking, etc. The goal is to provide users with a convenient and consistent experience without the need to download different apps (such as WeChat and GrabFood, which are very popular in Asia). Currently, Elon Musk is also facing this change by transforming Twitter into the X platform.

Development of AI

Figma vs Adobe XD

If you haven’t already done that, you will do it: designers are switching from Adobe XD to Figma (since September 2022, Figma is owned by Adobe). It is an intuitive tool that facilitates the creation of interactive prototypes and is also a convenient tool for team collaboration. Compared to Adobe XD, Figma allows for faster and easier visualization of ideas. One of the main reasons is the ability of the entire team to work on the same file. Clients also appreciate this when working on a project.

Wearables and UX

In 2023, wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness bands, intelligent bracelets, rings, and glasses will continue to be developed. Designing UX for wearable devices requires taking into account their unique characteristics, such as small size and lack of a physical keyboard, as well as interaction with the device through touch screens or gestures. UX designers should provide intuitive and simple interfaces so that users have easy access to the functions and services they need without having to use one hand or additional devices. Additionally, UX design for wearable devices should encourage users to use them continuously and engage in activities related to their health and well-being. Representing the same functionality on other devices on a much smaller scale is no small challenge for any UX designer.

MVP vs MLP

MVP (Minimum Viable Product) refers to the simplest version of a product that allows testing its functionality and value for users. The goal of an MVP is to quickly and efficiently bring the product to market to obtain feedback from customers and adapt the product to their needs. The Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) is essentially an MVP product without compromises and bugs. It is a product that shows a polished slice of the final product, does not showcase all the functionalities, but offers the opportunity to experience and use a completed version of the product. The experience of such a product is meant to be fuller because we understand the vision of the final product. Negative experiences and the feeling of incompleteness are limited, making the reception more positive. How many customers will opt for an MLP? We will find out this year.