UI Design Trends For Modern App Design In 2023

In the past two years, consumer behaviors and patterns have changed significantly. More and more people are using mobile apps and eCommerce websites to browse for products, purchase them or hire different services as well. According to a survey, most consumers spend 88 percent of their time on mobile apps. This means that app developers, designers, and business owners have a lot of opportunities to attract a wider audience and promote their digital products

Due to the high competition in every industry, you need to make sure that your app is visually appealing and offers smooth functionality. This is where UI or user interface design comes in. It involves adding features and graphics that users can interact with easily.

Why Is UI Design for Apps Important?

The UI/UX design elements play an important role in conversions and app downloads. So, it’s important to pay a lot of attention to the interface design from the beginning. Think about the layout, and features such as breadcrumbs, menu, buttons, fields, toggles, and icons. These are just some of the elements that allow users to navigate the app smoothly and find what they are looking for.

This also combines with UX to grab the attention of consumers instantly and provide a good experience. If people have difficulty in interacting with the app, they may leave or look for other options. Sometimes, it could also lead to negative reviews or ratings on the app store. To avoid such a situation, you need to focus on incorporating the latest features and upgrading the platform for iOS and Android.

Before you begin with the development and design, it’s a good idea to take a look at what’s trending in UI design. This could help you create a platform that attracts a younger demographic of consumers and boost downloads as well. Since 2023 is almost here, let’s discuss some of the upcoming trends in UI design for modern app design.

Top UI Design Trends for Apps in 2023

Just as it is with web and graphic design, you need to follow the latest industry trends for applications too. In this day and age, this is another digital platform that can help increase recognition among the target audience and maintain brand consistency as well. Collaborating with a specialized app design company can further enhance this process, bringing in expert insights and innovative design solutions tailored to meet the evolving trends and user expectations in the app market. The visual elements such as the brand symbol, colors and imagery that people will see as they browse through the app could influence their perception of a business.

To create a versatile icon for your app, you can launch a logo design contest and pick a relevant design to grab the attention of the target audience. Now, let’s take a look at the top trends in UI design for modern app design.

AR and VR in UI

This is one of the top UI design trends that you can expect to see in modern apps in the coming year. Previously, augmented and virtual reality was incorporated into gaming platforms. Now, you can also find such features in eCommerce apps so that users can make a well-informed purchasing decisions. This trend is becoming quite popular as people can enjoy an immersive experience and get immediate insight into the products or services.

Currently, you can also find a few examples of AR technology being used in UI design for modern apps. Ikea Place is a home décor app introduced by the company that allows users to view furniture in specific rooms before buying it. In the eCommerce and gaming industry, you can include AR and VR technology in UI design when creating modern apps.

Tip: Create an experience for potential customers with augmented reality with avatars, 3D images and virtual tours.

 

Image Source: ikea.com

3D Objects or Images

With the rise of the metaverse and AR technology, a lot of consumers are shifting towards online shopping and virtual platforms. 3D models or images can grab the attention of users immediately and allow them to see a product from different angles as well. 360-degree views can also make it easier to understand what a business has to offer in detail. You may see quite a few SaaS and eCommerce companies using 3D imagery or objects in web and app design.

Rebecca Minkoff is one brand that adopted this technology in 2019 to improve the shopping experience for its customers. People can view the size, color and appearance of a product in 3D before purchasing it. Over the last two years, 3D visuals have become more common in UI design for apps. It is likely to continue in 2023 as designers focus on creating platforms that generate interest among a younger audience.

Tip: Add the option of 360-degree photos for products so people can take the right purchasing decision. Include 3D objects or shapes that make the layout more attractive.

 

Image Source: dribbble/Ayoub kada

Animations or Dynamic Effects

Now, adding animations or dynamic visuals can require more effort and time, but it makes the app highly interactive and engaging. Today, you might see GIFs and animated graphics being used commonly in different apps. Designers and business owners are incorporating such effects to hook the users in from the first look. New technology in app development has also made it easier to include animations in UI design without compromising on the loading speeding speed or functionality. So, you don’t have to worry about large files reducing the quality of the visuals anymore.

In 2023, this is one trend that may be widely adopted by designers and businesses. You could see more micro-animations being added to CTA’s or buttons. This can allow the user to navigate smoothly and stay on the app for a longer time. Take a look at the example given below. The animated effects help the user make the right decision and interact with the platform as well.

Tip: Animate the actions such as ‘add to wishlist’ or scroll-through. You can also introduce changing colors in CTA’s or pop-ups to keep things interesting.

 

Image Source: dribbble/Joshua Oluwagbemiga

Voice User Interaction

According to a report by eMarketer, 40.2 percent of the consumers in the United States were using voice searches to look for businesses, products and services. In web design, voice commands and activation are already quite common. Many designers include such features to improve the usability and function of website design. For modern apps, this is expected to become a popular trend in the next year. Voice assistants like Alexa and Siri are being used by a global audience for searches and queries. You can incorporate similar interactions within UI design as well.

This could improve the user experience for customers too. Focus on including voice-to-text technology that simplifies browsing for the audience on the platform. Think of Spotify’s ‘search bar’ here. The feature also allows people to search for specific songs they want to listen to without typing out their names. You need to consider the voice-first trend in UI design for modern app design. It can also make it easier for you to incorporate AI technology and create a platform that can be upgraded quickly with time.

Tip: Take the voice-first approach when working on UI design for your app. Simplify the commands so that users can search for specific items easily.

 

Image Source: theverge.com

Immersive Scrolling Experience

In recent years, you might have seen different apps that allow users to scroll through multiple screens, product catalogs or media instantly. This creates an immersive experience for people and makes it simpler for the designers to draw focus on the relevant content. Professionals have more control over the display of visual elements and storytelling too. They can also create a map of the customer journey easily.

This is an upcoming trend that you should keep in mind for UI design. You can also include dynamic effects for scrolling that grab the attention of users in seconds. An immersive scrolling experience also makes it easier for consumers to skip through certain products and find exactly what they want. They can also move between multiple categories or pages instantly. Today, Tiktok is one example of an app that hooks users with its immersive video scrolling.

Other social media apps like Twitter and Instagram are also introducing such features in the UI design for their applications. In 2023, if you are launching an app or looking to revamp the design, focus on adding features for immersive scrolling to make your platform stand out among the competitors.

Tip: Design for long scrolling or include an animation that allows users to navigate through categories or products smoothly.

 

Image Source: dribbble/tubik

Gradient Hues

Many designers are shifting to gradients for imagery, CTA’s icons or buttons in app design. This is another trend that has been on the rise since last year and is likely to dominate in the future as well. Gradients are different from classic or solid colors like black and white, red or blue, and can draw the attention of a viewer instantly. They can also be animated to change or merge into light or dark hues. People also prefer such color schemes and can spend more time on apps that have a non-traditional appearance.

In the next year, you can expect to see Brutalism being adopted in app design as well. This is a concept that goes against minimalism and involves the use of overlapping text and a lot of visuals. Before you get confused about this, it is important to understand that the use of gradient hues is becoming popular due to brutalism. To contrast with the black and white or transparent colors, designers are introducing bright gradients to catch the eye of the viewer.

This makes the design more personalized for the users too. You may see a lot of brutalism, high contrast and gradient hues in apps during the next year. So be prepared!

Tip: Add gradient hues to progress bars, icons or borders to make the layout more appealing. Make sure that it reflects the brand colors as well.

 

Image Source: dribbble/Tran Mau Tri Tam

Dark Mode or Theme

Today, many smartphone users browse on their devices in dark mode. It is just a feature that reduces the strain on the eyes and allows them to spend more time on various apps. To adapt to this mode, quite a few apps have also introduced the dark mode so that users can switch it on easily. Some even have toggles that allow people to switch between modes. In 2023, the dark mode or theme feature in UI design is expected to become more popular. It is another top trend that you should consider when creating your eCommerce or SaaS platform.

It’s a good idea to give the users the choice to activate the dark mode if they want. It gives an edgy and cool look to the user interface. To introduce this mode or theme in the app, you should keep in mind that the elements and text will be changed accordingly. So for the dark mode, you will have to create a contrast with lighter colors for the images or shapes and typography. This way, you can keep the attention on the important information and allow the users to browse through easily.

Tip: Include a toggle in the app settings that makes it easier for users to switch on the dark mode. You can also design the interface to adapt to the smartphone’s current mode.

 

Image Source: dribbble/Ghulam Rasool

Wrapping Up

These are some of the top 2023 trends in UI design for modern app design. If you are thinking about creating one for your online store or SaaS product, then get inspiration for the UI design above. In the end, this will help you create a modern app that reflects the business or brand and engages a wide audience too. Before that, it’s a good idea to set up a website as well. Get started on your web design right now too!