From shopping to banking, from entertainment to socialising, we rely heavily on mobile apps for our day-to-day activities. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, so does the demand for innovative and user-friendly mobile app designs.
It is important for developers to stay updated with the latest design trends in order to create successful and engaging mobile apps. In this article, we will discuss the top five mobile app design trends that are predicted to dominate by 2024.
1. The Era of Neumorphism
Neumorphism is a relatively new design approach that has gained significant popularity among designers. This design style is essentially a combination of two distinct design approaches, namely skeuomorphism and flat design.
The idea behind this design style is to create a soft, extruded plastic effect that is visually striking but also enhances the usability and accessibility of the user interface.
In neumorphic designs, elements are presented in such a way that they appear to be extruded from the background, creating a 3D-like effect. This is achieved by using subtle shadows and gradients, which give the impression of depth and dimensionality.
Neumorphic designs also tend to incorporate soft, rounded edges and subtle highlights, which create a tactile and inviting feel.
One of the primary reasons why neumorphism is becoming increasingly popular is its focus on usability and accessibility. Neumorphic designs tend to incorporate high contrast elements, making it easier for users to distinguish between different interface components.
Additionally, the soft, rounded edges and tactile feel of neumorphic designs can make them more accessible to users with certain disabilities, such as visual impairments.
Design Principles
- Soft Light and Shadow: Neumorphic designs use soft lighting, subtle shadowing, and depth to create a ‘push’ and ‘pull’ effect that makes buttons look pressable, and text blocks appear floating above the background.
- Contrasting Elements: The key to neumorphism is the use of contrasting elements. Dark mode with light-coloured elements or vice versa provides a high contrast that makes the interface ‘pop’.
- Consistency: While creating a soft look, maintaining a consistent design process is crucial. Too much or too little shadow can make the design look tacky or unrefined.
User Experience Impact
The neuromorphic design trend can enhance user interaction and navigation by providing visual cues and affordances that mimic real-world objects. It can also improve user engagement by creating interfaces that more naturally integrate into the user’s digital environment.
2. Bold and Bright Colour Schemes
Over the years, the world of mobile app design has undergone a significant transformation. Unlike in the past, where subtle shades and muted tones dominated the design landscape, the year 2024 presents a different picture. Today, the design world is a canvas of vivid, often contrasting, colours that aim to amaze and evoke emotions.
Colour Psychology
- Bold First Impressions: Bright colour schemes are becoming popular as a way for brands to make a bold first impression. These vibrant hues can command attention and convey a sense of energy and modernity.
- Dark Mode Elegance: For dark mode lovers, bold colour schemes have brought about an era of elegance that’s both stylish and gentle on the eyes, especially in low-light conditions.
Implementation
Implementing bold colours into an app’s design should be strategic. Consider the app’s purpose and target audience. Do the colour choices reflect the app’s personality and service? Are they in harmony with the user interface elements?
3. 3D Graphics and Elements
The integration of 3D graphics and elements in mobile app designs can bring about a significant change in the way users perceive and interact with apps.
With the help of 3D technology, app developers can create visually compelling and immersive experiences that mimic the real world. The use of 3D graphics adds depth, texture, and dimensionality to app interfaces, which can enhance user engagement and improve the overall user experience.
Additionally, 3D elements can help simplify complex concepts and data by presenting them in a more comprehensible and interactive format.
Depth and Realism
- Increased Depth Perception: 3D elements give a new level of depth to the interface, which can guide users through the app more intuitively.
- Realism and Engagement: 3D models and animations can add realism to the user experience, making it more engaging and enjoyable.
Performance Considerations
The integration of 3D elements should not come at the cost of app performance. Lightweight 3D models and careful optimisation are key. When included thoughtfully, 3D elements can elevate the app without slowing it down.
4. Personalisation at its Core
In the current era of mobile apps, the trend towards hyper-personalisation has become increasingly evident. With a plethora of options available, users now demand apps that not only meet their basic requirements but also cater to their specific needs and preferences.
This means that app developers need to create a more personalised experience by offering tailored content, customised recommendations, and user-centric features, all while ensuring the app remains user-friendly and intuitive.
Data-Driven Design
- User Data Integration: Mobile apps in 2024 are using user data more than ever to personalise the user interface, content, and interaction patterns.
- Predictive Customisation: With advanced analytics, apps can now predict user behaviour to offer a more tailored experience.
Ethicality in Personalisation
While offering a personalised experience is invaluable, handling user data ethically and responsibly is key. Transparency in data collection and providing robust privacy controls should be at the forefront of the design process.
5. Voice User Interfaces and Conversational Designs
Voice user interfaces, or VUIs, are a relatively new and rapidly growing area of interaction design. These interfaces enable users to communicate with machines through natural language, such as speech or text, rather than through traditional graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
One of the main benefits of VUIs is that they allow for conversational designs, which make the user feel like they are talking to a friend rather than a machine. This can help to create a more engaging and comfortable user experience, and can also make it easier for users to interact with complex systems or applications.
Natural Language Processing
- Seamless Interactions: With advancements in natural language processing, VUIs are creating more seamless and intuitive interactions.
- Reduced Cognitive Load: Converse AI designs can reduce the cognitive load on users by simplifying complex interactions into natural conversations.
Strategic Placement
Incorporating VUIs in app design should be strategic. Identify tasks that can be facilitated through voice and provide clear cues for users to engage with the VUI. Keep user expectations realistic and the feedback loop informative.
If you’re looking to develop a mobile application, we highly recommend reaching out to our team of professional web experts at Appoly. Our experienced developers specialise in creating high-quality mobile applications that are tailored to meet your specific needs.
