The ability to predict web and mobile design trends is key to the success of many projects. At PRI, we’re thankful to have a team of top-tier design experts who help us stay ahead of the curve — and we’re happy to share some of their expertise with you. Here are our predictions for the top five design trends we expect to see emerge in the next year.
Top 5 Design Trends for 2020
1. Minimalism
Minimalism will (ironically?) be everywhere in 2020. Prepare for aesthetically simplified graphics and illustrations to dominate the design landscape, and for more minimalism to be built into the functionality of websites. Expect to see pared-down navigation menus as well as altogether hidden nav bars. (Some mega-apps like Facebook have already offered users the option to hide them.)
Want to celebrate the minimalism wave primed to sweep the world? Check out the new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art honoring one of the originals in minimalistic design: the New York City subway map.
2. Dark Mode
Dark mode gained traction in 2019 and will be an absolute must-have in 2020. Why? Because most of us spend the majority of our days with our eyeballs focused on some type of screen, whether it be a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer, and this activity can have serious consequences on our eyesight and sleep patterns.
As a solution, dark mode is a triple threat:
- It may reduce strain on your eyes from overbright screens.
- It helps to conserve your device’s battery.
- Potentially the most important: It can help combat the harmful sleep disruption some of us experience from too much screen time.
Although dark mode isn’t the be-all and end-all fix for any of those issues, it can help with each considerably. As the public becomes more aware of the health effects of too much screen time, this will be a demand your brand simply cannot ignore.
3. App Accessibility
Web and mobile app accessibility will continue to lead the tech conversation for the foreseeable future. As the precedent has been set that websites and mobile apps must be compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, we will continue to see lawsuits filed against brands and organizations who fail to uphold those standards. (Not even Beyoncé has managed to avoid this.)
If you haven’t started an overhaul of your websites and apps to adhere to ADA standards, you’ll find no better time than the present. Not sure where to start? Read our primer on color accessibility.
4. Animation Domination
Animation and GIFs have been central to internet pop culture for quite some time, but it seems as if this craze has finally begun to show its worth in business and branding.
An excellent example of this is MailChimp’s recent rebranding, which includes a website featuring a logo that winks at you when you move your cursor over it, and interactive wall art at their home office.
Although digital animation is by no means a new trend, we expect to see it develop in usability as web technologies further evolve to speed up frontend interactions. The one we’re most looking forward to? Ultra-sleek animations for micro-interactions.
5. Migrating Menu Bars
You’ll see movement on the menu bar front, with many mobile app menu bars shifting down toward the bottom of the screen.
Why? Larger and larger smartphone designs make it difficult for people with smaller hands to tap menu bars at the top of their screens with one hand. However, that isn’t stopping users from purchasing large phones, so it’s up to the mobile app designers and developers to bridge the gap. This means you’ll see navigation more often on the bottom or the side of a screen, a blessing for users with tiny hands.
These top five trends are just the tip of the design iceberg, but they’re currently the ones that excite our team the most. Which emerging design trends are you hoping will prevail in the coming months? Drop us a line on Twitter (@PRI_agency) and let us know your thoughts!
