2018 UX Design Trends

UX Design Trends and FileMaker

What’s happening in the UX design world for 2018?  What can we learn from the latest trends and how (and should we) apply it to FileMaker database designs?

Let’s take a quick look.

Shopify Predictions

Shopify’s Oliver Lindberg delves deep into the subject, covering topics from variable fonts to ethical design to the death of the home page:

Last year was very much about web animations and microinteractions, conversational interfaces and chatbots, design sprints and bespoke illustrations. Even an approach that rejected mainstream web design trends became a trend itself: brutalism.

All of these trends are going to grow in 2018. In fact, Andy Budd, co-founder of pioneering UX consultancy Clearleft, thinks the subtle shift from UX design to digital service design is going to continue, and that we’re going to see much more interest in the field of service design from the digital sector this year.

Of particular interest to me is the Brutalism trend, which is basically turning away from the snazzier design trends:

 

Brutalism Design
Brutally simple.

As you can see from its description, it is brutally simple.  And increasingly popular.   Something FileMaker developer’s might want to emulate, mainly because a simple interface without a lot of pizzaz might be easier on the senses of someone pounding away at data entry and analysis. Be warned, however

Flat Design

Depending upon who you read, flat design is changing to adapt to 2018 trends by “adding nuance and depth to its prior ascetic identity”, also known as adding more color, or is finally dying.  I am hoping for the latter:  I never liked it and the sooner it goes away, the better.  One thing younger readers will find as they get older is that the ability to easily discern contrast fades.  Flat design is low contrast and harder to read/view.

Flat Design
Flat design can by much harder to see for some.

Fortunately, FileMaker moved away from it after a brief affair.

Inclusive Design

The shortcomings of flat design lead naturally to inclusive design, a movement deservedly gaining momentum:

These Inclusive Design Principles are about putting people first. It’s about designing for the needs of people with permanent, temporary, situational, or changing disabilities — all of us really.

Inclusive design features the following principles:

  • Provide comparable experience
    • Provide alternatives like alt text, audio, etc.
  • Consider situation
    • Color contrast for outdoor users
  • Be consistent
    • Use consistent design patterns to build familiarity
  • Give Control
    • Allow zoom, for example
  • Offer choice
    • Consider providing different ways for people to complete tasks
  • Prioritize Content
    • Progressively reveal features and content when needed, not all at one time
  • Add Value
    • Using voice interfaces to control multimedia

There is much more to inclusive design than listed here, much of it applicable to FileMaker database development. I highly recommend a closer look.

There’s much more

I’ve run out of time to cover all the trends and possibilities, but here is a partial list to consider in your design efforts

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Ethical Design
  • Voice User Interfaces
  • Scrolling effects
  • Typography
  • Mobile Animation
  • Storytelling

Sources:

10 no-nonsense web design trends for 2018 | Econsultancy

UX Brutalism

Inclusive Design Principles

Still more info:

Design Trends 2018: 28 leading designers, creative directors & illustrators tell us what’s inspiring them for the year ahead



Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works.

Steve Jobs

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