While predicting the future is thrilling, it's essential to acknowledge the uncertainty that accompanies it. As revealed in the famous research by Philip Tetlock in the book "Expert Political Judgment," experts often make predictions no better than random guesses. To increase the chances of an accurate prediction, Tetlock emphasizes the need for intelligence, open-mindedness, and training. For us designers, observation is key. In our design studio, we implement an approach framework for each project. A crucial part is collecting references for each project's start and presenting ideas early on, eliminating unnecessary budget and time waste. This allows us to observe throughout the year what trends are gaining traction and those set aside for a better time.
We believed we were moving away from the corporate Memphis style, but here we are, embracing corporate Memphis in 3D. This trend began a few years ago. With increased processing power (thank you, God, for M1) and the availability of more free 3D tools, even within web browsers like Womp or Spline, designers now have the freedom to create without the need for a costly setup. Similar to illustration, the only limit in 3D design is your imagination and business requirements. It allows for the creation of intricate 3D objects, offering users a detailed product overview and a much more interactive experience than ever before. We can confidently state that having a 3D designer on board is now crucial. For instance, this year, our client approached us with a request to craft something unique and distinguished for their New Year company card. While we delivered a 2D illustration last year, this time around, we embraced the 3D challenge and, of course, met and exceeded their expectations.
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To follow up on the 3D trend, we cannot overlook the significant role of Augmented and Virtual Reality. AR, an innovative technology, enables the overlay of virtual objects onto the real world. On the other hand, VR, a computer-generated realm, is accessed through immersive devices such as helmets, gloves, and headphones. Beyond the technical explanation, what is really important is that each year technology develops, and some tools that might have cost a kidney a few years ago will be readily affordable for all of us. With that, a new playground emerges for design and immersive user experiences, and you should be prepared. Even without specific tools, they are already widely used in various areas; think about advertising campaigns with giant Jacquemus bags or North Face jackets on Big Ben. More affordable tools open new design possibilities, transforming how users experience products, from trying on clothes while online shopping to visualizing furniture in space. Speaking of VR, it certainly takes on what is a user interface. New versions of applications will need to be developed specifically for Apple Vision Pro. Apple has already posted a UI kit on its Figma account that contains all the components for quickly creating realistic app designs for new glasses. With Apple VR presentation, we already saw how it influenced even non-VR interfaces afterward.
That’s a tough topic that no one can avoid; it’s everywhere. So for this, we will certainly need the subheads in this paragraph. To begin with, AI opens the door to:
At the same time, it greatly influences our experiences as designers. Our studio can hardly imagine life without it as we are using it on an everyday basis. Here is the list of our favorite ones:
As a drawback of all this amazing future with AI, we can see blurring the line between real content and content created with AI such as midjourney. It leads to a state where it's easy to generate and sell garbage to people, so the internet can get overloaded with low-quality content. As a response, we can see the rise of AI detector software such as Winston AI. With many services appearing that allow you to determine where the fake is, we can expect that people will incorporate them into their daily lives.To end this topic on a positive note, this year our studio really worked closely with AI not only as a tool but as a product we were developing for a year. You can read about our case for the transport monitoring system utilizing AI-powered cams to enhance city safety. We managed to increase incidence accuracy for the operator by 34% and saved them 8 hours of extra work every month. Read more about this case here.
Let’s take a break. For already a few years in each next year design trends we see brutalism or Neobrutalism, maybe post brutalism next time? So we decided to sum up what is already happening for a long time as experimental typography. Non-standard typography, contrasting typography is set to be a major player in UI/UX design, with bigger and bolder fonts, funky shapes or strokes, and creative animations or transitions. These can all combine to make a unique, eye-catching, and visually striking design. For example, in 2024, brands will continue to experiment with different fonts and letterforms to create memorable and attention-grabbing logos that capture the brand's personality. Here is an image from the one of the concepts for our studio website. What do you think, experimental enough?
For many years, Norman Nielsen has been emphasizing the importance of accessibility, considering it a fundamental principle of user-oriented design. But what about non-accessibility? Be punk; make your product only for you and no one else. Jokes aside, an interesting shift in behavior we noticed as users are more inclined to resist leaving traces, challenging designers to accommodate this shift. We can see that even in accepting cookies. Despite the fact that designers usually come up with funny or stylish design, users begin to be more prone towards refusing them due to anonymity concerns.It's a dynamic landscape where even rebellion meets user-centric adaptation, and where anonymity emerges as a key consideration in design decisions.
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We want to conclude this list with our favorite landing pages. We've all been there; we've all created them. Even if you're a design lead or art director, your friends might occasionally ask you to lend a helping hand and design a simple website for their small business. But it’s not simple anymore! Of course, it can be, but, jokes aside, we want to wrap up this list with landing pages that now can encompass all the trends mentioned above.What we want to convey is that crafting the ultimate landing page experience goes beyond traditional boundaries. It transforms into an immersive storytelling platform. The trends shaping this evolution include AI-driven personalization, immersive scrolling, responsive UI design, augmented reality, accessibility, and the continued integration of 3D and virtual-real world connectivity. Navigating this landscape requires a blend of digital innovation, user-centered design principles, and a keen eye on emerging technologies. Take a look at the Lusion studio website for inspiration. Landing pages serve a greater purpose too; they can have a profound emotional impact on people and tell stories that raise awareness. It's a powerful illustration of how design can shape not just today but a better future. Here's a tribute to our favorite landing pages this year: Diamond Journey and The Public Diagnosis
That’s it from us, and in the next year, we will slowly unravel what of these predictions come true. But remember, even if something is not trendy doesn’t mean it won’t be, so the best advice here is always to be true to yourself. Let’s create and see you in the next year!
