The world is becoming more dependent on technology and that means the future of user experience (UX) design is bright. Companies are more accepting of UX design today than they were in the past. UX design itself is changing and designers are moving into more specific roles to handle the wave of emerging technology that is on the way.
UX Maturity in Companies
More and more companies are recognizing the value of UX design and adding designers to their payrolls. This is referred to as UX maturity. Designers have spent thirty years teaching their colleagues about the importance of focusing on the user experience, and that message has been heard. Companies that include UX in their product development see higher customer retention and greater profits because of it, so this trend will definitely continue
UX Design is Evolving
As user-centered design becomes more accepted as a field, that field will continue to evolve, and that evolution seems to be moving in the direction of specialization. Instead of general UX/UI Designers who handle everything from research through interface design, the field is separating into UX Researchers, UX Writers, Product Designers, Voice-Guided UI Designers, and more. The specialization trend will continue as technology changes.
Emerging Technology
As extended reality continues to develop, UX design will also change to encompass new experiences.
Micro-Interactions
Micro-interactions are the tiny movements and gestures that are becoming much more important in the products we use. Many people don’t even have a computer and use their phones for everything, so designing these new interfaces so they are easy and enjoyable to use is important. Some examples of micro-interactions::
- Scroll bars, like buttons, and share buttons can all change shape, size, design, animations
- Tilting, shaking, swiping, and tapping interactions must be both effective and accurate with few unintentional consequences.
- Animated cursor interactions tap into users’ emotions.
Screens will eventually become obsolete as extended reality continues to improve.
Extended Reality
Extended reality continues to improve. Some of its benefits are in the areas of gaming, remote medicine and teaching, and improvements to platforms like Zoom for meetings for work or with friends who are not nearby. All of these developments will lead to new or improved products and UX Designers will be needed to ensure that the user is at the center of the design. Some examples of extended reality are:
- Virtual reality—puts users in a created world
- Augmented reality—adds digitally produced effects to the real-world
- 3D interfaces—create a 3D experience often including gestures, audio, and headsets. Holograms are an example.
- Spatial and augmented audio—used to create soundscapes for immersive experiences like art installations
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is most often associated with big data, but it is making steady progress into many aspects of everyday life. UX Designers will have a part in creating products that are based on AI such as:
- Self-driving cars
- Digital assistants
- Facial recognition
- Digital payment apps
- Social media
- Autocorrect
AI is also used in some digital design tools to alter and enhance backgrounds or create color palettes. It can also be used to collect data for user research and usability testing.
The Internet of Things
Another growing trend that UX Designers will have a hand in is The Internet of Things. This is a network of devices that connect to each other through the Cloud computing platform and includes smart home assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, smart appliances, like refrigerators and thermostats, and cars. These devices are often voice-controlled, which is a new area for UX Designers.
Web 3.0 and Metaverse
The internet brought about many new developments for UX Designers over the last thirty years, and now the internet itself is changing. Originally created by governments and universities, the internet was designed for the exchange of information through bulletin boards, websites, and email. Early internet users were passive readers, but now users are generating content in an interactive space.
This new version of the internet, often referred to as Web 3.0, is decentralized, meaning that data will not be in hands of government or big companies. An example of this decentralized arrangement is a blockchain, a record of cryptocurrency transactions that is maintained on a series of computers rather than one central server. The Metaverse is one such blockchain, a collection of virtual reality worlds. This technology could completely change how users interact in cyberspace and UX Designers will have a role in shaping that.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Another area that is growing is the deman for inclusive design. This means creating experiences that everyone can use, including the millions of people in the world who have disabilities. The Disabilities Rights Movement began in the 1980s and gained strength with the passage of the
ADA in 1990 requiring public and commercial buildings to be accessible to people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Captioning on television, sign-language interpreters, audio cues for street crossing signs, and many of the activities we all do every day were made more inclusive for everyone.
This is extending into the digital world as well. In 2019, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were introduced to address problems that people with disabilities have using websites and mobile applications. Some disability rights groups are taking companies to court to improve website accessibility. UX/UI Designers can have a great impact on making the digital world inviting for everyone.
Where to Learn UX/UI Design
If you would like to learn more about UX/UI design to switch to a new career, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn design software and other applications. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a field like UX design is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run from a few weeks to a few months and another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.
Conclusion
It’s easy to take UX or UI design classes and start a new career. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UI design courses and attend from anywhere. Find UX and UI bootcamps in your area and get started in a new direction today.