User Interface is an integral part of the software. The interesting fact to consider here is that if it is done perfectly, it is not even noticed. But, at the same time, if done poorly, users not only notice it but they can’t get past it to use the software efficiently.
The four golden rules that developers swear by for the development of the User Interface(UI) are-
Consistency of the interface
The control of the interface should be in the user’s hands
Reduction of the working memory usage
Making users comfortable with the interaction
The user interface design has seen a lot of changes since its inception, but it is a developing discipline. New updates are launched every day for making the interface easier to handle and smooth interaction.LMS like Absorb Training and its counterparts need more and more interactive interface features to keep up with the times. Some new trends making waves in the area of User Interface Designing and are expected to keep in vogue are-
Animation-
Animation has been trending in the arena of the user interface for quite some time, and the reason is simple, motion can tell a better story than text ever can. Given that, the animation should be substantiated and has quality. Just including animation for the sake of it can’t cut it anymore.
Website gradients-
Colors can liven up the interface. Gradients intelligibly used with justification can provide the software with the required continuity. The gradients can be used to add authenticity to the used objects and in turn to the interface.
Content-
It has been a popular opinion that text accompanies the design. But, in recent times experts have started to believe that the text is a part of the design and not different from it. Some even go up to the extent to say that “content is king”.It allows the users to relate to the product and ultimately chooses it.
Space
Space is also a very important aspect of user interface designing. If used judiciously, it can help the developer to bring attention to one or a few elements. Space accentuates the effect further. There are a few types of empty spaces that can be used to drive your point home, such as micro and macro empty spaces or text and paragraph spaces. These spaces can be active or passive and all of them can scale. This can be used to make the intended idea stand out.
Varying User Experience-
Each user is different, has a different sensibility, and different online behavior. If your user interface can be perceptive enough to decipher the said patterns, each user can have a varying user experience. This helps in maintaining the engagement level of an infinite number of users and this is done based on user behavior insight. This includes the amount of time they spend on the page and their scrolling speed.
Typographic overlap-
The typographic overlap can be used to send your message across by making it stand out. It can be used as an alternative to sound. The intended message can be sent across in a graphically attractive style.
Illustrations-
Usage of illustrations in user interface development means taking the artistic approach to send your point across to the users. The beauty of it is that each illustration can be interpreted differently by different users and that’s what makes it an exciting way to engage your users.
Navigation customisation-
Navigation should be logically woven into the story you are trying to tell. The two navigation elements, namely, visible and hidden should be used to your benefit keeping in mind the information flow. This results in the customization of navigation according to the preferences of the users.
Visualizing Data-
Contrary to popular belief, data visualization does not only mean the charts and the graphs into a digestible piece of information. The data sources need to be presented in a graphic manner depending on the user's tastes.
A few other upcoming trends to watch out for maybe Asymmetrical & split screens, Full-screen visuals, Uninterrupted UX, etc.
