Top 10 User Interface Trends, in which modern UI designers have been developing & implementing during the 2020 year. The trends we discuss, are based on observations and research from the end of 2019, and throughout 2020. From mobile, web, desktop, and embedded, the trends we discuss are applicable for all types of User-Interfaces. As a demonstration, we will guide attendees on how to apply each unique design trend, using Qt Design Studio.   Dr. Antti Aaltonen is the Head of User Experience at the Qt Company and leads the design of tools for UI/UX designers. He had always enjoyed working at the intersection of design, technology, and product development, and has 20 years of experience creating usable, delightful, and polished experiences with products. Before joining the Qt Company, he was leading UX in Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds games, for seven years. Before that, Antti spent over a decade with Nokia and was one of the founding members of the Nokia N9 UX team. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science (the University of Groningen, The Netherlands) in 2007.   Shawn Dorsey is a Sr. Technical Artist for the Qt Company. He has over 15 years of Design & Engineering experience in both the Aviation and Automotive industries.  Before joining Qt in 2019, he worked as a Solutions Consultant for Dassault Systemes 3DEXCITE, designing custom marketing experiences in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and WebGL. Shawn holds degrees in both Computer-aided Design/Engineering and Digital Animation/Visual Effects. 

1. 2020 User Interface
Trends
Antti Aaltonen & Shawn Dorsey
September 2020

2. Antti Aaltonen is a Head of User Experience at the Qt Company and leads design of tools
for UI designers. Antti likes working at the intersection of design, technology and product
development and he has over 20 years of experience creating usable, delightful and
polished experiences with products. Before joining The Qt Company, he was leading UX in
Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds games, for seven years. Prior to that Antti worked for
Nokia. He holds Ph.D. in Computer Science.
Shawn Dorsey is a Sr. Technical Artist for the Qt Company. He has over 15 years of
Design & Engineering experience in both the Aviation and Automotive industries. Before
joining Qt in 2019, he worked as a Solutions Consultant for Dassault Systemes
3DEXCITE, designing custom marketing experiences in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual
Reality (VR), and WebGL. Shawn holds degrees in both Computer-aided
Design/Engineering and Digital Animation/Visual Effects.
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company2
About presenters
2020 UI TRENDS

3. Introduction
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company3
2020 UI TRENDS
› Flat design has been dominating trend for
the recent years
› What are the next trends?
› Many of the trends are already big in the web
› Lots of competition, need to find ways how to
attract visitors and stand out
› They are emerging on the mobile and finding
their way to the desktop and embedded
platforms
https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-14-preview/

4. © The Qt Company4
The 2020 trends
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
2 September 2020
Unique illustrations
Animations
Micro-interactions
3D graphics
New skeuomorphism
Asymmetrical layouts6
7
8
9
10
Bold typography
Simplicity
Subtle gradients
Sounds
5
4
3
2
1

5. Unique illustrations
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company5
2020 UI TRENDS
› Can be sketches, doodles, line drawings, cartoons,
photos, 3D graphics, or a collage-like combination
› Not only decorations, but a communication tool
› Explain, complement and clarify complex concepts,
actions or information visually
› Seeing something unique, compelling or unexpected
can…
› catch the user’s attention
› cause spontaneous positive reactions (wow effect)
› For a product they can give…
› Additional personality for the product and bring life in its
design
› Originality, set mood, evoke emotions and make it
memorable
› Can support the brand
https://mailchimp.com/design/https://material.io/design/co
mmunication/empty-
states.html#content

6. Animations
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company6
2020 UI TRENDS
› Add natural feel, life and personality to
products
› increase users engagement with product and
make designs stand out
› Can be used to guide user’s attention
› Moving elements are strong attention grabbers
› Effective way to tell the story about brand,
product or services
› Dynamic behaviour makes it easier to capture users’
attention and explain what brand or product can
offer at a glance
Weather iOS app interactionby Taras Migulko
Mail Rebound by Yair Walden

7. Micro-interactions
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company7
2020 UI TRENDS
› Delightful moments the users experience
while using the product.
› Great technique for giving extra insight or
instant delightful feedback, improve
customer satisfaction and increase
retention.
› An example how attention to details and
subtle change can greatly improve UX and
make big impact
Design by Eugene Paryhin for Fireart Studio
Social Share Microanimation / 010 by Miki M

8. 3D graphics
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company8
2020 UI TRENDS
› 3D models show the product in order to
emulate the in-store shopping experience
› Presenting the product in a more interactive
and engaging way
› E.g. 3D renders of product could be viewed in 360
degrees improving the overall UX
› 3D graphics with animations can improve
the product UI and appeal
www.apple.com/airpods-pro/
3D fIip menu by Minh Pham

9. New skeuomorphism (neomorphism)
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company9
2020 UI TRENDS
› Skeuomorphic refers to the design elements
that are created in a realistic style to match
the real-life objects.
› Made popular with Apple iPhone in 2007
› Making comeback with a modern twist
› Very detailed and precise design style
› Attention to details, e.g., highlights, shadows, glows
and subtle bevels
Neomorphism Music App by uplabs.com

10. Asymmetrical layouts
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company10
2020 UI TRENDS
› Add character, dynamic and personality to
designs in order to create something that
catches the user’s imagination
› A room for creativity
› An opportunity to highlight important content and
functionality
› Creating successful asymmetrical layouts
requires skill, practice and time
› Placing elements randomly on the grid wouldn’t work
› Layout can include
› Overlapping elements
› Split screens
› Generous use whitespace Asymmetrical Interface by Ingrid Sasu Curvy AF by Emre Mazursky

11. Simplicity
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2020 UI TRENDS
› A collection of UI, UX and visual design
principles
› Used together with
› Gestalt principles
› Bold typography
› Minimalistic color palettes and gradients
› Plenty of whitespace.
› Reducing design to essentials is an effective
way to achieve ease of use
› Avoid illusion of simplicity: do not hide or remove
necessary controls and information
› When done well, it creates an elegant, high-
quality feeling
White Noise app (by Romeo M. for Queble).

12. Bold typography
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company12
2020 UI TRENDS
› Draws the user’s attention to the message
› Can be used to
› Define visual hierarchy
› Provide a sense of visual boundary to a section in the
design
› Attract customers with eye-catching design
› Convey brand
› Statements in bold typography highlight
important information to the user
› Has huge potential when it
› Is use appropriately and purposefully in the right place
and the right amount.
› Provides a solution to the user’s need or a call to action
that invites them to take the next step IOCO / Biocomputer by Mike | Creative Mints

13. Subtle gradients
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company13
2020 UI TRENDS
› Gradients are needed in visual design to give
volume and depth
› Bright and flashy gradients are no longer in trend
› Part of flat and minimalistic design, which
aims at reducing and simplifying colours
Quota - Get your daily quote by Sebastian Jungbluth

14. Sound
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company14
2020 UI TRENDS
› An essential part of sensorial design that is
easy to forget during the design phase
› Can be used, e.g.,
› Amplifying feedback to user on successful and
unsuccessful actions
› Notifying about event on background
› Branding

15. › Flat design has been dominating UI design trend for the past years
› Designers are seeking new ways how to attract the users’ attention and to stand out from the
competition
› Many of the trends are not new, but they are growing more and more especially in the web
› Simplicity remains one of the core drivers for design also after pure flat design
› The trends are not isolated but connected to each other. For example
› Neumorphism uses subtle gradients and refined 3D graphics
› Unique illustrations and 3D graphics are combined with bold typography and asymmetrical layouts
› Micro-interactions rely on animations on visual feedback
2 September 2020 © The Qt Company15
Conclusion
2020 UI TRENDS

16. Thank you
antti.aaltonen@qt.io
shawn.dorsery@qt.io