At Backelite, we constantly challenge our methods and approaches to best respond to the current market as well as users' and brands' changing needs. As trends themselves change, it's also important to challenge them in the brands' and users' contexts in "test & learn" phases. We share our vision for the evolution of design trends in 2016 with these 10 major key points of UI design.

1. UI DESIGN
- The top 10 trends for 2016 -

2. - WHAT’S NEW (OR ALMOST) -

3. Nowadays, interfaces have to adapt
to a variety of devices that change
constantly. Due to this constant state
of flux , it’s important to repeatedly
question our ways of working to
guarantee a scalability and
consistency across all platforms.
In design, it is no longer possible to think
in “fixed pages”; we need to think about
“fluid design” as a system of changing
components, just as developers do.
There are several ways to approach this:
Responsive Design is a classic example,
but Adaptive UI, Material Design and
Atomic Design also have this same
perspective.
TREND N°1
FLUID DESIGN

5. Users are used to rich visual
experiences found in certain apps:
lighter content, targeted features,
more fine-tuned interaction design
and navigation native to each OS.
Users are now more demanding than
ever and they expect similar rich
experiences on the web.
Many sites are now overhauling their
graphic and ergonomic codes for
mobile and tablet apps. This means it’s
crucial to rethink content strategy and
structure in order to keep only what’s
essential and to optimize navigation
with “smart” interfaces (clever menus,
predictive forms, etc.).
TREND N°2
APPS THAT
INSPIRE THE WEB

7. - NOT NEW, BUT STILL RELEVANT -

8. TREND N°3
SIMPLICITY AT
EACH STEP
The keyword here is “less is more”,
which requires a constant quest to
keep only relevant information that
is useful to users, both in style
(interface) and substance (content).
So we can forget all about the fancy
details that can easily overload
interfaces and move towards a design
that is as simplified as possible. To
achieve a harmonious visual balance,
the interface needs to be structured
using a table where each space and
alignment is carefully adjusted.
Contrary to what you might think,
simplicity doesn’t always mean facility
or streamlining.

10. Flat Design is still holding strong and
is now being paired with Material
Design.
Flat Design is still very much present
with its focus on simplicity and colored
fields.
Material Design brings a new
dimension, with the concept of field
hierarchy, a return to shadows and
especially animation. This helps to more
clearly structure information while
allowing for more interactive elements.
TREND N°4
MATERIAL
ENRICHING FLAT
DESIGN

12. TREND N°5
ALL THE COLORS
OF THE RAINBOW
Colors are very important in graphic
design because they introduce the
brand universe and mood, while
playing a key role in the visual
hierarchy of the interface and
redirecting the user’s focus.
Using bright colors adds a much-
needed dynamism to understand the
interface. They can be accompanied by
pastel tints or paired with other bright
colors to create bold color palettes. It’s
also possible to add light fading to a
background to intensify the depth.

14. TREND N°6
ILLUSTRATION IN
ALL SHAPES AND
SIZES
In response to Flat Design and image
banks’ impersonal visuals, we’ll be
seeing more and more personalized
illustrations.
An illustration’s fun, differentiating
approach adds personality to interfaces
while affirming a brand’s identity and
finding new ways to present content.
They are particularly helpful in
storytelling.

16. TREND N°7
IMMERSIVE
BACKGROUNDS
Some interfaces can particularly
benefit from playing with large
background visuals to provide a
realistic, human touch and add
depth.
These visuals become real spaces of
expression for the brand because they
help add value to the content and set
the tone for the overall look the brand
is aiming for.
More and more short videos as
backgrounds provides a realistic,
immersive sensation. Just make sure
that this animation is discreet and that
it won’t distract or bore the user.

18. TREND N°8
INFINITE
SCROLLING
The classic fear that users won’t
scroll and thereby will miss content
beneath the line of sight is long
gone!
With the pervasive use of smartphones
and tablets, scrolling has become both
natural and automatic. For many years,
“one-page” sites have been growing in
popularity, progressively loading
content as users scroll further. Another
benefit: scrolling increases user
engagement.

20. TREND N°9
HIERARCHY
THROUGH
TYPOGRAPHY
Typography is still an essential
element to add hierarchy to
information, by using contrasting
font sizes and varying boldness.
With web fonts now on the scene, there
is even more freedom of typographic
expression.
Two character families are enough to
simultaneously create rhythm,
harmonious layout and to guarantee
good legibility of the content (Font
Pairing).

22. TREND N°10
ANIMATION THAT
SERVES A PURPOSE
Animation is not only useful in
creating a “wow” factor, but can also
be used to help users understand the
interface and interactions.
Sticking to Material Design guidelines,
animation is based on the laws of
physics while remaining discreet. Micro-
interactions help provide feedback to
the user after they perform an action.
Be careful to not go overboard, it’s
better to maintain a consistency and
meaning in the user experience.

24. - CONCLUSION -

25. We can see a logical evolution that follows market trends and usage.
3 key takeaways:
● Every trend should be considered and challenged with the brand’s users and objectives in
mind
● The “test and learn” method is the best way to check user comprehension and to start
applying hypotheses
● And of course, a good UI is nothing without a good UX!

26. Want more information, or to get in touch?
Marie-Amélie COTILLON
Creative Studio Manager
marie-amelie.cotillon@backelite.com
www.backelite.com