What Are The Latest UX Design Trends To Boost User Engagement?

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AI as Creative Partner for Designers

AI is evolving beyond automation to become an active partner in the creative process. These tools can suggest ideas, generate alternatives, and even assist with prototypes, while still leaving room for human creativity and empathy. 

Tools like Canva’s Magic Design can instantly generate multiple design variations, giving teams a head start on creative exploration. Similarly, Runway ML and Adobe Firefly expand possibilities by producing visuals, videos, and audio assets that designers can adapt and refine. 

By combining AI’s generative power with human vision, design teams can accelerate workflows while keeping the final product grounded in user needs.

How does AI as a Creative Partner help with engagement?

• Faster ideation and testing help designs improve more quickly, keeping interfaces fresh.
• AI-generated alternatives expand creative options, making more varied and innovative experiences.
• AI frees up designers to focus on human-centered details that keep users engaged and satisfied.

Which AI tools can improve the creative process?

• Adobe Firefly to generate videos, images, and audio
• Canva Magic Design to design prototypes, layouts, and visual presentations
• Runway ML to create and edit video, audio, and visual content

Animation & Micro-Interactions

A button that changes color when clicked, an icon that shakes when it’s ready to be moved—animations and micro-interactions may be small details, but they bring digital products to life. From ripples to page transitions, these motions achieve more than simply adding personality. They guide users through tasks, confirm the success of a certain action, keep users engaged for longer, and make navigation smoother and more intuitive.

For example, Duolingo uses playful micro-animations to confirm correct answers and reward progress, while Medium adds subtle scrolling animations to give readers a smoother experience. Although “doom scrolling” has been criticized, it’s a sure sign that your app is engaging. For a case in point, take Instagram: the app’s smooth transitions keep users on the platform for hours at a time.

Of course, animations and micro-interactions also play a vital role in brand identity, adding that extra touch of personality that makes a brand or product truly stand out. (See Nielsen Norman Group’s article on microinteractions for more on how these small details improve UX.) For an example, look no further than like button animations on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

How do animations and micro-interactions help with engagement?

• Animations and micro-interactions show users that the system is responding to their actions and keep them from getting frustrated or confused.
• Animated interfaces make routine interactions enjoyable, contributing to a pleasant user experience.
• They strengthen brand identity through motion, helping products stand out with a distinctive look and feel.

Immersive & 3D Interfaces

Gone are the days of static screens. With AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and 3D user interfaces, users can explore products and environments in radical new ways. From interactive tours to virtual shopping that lets you closely examine items without being present, these experiences bring a new level of depth and realism to digital design. 

For example, IKEA Place uses AR to give shoppers a preview of how furniture will look in their home, while Nike By You offers 3D shoe customization through realistic 3D product visualization. Immersive technology gives brands a leading edge, creating experiences that connect more deeply with customers.

How do Immersive & 3D Interfaces help with engagement?

• AR, VR, and 3D interfaces create memorable, interactive experiences that engage viewers more deeply.
• 3D product visualization improves buying confidence, prompting users to make a purchase.
• 3D user interfaces help brands stand out in competitive markets, leading to higher traffic and engagement.

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Inclusive & Accessible Design

Accessibility and inclusive design ensure that digital products work for everyone, regardless of ability, platform, or viewing preferences. This can include proper color contrast, scalable fonts, voice input, and multi-language interfaces. Inclusive and accessible designs create fairer, more welcoming experiences—ensuring that no user is left behind.

For example, Apple integrates accessibility features directly into its ecosystem. VoiceOver for screen reading, Magnifier, and Live Captions make iOS and macOS usable for blind, low-vision, and deaf users without requiring extra tools.

YouTube provides auto-captions, support for custom subtitle uploads, and multi-language caption tracks for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, while also offering high-contrast modes and keyboard navigation for those with low vision. 

When your design is inclusive and accessible, it doesn’t just benefit users with different abilities—it leads to clearer design and easier navigation overall, improving the experience for everyone. (See the WCAG 2.2 guidelines for accessibility standards and Nielsen Norman Group’s accessibility research for best practices.)

How does Inclusive & Accessible Design help with engagement?

• Accessibility in UX design ensures that users with different abilities still enjoy a smooth, pleasant experience.
• Prioritizing user needs builds trust and loyalty in your brand.
• Clearer layouts and better navigation improve overall usability for everyone.

What are some examples of accessibility trends in UX design?

• Clear layouts
• Easy navigation
• Color contrast
• Dark mode UX
• Audio options like voice user interface (VUI)
• Ability to zoom in or change font size
• Captions and subtitles
• Multi-language options
• High-contrast modes
• Accommodations for screen readers and keyboard navigation
• Alternative text for images

Brutalism & Minimalism

Two very different aesthetic directions are shaping modern design: minimalism and brutalism. Minimalism uses clean, whitespace-rich layouts that prioritize clarity and simplicity. For an example, think of the sleek, simple layout that has become Apple’s calling card. Minimalism’s clear, streamlined designs lead to a smoother experience that keeps users engaged.

According to research by Javier Bargas-Avila, Senior UX Researcher at YouTube, users tend to prefer websites that strike a balance between simplicity and familiarity. Clear, low-complexity designs that still feel recognizable make interfaces easier to trust and more engaging to use. (Supported by Google UX research)

Brutalism, on the other hand, embraces raw, bold visuals with high contrast and intentional disruption. A good example is The Outline, which uses bright, contrasting colors and eye-popping displays to stand out from other news outlets. While brutalism can be a turn-off for some users, it works wonders on the right audience, leaving a strong impression that keeps people coming back.

Both styles can be powerful when applied with purpose. Just make sure you consider the pros and cons of each, choose the style that resonates with your brand, and apply other UX design principles to create a seamless, engaging interface.

How do Brutalism & Minimalism help with engagement?

• Users are drawn to simple, familiar layouts: clean, low-complexity designs make it easier for people to trust the interface and stay engaged longer.
• Brutalism makes bold visual statements: its raw, high-contrast style captures attention quickly and leaves a strong impression, helping interfaces stand out in crowded markets.
• Both approaches can reinforce brand identity, making a strong impression on users.

Hyperrealism & Visual Collage

Similar to minimalism and brutalism, hyperrealism and visual collage are two different styles. Hyperrealism focuses on life-like renderings and hyper-detailed illustrations, while visual collage mixes different styles—like sketches, photography, and calligraphy—into one cohesive story. Together, both approaches bring more depth and richness to digital design, capturing users’ attention for higher engagement.

Adidas Originals often uses collage-style campaigns, creating visually striking content that people can’t help but click on. In 2012, The New York Times ran a multimedia story called “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek,” which combined photos, videos, graphics, and narrative into an exciting, interactive experience.

In a world where users are constantly bombarded by content in all its forms—video, visual, text, audio, VR, and more—arresting images and inventive storytelling must become the norm.

How do Hyperrealism & Visual Collage help with engagement?

• Visually striking experiences capture attention quickly.
• Detailed visuals and layered designs encourage longer interactions.
• A multimedia approach adds emotional depth, leading to a deeper connection with your brand or product.

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UX Trends at Work: How Apple’s “Liquid Glass” Design Language Resets User Expectations

As mentioned already, Apple’s design is instantly recognizable, creating a strong impression when users engage with the brand. It’s also the height of premium, futuristic design. Recently, Apple unveiled a new design language known as “Liquid Glass,” which unifies user interfaces across its suite of products. 

Liquid Glass fuses glass-like UI elements with real-time rendering that responds to light and motion. Transparent digital elements contrast with their shape’s outer highlights and automatically adapt to their surroundings by reflecting and refracting light. The result is a fluid, distinctly modern user experience.

Beyond keeping users engaged inside Apple’s ecosystem, this design shift has influenced other companies to adopt similar aesthetics. For example, Microsoft Fluent Design recently introduced translucent “Acrylic Material,” clearly influenced by Apple’s Liquid Glass. Apple’s Liquid Glass—and its impact on the world of UX design—proves that a single innovation can redefine user expectations.

How Can I Start Using These Trends?

While the trends outlined above can help your brand increase user engagement and stand out from the crowd, that doesn’t mean you need to adopt all of them right this minute. In fact, the best way to approach UX innovation is to:

• Assess your users’ needs. Resist the urge to try something just because it looks exciting. Instead, identify design trends that could solve specific pain points you’re currently facing, and be intentional about how you integrate them.
• Start small. Before committing to something like a fully immersive interface, try making some small tweaks, like adding animations or adjusting for accessibility. Measure the impact to see if it’s worth going farther.
• Iterate and measure. Track engagement metrics (time on site, conversions, repeat usage) to see what resonates with your users. Then follow that road.
• Take an incremental approach. Avoid overwhelming your team or confusing your users by trying to change everything at once. After deciding on specific adjustments that will solve pain points and resonate with users, make incremental updates to bring your brand, platform, or product up to speed.

How Toolbox No. 9 Helps You Improve User Engagement

At Toolbox No. 9, we live and breathe UX/UI design. Our team helps companies translate these emerging trends into real-world solutions that drive engagement. Whether it’s integrating AI-powered personalization or ensuring accessibility and inclusive design, we specialize in making interfaces both beautiful and effective.

If you’re looking for guidance on which trends make sense for your product, our designers can help you prioritize and implement changes that will improve user engagement—with measurable results.

The Future of UX Design—Featuring Your Brand

Redefining user engagement isn’t about chasing every trend. It’s about choosing the ones that make your product feel more human, more relevant, and more enjoyable. By thoughtfully embracing new design directions that make sense for your brand or product, you’ll do more than meet user expectations. You’ll set new standards for user experience—and set your brand apart as a disruptor in the world of UX design.