Another year brings fresh advancements and changes, shaping not just our design preferences but also reflecting broader societal shifts. From evolving technology to the current political landscape, conversations around AI skepticism, financial and environmental crises, and global security concerns are influencing how we view and interact with the technology in our lives. The following factors are reshaping how we adapt to and embrace this ever-changing landscape.

2025 is shaping up to be a year where design trends take inspiration from both the past and the future—because apparently, what’s old is new again, and what’s new is just trying to figure out what we liked 20 years ago.

‍

1. The Return of Analog

‍

After years of clicking, swiping, and tapping, there’s growing dissatisfaction with the ubiquitous touchscreen interface. Buttons are making a comeback, offering tactile feedback, ease of use, and reliability in scenarios where touchscreens falter. Physical controls now symbolize thoughtful design and exclusivity, countering the overly sleek and impersonal reputation of touchscreens. Buttons allow users to navigate without constant visual focus, providing a sense of control and relief from the demands of screen interaction. This trend reflects a broader craving for tactile, human experiences in a digital world—because sometimes, nothing beats the satisfaction of a good old-fashioned "click."

Impact on Digital Design: The return of analog-inspired design is reshaping how we think about user interaction. Digital interfaces are adopting tactile and pseudo-tactile experiences, such as haptic feedback for virtual buttons or designs that mimic physical controls. This shift signals a desire for more human-centered, intuitive interactions that reduce cognitive load and make navigation feel natural. In an era of digital overload, analog-inspired designs also evoke a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, offering users a refreshing break from sterile, screen-heavy environments. By blending tactile elements with modern technology, designers can create interfaces that feel both familiar and innovative.

‍

UX Product Example: The Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera bridges the gap between analog and digital with its physical dials and a hidden screen, encouraging users to focus on the art of photography. This intentional design prioritizes tactile controls over constant screen engagement, promoting a more immersive experience.

‍

App Example: The Hipstamatic app recreates the experience of using traditional film cameras by incorporating virtual knobs, dials, and buttons. Its nostalgic interface appeals to users who value analog aesthetics, blending old-school charm with modern mobile photography tools.

‍

Industry Leader: Apple has re-embraced physical controls with its MacBook Pro, replacing the Touch Bar with physical function keys in response to user demand for tactile feedback. Similarly, the iPhone

16 features a dedicated Camera Control button, blending tactile hardware with dynamic UI interaction, reinforcing the value of thoughtful, user-focused design.

‍

‍

2. Neomorphism 2.0

‍

Neomorphism, a style that combines flat design with skeuomorphism to create soft, extruded plastic-like visuals, is set to evolve in 2025. Neomorphism 2.0 will address the usability critiques of its earlier iteration by improving contrast, accessibility, and interactivity. This refined approach will make buttons, cards, and input fields look more tactile, intuitive, and engaging, while balancing aesthetics with functionality.

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Neomorphism 2.0 signals a broader shift in digital product design, emphasizing tactile experiences and visual depth. Apps and interfaces can incorporate haptic feedback, dynamic lighting effects, and interactive elements that mimic real-world controls, offering a sense of tangibility in virtual environments. Improved accessibility, such as higher contrast ratios and better-defined interactive states, will ensure this design trend aligns with user needs. By adopting neomorphic principles, designers can create digital experiences that feel both grounded and inviting, reducing visual fatigue and making interactions more satisfying.

‍

UX Product Example: Apple’s iOS calculator exemplifies a subtle neomorphic approach, with softly extruded buttons that mimic physical controls while remaining sleek and functional. Its clean, intuitive design demonstrates how Neomorphism 2.0 can enhance usability without overwhelming users.

‍

App Example: The Spotify mobile app has started experimenting with neomorphic-inspired buttons and sliders in its interface. These interactive elements, with soft shadows and subtle depth, make navigation feel more tactile while maintaining Spotify’s modern aesthetic.

‍

Industry Leader: Microsoft has embraced neomorphic principles in its product illustrations and UI elements, moving away from flat, vector-based designs toward vibrant, 3D-inspired visuals. This shift enhances the user experience by making interfaces more engaging and relatable while maintaining accessibility.

‍

Neomorphism 2.0 is a balance between aesthetics and functionality, offering designers an opportunity to create interfaces that are visually appealing, tactile, and user-friendly. By addressing past limitations, this trend can redefine how digital products engage users in 2025.

‍

‍

3. Combatting Screen Fatigue and Redefining the Reading Experience

‍

Screen fatigue continues to be a pressing challenge for users, fueled by prolonged screen time, fragmented attention, and cognitive overload. This demand extends to improving the quality of reading experiences, particularly as studies, such as those in Denmark, highlight declining leisure reading habits and proficiency among younger audiences.

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Designers are responding to these challenges by creating interfaces that prioritize simplicity, utility, and focus. Clean, distraction-free layouts with larger fonts, soothing color contrasts, and ample white space are becoming central to reducing eye strain and promoting prolonged engagement. Freemium models with transparent upgrades are emerging as a way to rebuild user trust while minimizing “wallet fatigue.” Additionally, digital platforms are adopting features like progress trackers and subtle achievements to rekindle interest in reading and foster a sense of accomplishment.

‍

UX Product Example: The Remarkable 2 tablet provides a paper-like reading and writing experience, offering a distraction-free environment that reduces eye strain associated with traditional screens. Its minimalist design helps users focus on the task at hand, making it a favorite among those seeking simplicity.

‍

App Example: Instapaper and Pocket offer clean, ad-free interfaces for reading saved articles offline. By emphasizing readability and removing unnecessary distractions, these apps help users combat screen fatigue while enabling them to consume content at their own pace.

‍

Industry Leader: E Ink Corporation leads advancements in screen fatigue solutions with its e-ink display technology, widely used in devices like the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo e-readers. These displays mimic the feel of paper, providing a glare-free, low-power, and high-contrast reading experience. Meanwhile, Adobe has enhanced its Acrobat Reader with features like Liquid Mode, which optimizes content for easier viewing on screens, further demonstrating its commitment to user-centric design.

‍

By prioritizing usability, transparency, and accessibility, these innovations address the growing demands of screen-fatigued audiences, ensuring that digital interactions remain both engaging and mindful of user well-being.

‍

‍

4. Tech Equals “Ugly”

‍

An intriguing pivot from polished minimalism, “ugly” design celebrates chaotic, raw, and expressive aesthetics. Think clashing colors, bold shapes, and unexpected layouts—this is design unafraid to stand out. It breaks the traditional rules of balance and harmony, embracing imperfection to create designs that feel alive, authentic, and unapologetically unique. Who would have thought that chaotic color palettes and clashing layouts would be the new cool? Maybe my middle school PowerPoint slides were ahead of their time!

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Apps leveraging bold and disruptive visuals will appeal to Gen Z and younger audiences, fostering connections through humor, authenticity, and a sense of rebellion against conventional design norms. This movement also challenges the notion that "clean" equals "good," giving designers the freedom to experiment and connect with users on a more emotional and relatable level.

The rise of unpolished design coincides with cultural shifts toward authenticity and imperfection in social media, branding, and advertising. It signals a growing rejection of overly curated, sterile digital environments in favor of spaces that feel real, raw, and dynamic. Designers can also integrate accessibility into this style, ensuring contrast and usability remain intact despite the "messy" aesthetic.

‍

UX Product Example: The BeReal app encourages users to post unfiltered photos once a day, embracing authenticity over curated aesthetics.

‍

App Example: Yubo utilizes a deliberately simplistic and raw design, focusing on user interaction rather than polished visuals. Its playful and experimental interface makes it stand out among apps targeting younger audiences.

‍

Industry Leader: Instagram has introduced features like “Notes,” allowing users to share short, unpolished thoughts, reflecting a shift towards more genuine content.

‍

This movement invites both brands and designers to take risks, stand out, and create more engaging and memorable digital experiences by breaking away from the norm.

‍

‍

5. Maximalism in Color, Minimalism in Form

‍

While some trends embrace the bold and the chaotic, others take a step back to focus on simplicity with purpose. Cosmetic minimalism embraces warm neutrals, organic shapes, and soothing textures. This reflects a desire for calming digital environments that mirror our natural surroundings, offering users a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of their daily lives. 

This approach doesn’t equate to a lack of expression; instead, it emphasizes balance. Pops of color are strategically placed to draw attention or create moments of delight, while the overall design remains minimal in structure and interaction complexity. The result is a visually rich experience that feels inviting, accessible, and emotionally grounded.With warm neutrals and organic shapes, these designs whisper, ‘Relax—you’ve had enough chaos in your inbox today.

Impact on Digital Design: App interfaces will shift to earthy tones, rounded elements, and fluid animations, creating spaces that feel intuitive and inviting, encouraging users to linger without overwhelming them.

‍

UX Product Example: The Nest Thermostat’s interface combines minimalist design with earthy tones and soft gradients. The circular screen and intuitive controls reflect organic, natural shapes, while the UI focuses on simplicity, creating a calming experience for managing home environments.

App Example: Pinterest’s app design uses a clean, grid-based layout with soft, rounded corners and muted background tones. The interface highlights user content through minimal distractions, creating a space where users can explore inspiration in a calm, inviting environment.

Industry Leader: Apple continues to lead with its application of cosmetic minimalism in macOS and iOS design updates. With features like rounded corners, glass-like textures, and dynamic wallpapers inspired by natural landscapes, Apple seamlessly blends vibrant color accents with minimalistic layouts to create calming, intuitive digital environments that feel modern and grounded.

‍

‍

6. Inclusive Design: Creating for Everyone

‍

Inclusive design, once primarily rooted in UX/UI, is expanding its influence into broader domains like graphic design, packaging, and social media. As society grows more aware of the diverse challenges individuals face, designers are embracing inclusivity not only to address accessibility needs but also to consider social, cultural, and environmental impacts. This shift prioritizes creating experiences and materials that are not only usable but also meaningful for everyone, fostering empathy and equity across all touchpoints.

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Inclusive design is reshaping how interfaces and materials are created, ensuring they cater to diverse needs and contexts. Features like adaptable text sizes, high-contrast visuals, screen-reader compatibility, and voice user interfaces (VUIs) are becoming essential for creating accessible, hands-free interactions. These principles are also extending beyond digital spaces to influence areas like packaging and branding, where tactile elements, culturally resonant visuals, and sustainability are gaining prominence. By embedding empathy and collaboration into the design process, teams can create solutions that feel relevant, thoughtful, and equitable.

‍

UX Product Example: Microsoft’s Adaptive Accessories empower users with physical disabilities by providing customizable tools tailored to their needs, demonstrating how technology can adapt to individual requirements.

‍

App Example: The Be My Eyes app connects visually impaired users with volunteers via video calls, offering real-time assistance with everyday tasks while fostering a sense of community and empowerment.

‍

Industry Leader: Apple leads the way in inclusive design with features like VoiceOver, Live Captions, and customizable accessibility settings in iOS. By embedding these tools into their ecosystem, Apple ensures its products are accessible to a broad audience and sets a benchmark for the industry.

Inclusive design has become a fundamental principle across digital and graphic design, emphasizing usability, accessibility, and empathy. Whether through VUIs, adaptive tools, or culturally inclusive visuals, this approach fosters meaningful, welcoming experiences for all users while shaping a more equitable future for design.

‍

‍

7. Sustainability and Ethical Design

‍

Environmental consciousness is no longer optional. Users increasingly expect brands to reflect sustainability and ethics, from using renewable resources to considering energy-efficient digital products. This demand for sustainable practices extends beyond physical products to digital experiences, where the focus is shifting toward reducing energy consumption, promoting mindful usage, and integrating environmentally friendly principles into the design process. Designers are challenged to think about the full lifecycle of their products, including the energy required to use and maintain digital services. From data storage optimization to promoting digital minimalism, ethical design encompasses everything from user behavior to infrastructure choices. Ethical design this year should extend beyond just combatting dark UX patterns and focus also on the ever pressing subscription creep as overabundance of subscription models. The fatigue of this model causes users to seek digital solutions that respect their time, budgets, and mental well-being. 

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Lightweight apps that minimize system resource usage and reduce backend server demands are becoming increasingly important in the effort to lower energy consumption and carbon footprints. These apps, combined with energy-efficient features like dark mode and low-power mode, not only help conserve battery life but also encourage more sustainable device usage. Visual design plays a key role as well, with eco-friendly elements such as subtle, earthy color palettes and lightweight graphics reinforcing sustainability while creating a cohesive and calming user experience. Moreover, tools like progress trackers that promote mindful consumption or allow users to monitor their environmental impact further embed sustainability into digital design, fostering a sense of awareness and responsibility among users.

‍

UX Product Example: The Fairphone exemplifies sustainable tech design with ethically sourced materials, such as conflict-free minerals and recycled plastics. Its modular design allows users to replace or upgrade components like batteries or cameras, extending the device’s lifespan and reducing electronic waste. Additionally, Fairphone emphasizes fair labor practices and improved working conditions in its supply chain, making it a pioneer in ethical technology.

‍

App Example: Olio combats food waste by connecting neighbors and local businesses to share surplus food and household items. Its user-friendly platform promotes a culture of sharing and reduces waste, while also fostering stronger community ties. Olio’s sustainability-focused mission is further supported by educational content, encouraging users to adopt more eco-conscious habits.

‍

Industry Leader: Patagonia’s digital platforms reflect its commitment to sustainability, offering transparency on product sourcing and environmental impact. Through initiatives like the Worn Wear program, which promotes repairing and reusing gear, Patagonia encourages responsible consumption. Its platforms also feature environmental campaigns, empowering customers to make more sustainable choices and align with the brand’s mission.

‍

‍

8. Personalization at the Forefront

‍

Inspired by 2024, driven by AI and machine learning is shaping the way users interact with technology. From curated content to adaptive interfaces, the future is about tailoring every aspect of the digital experience to individual preferences.

‍

AI-Driven Personalization: AI is transforming user interfaces by making them adaptive to individual preferences and behaviors. Through the analysis of user interactions, AI can dynamically tailor content, layouts, and functionalities to boost engagement and satisfaction. This trend is gaining traction across industries, exemplified by the Rabbit R1’s customizable interface, which adjusts seamlessly to meet user needs. AI personalization is getting so good, soon your apps will know you better than your closest friends—minus the judgment when you binge cat videos at 2 a.m.

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Expect to see apps that evolve dynamically, offering features tailored to individual usage patterns, preferences, and contextual needs. AI-driven adaptability will allow interfaces to anticipate user actions, streamline workflows, and deliver content or functionalities when and where they’re most relevant. Designers will face the challenge of balancing seamless customization with transparency and privacy, ensuring users feel in control of their data. As personalization becomes more sophisticated, there will also be a growing demand for clear consent mechanisms, ethical AI use, and options for users to adjust or disable automated features to maintain trust and inclusivity in the digital experience.

‍

UX Product Example: The Rabbit R1 device allows users to customize its entire interface using AI-generated designs, providing a highly personalized user experience.

‍

App Example: Spotify’s AI-driven recommendations curate playlists tailored to individual listening habits, enhancing user engagement.

‍

Industry Leader: Netflix employs algorithms to personalize content suggestions, ensuring users discover shows and movies aligned with their preferences.

‍

‍

9. Blurring Realities with AR

‍

Augmented Reality (AR) is no longer a niche technology but a mainstream expectation across industries. AR seamlessly bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds by offering experiences that feel both interactive and immersive. From virtual try-ons for fashion and makeup to AR-enhanced home design tools that allow users to visualize furniture in their space, the technology is transforming how users engage with products and services. 

‍

Impact on Digital Design: AR-ready designs will create opportunities for highly interactive apps, especially in e-commerce, gaming, and education. Designers must also consider the physical context of users, ensuring seamless transitions between virtual and real experiences.

‍

UX Product Example: The BMW Panoramic iDrive system features a heads-up display that spans the entire windshield, integrating augmented reality to project driving information directly into the driver’s line of sight.

‍

App Example: IKEA Place uses AR to let users visualize furniture in their homes, accurately scaling items to fit their space. It enables experimentation with arrangements, colors, and styles, enhancing convenience and reducing uncertainty in online shopping. This interactive experience fosters confident decisions while minimizing returns, showcasing AR's practical impact on retail.

‍

Industry Leader: Apple is reportedly developing AR glasses, aiming to integrate augmented reality seamlessly into daily life. These glasses are expected to blend digital overlays with the physical world, enabling features like hands-free navigation, immersive media consumption, and real-time contextual information.

‍

‍

10. The Rise of Cozy Gaming

‍

Gaming spaces are shifting toward cozy, low-stress experiences, catering to players who seek relaxation over competition. This trend mirrors a broader societal push for mental well-being and slower-paced digital interactions, appealing to a growing audience looking for meaningful yet calming engagement. Cozy gaming emphasizes creativity, exploration, and connection, offering a welcome escape from the fast-paced, competitive nature of traditional games. In a world of intense gaming battles, cozy games remind us that sometimes, all you need is a virtual farm and a pixelated cow to find your zen.

‍

Impact on Digital Design: Gaming apps and even non-gaming interfaces may adopt softer aesthetics, pastel color palettes, and narrative-driven interactions to align with this trend. Designers may also focus on user comfort by incorporating intuitive controls, simple mechanics, and features that encourage mindfulness and self-expression. The rise of cozy gaming also opens opportunities for gamifying non-gaming apps, like productivity or wellness tools, to create relaxing and rewarding user experiences.

‍

UX Product Example: The Nintendo Switch  is at the forefront of this trend, with a growing library of cozy games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This game highlights relaxation and creativity through activities like fishing, gardening, and designing, creating a serene and enjoyable environment for players.

‍

App Example: Stardew Valley offers a popular mobile experience centered on farming, community-building, and exploration. Its gentle pace, nostalgic pixel art, and focus on personal choice provide players with a soothing escape from daily stress while fostering a sense of accomplishment and connection.

‍

Industry Leader: Sony has recognized the growing demand for low-stress gaming options and invested in indie developers to expand its portfolio of casual and cozy games. With titles like Journey and Abzu, Sony demonstrates a commitment to crafting immersive, relaxing experiences that emphasize artful storytelling and emotional resonance, further solidifying its leadership in this space.

‍

‍

Conclusion

‍

2025 is set to be a year of contrasts—where analog nostalgia meets digital innovation, and bold aesthetics coexist with calming minimalism. Designers face the challenge of balancing these trends with user needs, societal shifts, and technological advancements, crafting experiences that feel both cutting-edge and deeply human.

‍

For digital products, including apps, these trends are more than just visual updates—they represent deeper connections with users, focusing on trust, inclusivity, and well-being. Features like AI-driven personalization, AR integration, and sustainability-centered design reflect a commitment to making technology not only functional but meaningful. Whether you’re a UX/UI professional or an industry observer, these trends offer a lens to understand where design is headed, the challenges it may pose, and the opportunities it presents for creating more impactful, user-centered experiences.

‍

From analog buttons to AI-driven personalization, 2025’s design trends prove one thing: the future has something for everyone—even those who miss the satisfying click of a button.

‍

‍

‍