How Our Expectations for Modern User Experience Evolved in 2020

User Experience Trends for 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated some technological advancements in business. Sit-down restaurants had to join Grubhub and Uber Eats, offices without remote-work policies or technologies quickly had to figure out Zoom, and companies that were delaying digital innovation had to evolve more quickly.

That need for acceleration is far from behind us though. Let’s consider two major forces that will continue to drive modern user–experience changes in 2021.

1. User engagement will look different in the post-pandemic world.

No matter what the world looks like a year from now, remote work is here to stay. It might not be a job requirement as it is now, but many companies are planning for employees to telecommute even after the pandemic ends. As a UX professional, it’s your job to design solutions that provide people with what they need—even in an imperfect environment such as a busy home. What would help users retain their optimal workflow?

Right now, the workforce is more distracted and anxious than ever. Everything that’s going on—from COVID-19 and its social-distancing restrictions to political upheaval and other world events—puts people under cognitive strain. That’s why any systems or tools they use must be more forgiving. For instance, it’s no longer a good idea to require eye contact for online-testing experiences. A doorbell could ring or a dog could bark at any time, making it hard for both users and researchers to stay focused.

Moving forward, your modern user experience should be able to accommodate people who are distracted. Do whatever you can to make it easy for users to step away, then pick up where they left off. For example, if you’re working on anything that involves live collaboration, be sure to account for sluggish response times. Plan for distractions and consider how they might affect other features.

2. Emerging technologies will deliver greater value.

Invisible, integrated, intelligent computing can solve many of your users’ problems without getting in the way. As always, start by understanding your users’ needs, environments, and painpoints before bringing technology into the picture as part of solution ideation. But once you’ve moved into generating possible solutions for consideration, some growing technologies that have the potential to deliver even more value to users include the following:

• augmented reality (AR)—Improvements to AR could take the world by storm. The 2020 iPad Pro, for instance, leverages AR that is driven by embedded LiDAR—a type of high-powered sensor—using it to improve spatial tracking.
• 5G—The new global wireless standard is driving ubiquitous networking. The shift to remote work has created a need for instant connection, so phone companies will continue to deploy 5G in 2021.
• artificial intelligence and machine learning—With these technologies, you can build increasingly intuitive systems that are more capable of real-world and real-time responses. This has also resulted in a growing conversation around AI ethics.
• wearable computing devices—Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other wearable technologies are making people’s lives easier. How can your product or tool use or integrate with this technology?

Conclusion

People talk about the next big thing, but improvements in technology happen in small jumps. A strong UX strategy can help you understand what you need to do and plan for the future. If you start with your users and take the time to understand their evolving needs, you can deliver the solutions they need to thrive during the pandemic—as well as when it eventually becomes just a memory.