Key Software Design Predictions for 2019
In the rapidly evolving domain of software design, delivering an outstanding customer experience remains the cornerstone of success. However, as user expectations grow increasingly sophisticated and competitors accelerate their innovation cycles, designers face mounting pressure to innovate not just creatively but strategically. The challenge for design professionals in 2019 is to go beyond the conventional boundaries of their craft and adopt new mindsets and methodologies that align design efforts with broader business goals. This article explores critical trends that will shape software design over the next year and beyond, offering insights into how designers can thrive amid these changes.
Designers Begin to Embrace Strategic Thinking Beyond Tactics
Traditionally, many designers have operated in a focused, detail-oriented mode, meticulously crafting visual elements and interfaces to resonate emotionally with users. This deep immersion in the minutiae of design is essential, yet it can sometimes limit designers’ visibility into how their work contributes to the organization’s larger objectives. In 2019, a marked shift is underway as more designers move beyond the tactical execution of design tasks toward embracing strategic thinking.
By adopting a strategic approach, designers learn to see their work as an integral part of the product development lifecycle, tied to key business metrics such as time to market, user adoption, and revenue growth. One of the frameworks facilitating this transition is design thinking—a methodology that encourages empathy with users, iterative problem solving, and alignment with business goals. Research shows that teams utilizing design thinking reduce the initial design phase by up to 75%, cut down development and testing cycles by one-third, and can launch products twice as fast. This efficiency boost is a compelling incentive for designers to broaden their scope.
This evolution challenges designers to acquire new skills beyond aesthetics and interaction design. It requires an understanding of user psychology, market demands, and business strategy. When designers integrate these dimensions into their process, they become invaluable collaborators who can influence product direction, helping to prioritize features that truly matter to customers and stakeholders alike.
Design Thinking Establishes Itself as an Indispensable Practice
Design thinking is no longer just a trendy buzzword; it has become a fundamental practice embraced by the majority of innovative organizations. Approximately 75% of companies report actively using design thinking frameworks in their workflows to better understand and solve complex user problems. This approach involves a structured process of gathering detailed usability data, creating comprehensive user personas, defining explicit user requirements, and fostering ideation and experimentation through prototyping.
The iterative nature of design thinking allows teams to continuously refine their solutions based on real user feedback, rather than relying solely on assumptions or gut feelings. This not only improves the product’s usability but also reduces costly redesigns after launch. In addition, design thinking fosters a culture of collaboration and openness, which enhances team morale and productivity. Around 71% of organizations using design thinking report positive improvements in their workplace environment, citing enhanced communication and mutual respect among team members.
The widespread adoption of design thinking indicates that it is becoming a default mindset for design teams aiming to deliver meaningful user experiences. It equips designers with tools to balance creativity with analytical rigor and positions them as proactive problem solvers within cross-functional teams.
The Science of User Experience Strengthens the Art of Design
The art of design has always relied on intuition, aesthetics, and creativity. However, the emergence of data-driven UX research is enhancing this artistic side with scientific precision. Statistics highlight that nearly 40% of users abandon websites or applications if they find the design unattractive or confusing, emphasizing the critical role of user experience design.
In practice, this means that before a designer begins creating visuals or wireframes, a thorough understanding of the user journey must be established. This involves detailed analysis of user behaviors, pain points, motivations, and goals through quantitative and qualitative research methods such as surveys, heatmaps, user interviews, and usability testing. This research-driven phase represents the “science” of design.
Once designers have mapped these insights, they can apply their artistic talents to create compelling interfaces that resonate emotionally while remaining highly usable. The ability to blend data with creativity results in designs that not only look stunning but also provide intuitive navigation and interaction patterns that keep users engaged. This fusion of art and science is the essence of modern UX design, enabling teams to craft solutions that stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Delivering a Superior Customer Experience Remains the Ultimate Goal
Among all the evolving trends in software design, the pursuit of the ultimate customer experience remains the most significant driver of innovation. Digital marketing studies consistently show that improving customer experience is a top priority for organizations, and this emphasis will only intensify in 2019.
Understanding what customers want and tailoring designs to meet those desires is crucial. A striking 86% of consumers express a willingness to pay more for products and services that offer a better experience. This highlights the commercial value of investing in user-centered design.
Moreover, emotional connections between users and products are emerging as a key differentiator in the market. Almost half of design leaders identify forging emotional bonds with customers as a hallmark of advanced design practice. These bonds are cultivated through empathy-driven design approaches, iterative testing, and a deep understanding of user contexts and needs.
To achieve this, companies increasingly rely on user research and design thinking to uncover subtle emotional drivers and behavioral patterns. These insights guide designers in crafting interfaces that go beyond functionality to create memorable and delightful experiences that inspire loyalty and advocacy.
Creativity’s Tangible Impact on Business Outcomes Becomes More Evident
Designers are inherently creative, but the strategic importance of their creativity to business success is becoming more visible. Research indicates that 82% of organizations recognize a strong correlation between creativity and positive business results. Companies that prioritize creativity as a core value tend to capture 1.5 times greater market share compared to their less creative competitors.
This recognition encourages design teams to elevate their creative processes beyond mere aesthetics, aligning them closely with business strategy. Advanced design thinking frameworks provide a structured approach to harness creativity effectively, helping designers innovate solutions that are visually compelling and commercially viable.
By nurturing creativity as a strategic asset, organizations empower designers to drive differentiation and growth. This shift also enhances the stature of design teams within organizations, positioning them as essential contributors to business innovation and competitive advantage.
Continuous Learning and Skill Development Drive Design Excellence
The software design landscape is constantly evolving, and staying relevant demands continuous learning. Designers who invest in upskilling will be best positioned to lead and innovate in 2019 and beyond.
Key areas of focus for skill development include Design Thinking, which sharpens strategic insight and user-centric problem solving. User Experience Design and Research are critical for structuring and validating user journeys with empirical evidence. UX Interaction Design skills enable the creation of interactive prototypes that facilitate early testing and refinement of concepts. Visual Design remains indispensable for crafting aesthetically powerful and brand-aligned interfaces.
Together, these disciplines create a comprehensive toolkit that empowers design teams to deliver impactful, user-centered products efficiently. Organizations that prioritize training and professional growth foster more agile and capable design groups, ready to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The landscape of software design in 2019 demands more than just creativity—it requires strategic thinking, scientific rigor, and an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer experiences. Designers who expand their roles to include business acumen, embrace design thinking as a foundational mindset, and continuously refine their skills will lead the way. By blending art with science, nurturing creativity as a business asset, and focusing relentlessly on user needs, design teams will not only create visually stunning products but also drive meaningful business outcomes in the year ahead.
Emerging Technologies Reshaping Software Design in 2019
As the software design landscape continues to evolve, emerging technologies are playing a pivotal role in redefining how designers create experiences. In 2019, advances in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, voice interfaces, and automation tools are influencing design approaches and expanding the possibilities for user engagement. Understanding these technologies and their impact is crucial for designers aiming to stay ahead of the curve and deliver innovative solutions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an indispensable tool in the design process. From intelligent automation that streamlines repetitive tasks to AI-powered analytics that provide deep insights into user behavior, designers can leverage these capabilities to enhance efficiency and creativity. For instance, machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of user interaction data to predict user needs and preferences, allowing designers to tailor interfaces dynamically. Moreover, AI-driven design assistants are emerging, capable of suggesting layouts, color schemes, or content structures based on user data and best practices. These technologies free designers from some of the more mechanical aspects of their work and enable them to focus on strategic and creative thinking.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are also reshaping user experiences and creating new frontiers for design. AR overlays digital information onto the physical world, allowing users to interact with virtual elements in real environments. This creates opportunities for highly immersive and contextually relevant experiences in fields such as retail, education, and healthcare. Designers must adapt their skills to develop interfaces that blend seamlessly with real-world surroundings, accounting for spatial awareness and natural user interactions. VR, on the other hand, transports users into entirely digital worlds, requiring designers to rethink navigation, visual storytelling, and sensory engagement. The rise of these immersive technologies demands a new set of design principles that balance usability with experiential richness.
Voice interfaces and conversational design are rapidly gaining traction as well. Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant are becoming household fixtures, and designing effective voice user interfaces (VUIs) is a growing discipline. Unlike traditional graphical user interfaces, VUIs rely on natural language understanding and dialogue management to facilitate seamless communication. Designers must consider conversational flow, context retention, and user intent to create intuitive voice interactions. This shift challenges conventional design paradigms and calls for multidisciplinary collaboration between designers, linguists, and engineers.
Automation tools and low-code/no-code platforms are democratizing design and development, enabling non-technical users to create functional prototypes or even full applications. These tools accelerate the iteration cycle, allowing designers to rapidly test concepts and gather feedback without extensive coding. As a result, designers are increasingly empowered to lead innovation from ideation to execution, blurring the lines between design and development roles. This convergence necessitates a broadening of skill sets and a more integrated approach to product creation.
The Rise of Inclusive and Ethical Design Practices
Another major trend in software design for 2019 is the growing emphasis on inclusivity and ethical responsibility. As digital products permeate every aspect of daily life, designers bear a heightened obligation to create experiences that are accessible, fair, and respectful of diverse user needs.
Inclusive design goes beyond compliance with accessibility standards; it entails designing for a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and contexts from the outset. This proactive approach ensures that products can be used by people with disabilities, varying levels of digital literacy, different cultural perspectives, and diverse economic circumstances. In practice, inclusive design involves techniques such as flexible layouts, alternative input methods, adjustable text sizes, and culturally sensitive content. Organizations embracing inclusive design report enhanced customer satisfaction, broader market reach, and positive brand reputation.
Ethical considerations in software design encompass privacy, data security, transparency, and the prevention of bias. With increased scrutiny over how personal data is collected and used, designers must collaborate closely with legal and engineering teams to build trust with users. This means designing clear privacy notices, giving users meaningful control over their data, and ensuring algorithms do not perpetuate discrimination or unfair treatment. The ethical dimension also extends to avoiding manipulative design patterns, such as dark patterns that trick users into unwanted actions.
In 2019, ethical and inclusive design practices are becoming core components of responsible innovation. Designers who integrate these principles not only contribute to social good but also help future-proof products against regulatory risks and reputational damage.
Collaboration and Cross-Disciplinary Teams Fuel Innovation
Software design in 2019 increasingly relies on collaboration across diverse disciplines and roles. The complexity of modern products demands that designers work closely with product managers, developers, data scientists, marketers, and customer support teams. This cross-functional teamwork fosters a holistic understanding of user needs, business priorities, and technical constraints.
Effective collaboration begins with clear communication and shared goals. Agile methodologies, which emphasize iterative development and frequent feedback, have become standard practice in many organizations. Design teams participate in sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives, ensuring their insights shape each development cycle. Additionally, co-creation workshops and design sprints bring stakeholders together to rapidly prototype solutions and align on vision.
Cross-disciplinary teams also benefit from shared tools and workflows that promote transparency and version control. Design systems and component libraries help maintain consistency while enabling faster iteration. Cloud-based collaboration platforms allow real-time feedback and seamless handoffs between designers and developers.
In 2019, successful design organizations foster a culture where diverse expertise is valued and open dialogue encouraged. This environment sparks creativity, reduces misunderstandings, and accelerates the delivery of high-quality user experiences.
Data-Driven Design Decisions Become the Norm
As more user data becomes available, data-driven design is becoming the cornerstone of product development strategies. Rather than relying solely on intuition or anecdotal feedback, designers increasingly harness quantitative and qualitative data to inform their choices.
Analytics tools track user interactions, conversion rates, drop-off points, and feature usage patterns. These metrics provide objective evidence of what works and what doesn’t. Combined with qualitative insights from usability testing and customer interviews, designers gain a comprehensive understanding of user behavior.
Data-driven design supports continuous optimization through A/B testing and experimentation. Teams can test multiple versions of a design element to determine which performs better against key performance indicators. This iterative process leads to more effective and user-centric interfaces.
Moreover, data can reveal underserved user segments or identify emerging trends, enabling proactive adjustments to design strategies. By grounding decisions in data, design teams build credibility with stakeholders and reduce the risks associated with product launches.
The Growing Importance of Micro-Interactions and Animation
In 2019, micro-interactions and animation are gaining prominence as essential tools to enhance user engagement and satisfaction. These subtle, often overlooked design elements provide feedback, guide users, and add personality to digital products.
Micro-interactions include things like button animations, loading indicators, hover effects, and swipe gestures. They help users understand the consequences of their actions and make interactions feel more intuitive. For example, a subtle animation that confirms a successful form submission reassures the user that their input was received.
Animation, when used thoughtfully, can tell stories, convey brand identity, and improve the overall aesthetic appeal of an application. However, designers must balance creativity with performance, ensuring animations do not detract from usability or slow down the interface.
The increasing availability of tools and frameworks for prototyping and implementing micro-interactions makes it easier for designers to experiment and incorporate these elements into their workflows. Mastering this nuanced aspect of design will distinguish leading products in 2019.
Preparing for the Future: Design as a Catalyst for Business Growth
Looking ahead, it is clear that software design is evolving from a purely creative discipline into a critical driver of business strategy. Organizations that recognize and invest in the strategic value of design gain a competitive edge by delivering superior customer experiences and innovating efficiently.
In 2019, design teams will continue to expand their roles by integrating emerging technologies, championing ethical practices, fostering collaboration, leveraging data, and mastering refined interaction techniques. These trends collectively position design not just as a function but as a catalyst for growth and differentiation.
For designers, this means embracing lifelong learning, cultivating interdisciplinary skills, and maintaining a user-first mindset. By doing so, they ensure that their contributions resonate with users and stakeholders alike, driving success in an ever-changing digital landscape.
The Increasing Role of Personalization in Software Design
One of the most compelling trends shaping software design in 2019 is the drive toward hyper-personalization. Users now expect products and services that adapt to their individual preferences, behaviors, and contexts. Personalized experiences not only enhance satisfaction but also increase engagement and loyalty.
Designers are harnessing data from user profiles, behavior analytics, and contextual cues to tailor interfaces and content dynamically. For example, personalized dashboards that highlight relevant information or recommendations based on past activity create a more meaningful experience. Beyond surface customization, personalization also influences how workflows are structured and how users navigate an application.
Achieving effective personalization requires designers to balance automation with user control. Transparency about data use and options for users to adjust preferences are critical to building trust. Furthermore, designers must anticipate how personalization impacts accessibility and inclusivity to avoid alienating any user groups.
Designing for Multimodal User Experiences
The way users interact with technology is expanding beyond traditional mouse and keyboard or touchscreen inputs. In 2019, software designers are challenged to create seamless multimodal experiences that incorporate voice, gesture, touch, and even eye tracking.
Multimodal design provides flexibility, enabling users to choose the most convenient or accessible interaction method. For example, voice commands may be ideal for hands-free operation, while touch or gesture controls might suit precise manipulation tasks. Designers must ensure that these modalities complement each other and that transitions between them feel natural and intuitive.
This trend requires a deep understanding of human-computer interaction principles and careful consideration of context, device capabilities, and user preferences. Multimodal design also intersects with accessibility goals by offering alternative ways to engage with content.
The Expansion of Design Systems and Component-Based Design
Design systems have become a cornerstone of efficient and consistent software design. In 2019, their adoption is accelerating as organizations seek to scale design operations and maintain brand coherence across products.
A design system is a collection of reusable components, guidelines, and standards that streamline the design and development process. By creating a shared language and toolkit, design teams reduce duplication of effort and ensure a cohesive user experience.
Component-based design complements this approach by breaking interfaces into modular, interchangeable parts. This modularity facilitates rapid prototyping, easier maintenance, and faster iteration cycles. Developers and designers collaborate more closely using design systems, improving handoffs and reducing errors.
As design systems mature, they increasingly incorporate accessibility standards, performance optimization, and adaptability for various platforms and devices.
Ethical AI and Responsible Design Practices
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into software products, ethical considerations take center stage in design conversations. Designers must grapple with how AI decisions impact users and ensure that systems operate transparently, fairly, and without bias.
Responsible design with AI includes making algorithms explainable to users, providing options to override automated decisions, and safeguarding against unintended consequences. It also involves protecting user privacy and preventing misuse of data.
In 2019, organizations are beginning to establish ethical frameworks and guidelines that inform the development of AI-driven features. Designers play a critical role in operationalizing these principles through interface design, communication, and user education.
The Growing Importance of Continuous Learning and Adaptation for Designers
The rapid pace of technological change means that designers must embrace continuous learning to remain effective. In 2019, upskilling is no longer optional but essential.
Designers are expanding their expertise beyond visual aesthetics to include user research, data analysis, coding fundamentals, and strategic thinking. Familiarity with emerging tools such as AI-powered design assistants, prototyping platforms, and collaboration software is increasingly expected.
Moreover, adopting a growth mindset and staying curious about new methodologies and trends help designers anticipate and respond to evolving user needs and business goals.
Continuous adaptation also involves seeking feedback and iterating designs based on real-world usage data rather than relying solely on initial assumptions.
The Convergence of Design and Development Roles
One of the defining shifts in software design for 2019 is the blurring boundary between designers and developers. The rise of low-code and no-code platforms, coupled with more collaborative workflows, enables designers to take on coding tasks and developers to engage more deeply with design.
This convergence promotes greater agility, as design changes can be implemented and tested more rapidly. It also fosters mutual understanding between disciplines, which enhances product quality and team cohesion.
Designers increasingly learn front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while developers develop an eye for user experience principles. Cross-functional skills empower individuals to contribute throughout the product lifecycle.
The Impact of Remote Work and Distributed Teams on Design Collaboration
The proliferation of remote work and geographically dispersed teams has transformed how design collaboration happens. In 2019, leveraging digital tools for communication, file sharing, and real-time collaboration is indispensable.
Cloud-based design platforms, video conferencing, and project management software enable teams to maintain alignment and iterate efficiently despite physical separation.
This new dynamic requires designers to be proactive communicators, disciplined organizers, and adept at asynchronous collaboration. It also fosters diversity and inclusion by enabling participation from a broader talent pool.
Remote work encourages documentation and transparency in design decisions, which enhances knowledge sharing and continuity.
Preparing for the Future: Embracing Change and Innovation in Software Design
As we look beyond 2019, it is evident that software design will continue to evolve rapidly, shaped by technological advances, user expectations, and societal demands.
Designers who embrace flexibility, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical responsibility, and lifelong learning will be best positioned to navigate this dynamic landscape.
Innovation will arise from combining human-centered design with cutting-edge technologies to craft experiences that are not only functional and beautiful but also meaningful and equitable.
By viewing design as a strategic asset and a driver of business and social value, organizations and professionals alike can thrive in the digital era.
The Rise of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in Design
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies are rapidly gaining traction beyond gaming and entertainment, entering the mainstream software design arena. In 2019, designers are increasingly tasked with creating immersive experiences that blend digital content with the physical world or build fully virtual environments.
Designing for AR and VR requires a fresh mindset—considerations such as spatial awareness, depth perception, and user comfort are paramount. The user interface extends beyond flat screens to three-dimensional spaces, demanding innovative approaches to navigation, feedback, and interaction.
As AR and VR hardware becomes more accessible, these technologies offer exciting opportunities for training, retail, healthcare, and remote collaboration, fundamentally changing how users engage with software.
Sustainability and Green Design Practices Gain Momentum
Environmental concerns are influencing software design strategies more than ever before. Sustainable design focuses on minimizing the ecological footprint of digital products through energy-efficient coding, optimizing resource consumption, and promoting longevity in software usage.
In 2019, designers are becoming more mindful of the environmental impact of their creations—considering factors like server loads, battery usage, and data transmission efficiency. Simple choices, such as reducing unnecessary animations or optimizing image sizes, contribute to greener digital experiences.
Sustainability in design also involves fostering user behaviors that support environmental goals, for example, by encouraging digital decluttering or mindful consumption of online services.
Emotional Design and Storytelling Deepen User Connections
Beyond functionality and usability, emotional design is emerging as a crucial factor in building lasting user relationships. Storytelling through software interfaces helps create a narrative that resonates with users, evokes feelings, and builds loyalty.
Designers in 2019 are leveraging microinteractions, personalized messaging, and thoughtful animations to humanize digital products. These subtle elements contribute to a richer, more engaging experience that can differentiate a product in a crowded market.
Emotional design is supported by data-driven insights into user behavior and preferences, enabling more authentic and relevant connections.
Conclusion:
The landscape of software design in 2019 is marked by rapid innovation, greater integration of technology, and a deepening understanding of users’ needs and emotions. Designers must transcend traditional boundaries, adopting a strategic, ethical, and user-centric mindset that embraces both art and science.
Personalization, multimodal experiences, ethical AI, and immersive technologies like AR/VR are transforming how we think about design. Simultaneously, sustainability and emotional engagement remind us that software impacts not just users but society and the environment at large.
To thrive amid these changes, designers need continuous learning, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a willingness to experiment and adapt. The future belongs to those who see design as more than just aesthetics—who understand it as a powerful tool to create meaningful, responsible, and innovative experiences that resonate deeply with people and drive business success.
By embracing these trends and principles, the software design community can lead the way toward a future where technology truly serves human needs with elegance and empathy.