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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. 5 Trends
   2.1. Extended Reality (ER)
   2.2. Artificial intelligence
   2.3. Web 3.0 and the Metaverse
   2.4. Remote work
   2.5. No-code tools
3. TL;DR version
4. Final Thoughts

The UX industry is in a state of constant change, and it’s impossible to predict what will happen in the future. With new technologies popping up every day, the only certainty is that we need to be ready for anything.

In the coming two years, we’ll see a lot of new ideas and methods that will help us provide better user experiences as well as provide more opportunities for our users. Some of these trends are definitely going to transform the whole industry in unimaginable ways. 

Here are five developments that will shape the UX industry in 2022—and beyond: 

1. Extended Reality (ER)

Extended reality (XR) refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables. XR includes all of the following: Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Extended Reality (XR). 

As you probably know, VR blocks the real-world environment and replaces it with a virtual one. AR overlays digital objects in the real world, while MR seamlessly blends both. VR enables people to interact with imaginary environments as if they were real; AR lets users interact with real-world objects through a computer, and MR combines elements from both VR and AR by enabling people to interact with digital objects within a real-world setting. 

With technology like Google Glass, Microsoft Hololens, and Magic Leap One, designers can create truly unique experiences. It’s a new frontier for design—one where people can have completely immersive experiences with objects that aren’t really there. Keep an eye out for some exciting new UX possibilities!

2. Artificial intelligence

AI is still evolving rapidly, with machine learning becoming an increasingly popular method for creating intelligent systems. However, it’s important to remember that AI is a tool that needs human oversight — it can’t replace designers or developers yet, but it can help them do their jobs better. And while there are some concerns about AI making decisions based on biased data sets or rules programmed into software by developers with questionable ethics such as facial recognition systems. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for a while now, but with each passing year, it becomes increasingly sophisticated and capable. In the next few years, AI will become powerful enough to accelerate progress in many fields—including UX design—and change the way we live our lives on a day-to-day basis. As a designer, you’ll need to understand

Artificial intelligence is one of today’s most exciting technologies—and it’s only getting better as it gets smarter. As our devices become more intelligent, designers need to learn how to make use of this technology in their work or risk being left behind. We predict that AI will soon be incorporated into every aspect of design, from voice to animation.

3. Web 3.0 and the Metaverse

When it comes to designing for the next generation of the web, Web 3.0 will be one of the most important trends to keep an eye on.

The metaverse and web 3.0, are going to change almost everything about how we use the internet, from how we communicate with each other to how we work and even how we play games. 

Web 3.0 is the next iteration of the internet based on Blockchain technology introducing a transparent version of the internet we use today. 

Further, the metaverse is a combination of AR, VR, and other advanced technologies that merge the real world with the virtual world in new ways. An example of the metaverse in action might look something like this: You put on your VR headset to go hang out with some friends in a virtual space (in this case I mean space as in a room or area). When you put on your headset your physical body disappears, replaced by an avatar that looks however you have chosen it to look. You can see all your friends around you. You can talk to them in real-time using voice chat or text chat, and they can see you talking back.

4. Remote Work 

Next up is Remote Work, which is becoming increasingly common as companies look to cut costs and workers seek out more flexible arrangements.

A shift towards remote work and virtual spaces is one of the biggest changes happening in our world right now. As remote work becomes more common, people are going to need better ways to have meaningful interactions with their colleagues — whether that’s over video chat or in virtual reality.

5. No code tools 

No-code tools are also becoming increasingly popular as UX designers look for new ways to create digital experiences without writing code or using a design tool. 

These tools have many perks. Got an idea? You can build it within a month or even a week and validate it quickly. This way development time is greatly reduced. They make it easy to make changes, are affordable, and have low barriers to entry

These tools allow anyone from marketers to product managers to become proficient in designing web interfaces quickly, which means there’s no longer any excuse for poor UX design!

TL;DR version

1. Extended Reality (ER)
   An umbrella term used to describe all immersive technologies.
2.  Artificial intelligence (AI)
   A branch of computer science dedicated to developing intelligent machines that can think and act like humans and are capable of learning from experience without being explicitly programmed.
3. Web 3.0 and the Metaverse
   This is a new version of the internet that allows users to interact with websites in virtual reality (VR).
   
4. Remote work
   The use of technology to deliver services outside physical premises.
5. No Code Tools
   No-code tools are tools and techniques to create and design experiences without the need of writing a code. 

Final Thoughts

The future of UX design is a wild, wacky, and wonderful place to be. We’ve seen a lot of wild things from the tech industry so far, but it’s nothing compared to what we’re about to see. The next decade is going to bring major shifts in the way we use technology and how we interact with one another. A few of these new technologies have already been implemented, but most are still in their infancy—but they’re growing fast.

Writing Credit – Pranjali