2021 UI Animation Trends: 3 Techniques to Elevate Your Designs

Preface

Animation design in UI is not only colorful but also has a hard core; it influences both product and user, creating a symbiotic effect.

Using animation helps convey hierarchy, allowing users to quickly understand page structure and reducing cognitive cost.

Guiding operations with animation attracts attention and enhances the sense of control through interactive feedback.

Interesting animation makes products more vivid, conveys emotion, and enhances sensory experience.

Chapter One: Virtual Reality

The first trend is Virtual Reality, adding 3D or AR elements to flat designs to make pages more lively and let users feel reality within a virtual world.

1. 3D Animation

3D animation is the foundation of VR; its growing use in apps makes products more dynamic and engaging.

Examples include 3D characters, popular Big Sur icons, and gesture‑based interactions.

2. Neumorphism (New Skeuomorphism)

New skeuomorphism, popular in this year's concept drafts, creates a pseudo‑3D effect through gradients and lighting, as seen in macOS Big Sur’s switches with refined shadows and highlights.

However, its low recognizability requires deeper research to improve distinction before wide adoption.

3. Real‑Scene Reproduction

Using animation to recreate real scenes or current hot topics adds fun while providing richer user experiences.

Examples include Tencent’s lively animated emojis and temperature‑changing backgrounds that simulate real‑world conditions.

Chapter Two: Light‑Weight Style

The second trend, Light‑Weight Style, uses fluid, dreamy colors to create a transparent, airy feel.

1. Aurora Fluid

Aurora fluid, first seen in Microsoft systems, combines flowing light and liquid effects to give products a breathing quality.

2. Glass Blur

Glass blur introduces new design possibilities; its lightweight material changes enhance visual aesthetics.

Examples include Tencent’s icons, web designs, and Apple’s glass‑like icons.

Chapter Three: Brutalism

The third trend, Brutalism, combines bold textures and unconventional aesthetics to deliver a stimulating, edgy experience.

1. Acid & Y2K

Acid & Y2K bring a retro, futuristic vibe with vivid color combos that feel psychedelic.

2. Bold Typography

Bold fonts, when combined with special layouts and retro elements, make text animations eye‑catching and expressive.

3. Real Materials

Using geometric blocks and real or simulated materials such as clay adds innovative texture to designs.

Examples include illustrations built from blocky geometry and accounting apps using soft‑clay flowers to represent quantities.

Bonus: Quick 3D Software – Spline

For rapid 3D design, Spline offers a low learning curve, a Sketch‑like interface, and the ability to model directly within the tool.

Download: https://spline.design/

Conclusion

By presenting these three animation techniques, the article aims to introduce 2021 animation trends and inspire designers to explore more possibilities and fun in their work.