Designing for Gen Z: What UI Trends Are Working

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is revolutionizing the digital landscape with their tastes and digital sensibility. As a designer, it is essential to understand how to design UIs that appeal to this generation. They are fond of authenticity, interactivity, and speed, and their expectations are defining the trends in design today. Let us explore the top UI trends among Gen Z in 2025, why they matter, and how to take advantage of them.

1. Bold, Playful Design

Gen Z prefers UI that is bright in tone, playful in imagery, and airy in font. Colorful gradients, retro font faces, and asymmetrical composition come to mind. All of these possess a unique quality that resonates with their expressionism. A 2024 Figma report observed a 40% increase in the implementation of bold design by platforms that host Gen Z users, such as TikTok and Snapchat.

Why it works: Grungy visuals that are grabbed work well in an oversaturated digital space. They look modern and real, similar to the fashionable look of Gen Z.

How to use: Use design tools such as Adobe XD or Figma to play with neon colors and blocky fonts. Test designs with Gen Z shoppers to ensure they look interesting but not too overwhelming.

2. Micro-Interactions

Micro-interactions—minuscule animations such as button hovers or load spinners—are also among the most popular UI trends among Gen Z. Micro-interactions add a more realistic and interactive touch to interfaces, thereby enhancing user interaction. A simple example is Instagram’s heart pulsate symbol when liked, interacts with the users.

In 2025, the UX Design Institute found that micro-interactions in apps have 30% greater Gen Z retention. These little things are what make digital interaction easy and enjoyable.

Getting started: Discover animation basics with LottieFiles or CSS animation. Implement micro-interactions on buttons or menus for your project.

3. Dark Mode Everything

Dark mode is a visual style Gen Z needs, as they are concerned about eye comfort and appearance. Discord and Twitter have made dark mode default, and Gen Z appreciates the clean, futuristic appearance that it provides. Based on a Nielsen 2024 study, 70% of Gen Z clients prefer dark mode due to its battery-conserving attribute and appearance.

Why it works: Dark mode cuts down on late-night eye strain and is an upmarket-sensing feature. It’s an app necessity for reaching this audience.

How to implement: Design with high-contrast text and bold highlights in dark mode. Prototype on platforms such as Sketch to verify that it is readable on devices.

4. Immersive Storytelling

Gen Z desires experiences, not interfaces. Immersive storytelling through animations, scroll effects, and interactive pieces forms sound UI patterns. Take a look at the likes of Spotify Wrapped, with interactive visualizations and data storytelling driving the users in.

65% of Gen Z users spend additional time on storytelling-based design pages, as indicated by an Adobe survey in 2025. The trend aligns with their love of real, authentic content.

How to do it: Utilize tools such as Webflow and create parallax scrolling or animation transitions. Add in user data to personalize it.

5. Minimal Navigation

Gen Z loves ease and swiftness, and therefore, minimal navigation is a UI trend that’s on top. Meager menus were so yesterday; minimalist, clean navigation is where it’s at. Utilize hamburger menus or bottom navigation bars, all for ease of convenience, as with Duolingo apps.

A 2024 report by UX Collective indicated that reduced navigation increases Gen Z’s satisfaction level by 25%. They need to be able to reach what they need in an instant.

Do this: Optimize for fewer clicks. Prototype Figma for fewer menus and run usability tests.

6. Accessible and Inclusive Design

One of the more recent UI tendencies among Gen Z is inclusive design, where inclusivity and diversity matter. They want interfaces to be inclusive to all, with features such as dynamic text sizes, image alt text descriptions, and colorblind-friendly color schemes. In a survey by WebAIM in 2025, 80% of Gen Z consumers like inclusive designs from brands.

Why it works: Inclusive design shows social sensitivity, which Gen Z will appreciate with its ethic. It also broadens your reach.

How to start:  Remember WCAG principles and take advantage of tools like Stark to scan for accessibility. Ensure your designs are screen-reader friendly and accessible to all types of people.

7. Gamification Elements

Since Gen Z is a gaming generation, gamification is a solid, consistent UI trend. Incorporating game-like elements—badges, progress bars, or challenges—makes interfaces sticky across platforms. Gamification is used to transform Duolingo apps into an addictive phenomenon.

Gamified apps drove engagement in Gen Z up by 35%, according to the 2024 Gartner report. The trend capitalizes on their fondness for interactivity and reward.

Getting Started: Try gamified features in Framer. Try out features such as leaderboards or achievement pops in your project.

Why These UI Trends Matter

These UI trends appeal to Gen Z since they deconstruct differences between aesthetics, usability, and values. Gamification and radical design stimulate creativity, and minimal navigation and dark mode simplify usability. Inclusive design and storytelling resonate with sincerity, the core reason for loyalty in Gen Z. The exercise of control in these trends enables designers to design interfaces that deeply resonate with this generation.

How to Get Started

Ready to design Gen Z? Here’s a guide

• Choose a trend suitable for your project objectives.
• Master tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Webflow using free YouTube or Coursera tutorials.
• Conduct testing with Gen Z users to ensure your designs click with them.
• Create a portfolio of your work on sites like Dribbble or Behance.

These UI trends are the future. Start and build interfaces that Gen Z adores.

Conclusion: What UI Trends Are Working

In order to design for Gen Z, you must assume UI trends such as aggressive visual design, micro-interactions, dark mode, immersive storytelling, reduced navigation, inclusive design, and gamification. They appeal to their values of authenticity, velocity, and engagement. Assuming them will enable you to create interfaces that not only halt Gen Z in their tracks but also lure them back time and again. Get started with these trends today and stay in the game in 2025.