User Experience Design Trends

After 9 hours of research, I discovered the major social media shifts in 2025. Social media is now a young adult, leaving the parents' home—traditional marketing—and carving its own identity—this theme is shared across all trends. 1. Social Media is breaking free from brand identity - Social teams are breaking free from the rigid “stay on brand” rule because it kills creativity. Look at AirAsia's on-trend content or myBurgerLab's quirky customer-centric posts. They don’t look corporate but stick in your audience’s mind. The truth? Social media’s job is to entertain and connect. If your content does that, you win—even if it feels off-brand. 2. Influencer Marketing moved beyond “Can we pay you to post?” Sure, influencer posts can generate awareness, but clicks and conversions? Not so much. Viewers have to jump through too many hoops to reach your product page. The solution? Turn influencer content into ads. Platforms like Shopee and Lazada already do this, letting influencers showcase products directly through shoppable ads. Another example? Brands like Muji Malaysia Sdn Bhd are doubling down on authentic, user-generated content for paid campaigns. The less polished the content, the better it performs—it feels real, unlike an ad. UGC-style content stops the scroll, and the results speak for themselves. 3. Video has been on every trend list for 20 years, right? But in 2025, it’s evolving again. You need a face that is raw and engaging; even LinkedIn is prioritizing the same. This is where Employee-Generated Content (EGC) comes in. Take Tokopedia's employee-led TikToks—simple, fun, and insanely shareable. However, not every brand has willing or camera-ready employees. Enter brand hosts—creators explicitly hired to represent your brand on video. Look at platforms like TikTok, Kumu, or Douyin, where brands do this at scale. 4. Social Shopping—Remember when high-end brands avoided e-commerce giants like Lazada & Amazon? Now, they’re embracing it because the revenue is undeniable. The same shift is happening with TikTok Shop and Shopee Live. Take Dyson, which showcased premium products during TikTok Live sessions for Singles’ Day sales and crushed it. Social shopping isn’t just for low-cost items anymore. It’s for anything—and it’s reaching massive audiences. 5. Live Content - Live isn’t new but more critical than ever heading into 2025. Why? Platforms like Shopee Live, Kumu , and Taobao Marketplace Live drive trends like live shopping and creator monetization. Live streams are proof of authenticity in a world dominated by AI-generated content. Even as AI-generated videos become indistinguishable from real ones, live content will stand out as raw, unfiltered, and honest at least for a while. Final Hot Take: In 2025, social media should be an independent team that doesn't have to be part of branding and marketing. #ravisbook  #socialmedia  #contenstratetgy #2025strategy

I've been reflecting on one major trend from last year that I feel will be hard to ignore in 2025: Gen Z’s relationship with brands and social media. This generation doesn’t just consume content, they drive it. And they do so with a level of authenticity and transparency that demands our attention. For Gen Z, brand loyalty isn’t built on flashy ads or influencer endorsements alone. It’s about values. It’s about knowing what the brand stands for and aligning with causes they care about: be it sustainability, inclusivity, or social justice. Here’s how I’ve been thinking about this shift as an entrepreneur: For Gen Z, being true to themselves is really important. They want brands that embrace uniqueness and support personal expression. To connect with them, we need to be authentic and offer products and messages that let them express who they really are. Social Media is the New Word of Mouth: If you’re not engaging in the conversations Gen Z is having on social media, you’re missing out. They trust their peers and online communities more than traditional advertising, and their feedback is immediate and powerful. Experience Over Projection: For this generation, it’s not just about seeing an ad but engaging with a brand in a meaningful way. Whether through personalized experiences, interactive campaigns, or exclusive content, creating a connection is more valuable than ever. Gen Z is not just shaping the future of business but is redefining what it means to build loyalty and trust. Is your brand ready for this shift?

🧒🏽 Designing For Gen Z. With frequent myths and actual behavior patterns that go beyond heavy use of social media (scroll down for the newsletter ↓) ✅ Gen Zs are born roughly between 1995 and early 2010s. ✅ Most diverse generation in terms of race, ethnicity, identity. ✅ With a very broad view of diversity, focused on inclusivity. ✅ Value experiences, principles, social stand over possessions. 🚫 Not homogenous: have diverse perspectives and opinions. 🚫 Not a “passive” generation → caring, proactive, eager to work. ✅ Large parts of Gen-Z aren’t mobile-first, but mobile-only. ✅ To some, the main search engine is YouTube, not Google. ✅ Trust only verified customer reviews, influencers, friends. ✅ Used to follow events live as they unfold → little patience. ✅ Sustainability, reuse, work/life balance are top priorities. ✅ Prefer social login as the fastest authentication method. ✅ Typically ignore or close cookie banners, without consent. ✅ Rely on social proof, honest reviews/photos, authenticity. ✅ Most likely generation to provide a referral to a product. ✅ Typically turn on subtitles for videos by default. Today, the oldest segments of Gen-Z are in their late 20s, and the youngest are in the middle school. They are often dismissed as a “slow, passive” generation that doesn’t really care about much. But research shows it couldn't be further from the truth. Unsurprisingly, social media is a huge part of the Gen Z lifestyle. But because they are sceptical of brands by default, they rely on social circles, influencers and peers as main research channels. They might not be great at spotting what’s real and what’s not, but they are highly selective about their sources. We shouldn’t discount Gen-Z as a generation with poor attention spans and urgent needs for instant gratification. We can tell a damn good story. Captivate and engage. Encourage critical thinking. Provide sources. Make them think. Gen-Z is curious and interested, and they want to be challenged and to succeed. So support that. Remove clutter and anything that gets in the way. Support intrinsic motivation, not extrinsic motivation. Invest in good content design. Aim for the opposite of perfect. Say what you think and do what you promise. Reflect the real world with real people using real products, however imperfect they are. In times when there is so much fake, exaggerated, dishonest and AI-generated content, it might be just enough to be perceived as authentic, trustworthy and attention-worthy by highly selective and very demanding Gen Z. --- 👋🏼 I'm Vitaly Friedman, and you can find useful UX resources on my profile. I’m also running “Measure UX” 🚀 (https://measure-ux.com/) with a friendly video course and live UX training. Use code LINKEDIN for a friendly discount. 😊 #ux #accessibility

Front-desk technology is changing fast — and so is the way guests discover and book hotels. This is a moment for hospitality to rethink systems, support teams better, and prepare for AI-driven search and booking before it becomes the primary traveler journey. I connected with Bill Ryan, Chief Technology Officer at BWH Hotels, to explore how the company is modernizing its tech stack, reducing training time, simplifying payments, and preparing for a world where travelers begin their hotel search inside platforms instead of traditional OTAs. We cover why intuitive systems matter, how a one-day PMS onboarding experience changes staffing and service, and what it takes for hotel brands to win visibility in emerging AI search channels. This conversation on #NoVacancyNews gets into the real shift: technology as a tool to enhance human connection, not replace it. 👋 Special thanks to Axonify for powering frontline teams and elevating guest experience. Visit Axonify.com. Key Insights: ✨ One-day PMS onboarding = faster training, better retention 💳 Simplified payments reduce errors & free staff time 🤖 AI search becoming a real booking channel fast 🔗 OTAs partnering with LLMs — hotels must act now 📡 Direct MCP connections boost brand contribution 🧠 Tech strengthens human hospitality — not replaces it 📱 AI adds a channel — doesn’t remove existing ones Where do you think AI will impact hotel operations first — guest acquisition or on-property experience?

Why Gen Z prefers conscious beauty brands   For Gen Z, beauty is not just about performance, it’s about values.   This generation sees every purchase as a statement: a way to support sustainability, inclusivity, and ethics.   Clean formulations, cruelty-free testing, and eco-packaging are not “extras”, they’re expected. - Sustainability matters: more than 70% of Gen Z say they consider the environmental impact before buying. - Community influence: over 60% admit they discover or validate beauty products through social media recommendations. - Authenticity first: Gen Z places more trust in transparent, purpose-driven brands than in celebrity-driven campaigns. → VIRAL effect and momentum.   Social media has accelerated the rise of conscious beauty. On TikTok and Instagram, hashtags like #cleanbeauty or #sustainablemakeup regularly create viral hits.   Gen Z rewards brands that align with their values, spreading the word through UGC and peer reviews rather than polished advertising.   → SHIFTING perceptions.   The definition of beauty has changed. For Gen Z, conscious products are not a niche alternative but the default expectation.    They want proof: ingredient transparency, fair sourcing, and visible responsibility.   Brands that fail to adapt risk becoming irrelevant to this new consumer base.   → INNOVATION as driver.   Innovation in conscious beauty is not only about high-performance formulas but also about reducing footprint.   From refillable packaging to lab-grown actives, Gen Z looks for solutions that combine science and ethics. For them, innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility.   → HURDLES?   The challenge lies in scaling consciously. Offering ethical products at affordable prices while avoiding greenwashing remains a hurdle.   Yet Gen Z’s loyalty to brands that prove authenticity ensures that the conscious shift is here to stay.   Gen Z doesn’t just want beauty products to work, they want them to mean something. By aligning ethics with effectiveness, conscious beauty is redefining the future of the industry.   FEATURED BRANDS: Yepoda Innisfree CeraVe Drunk elephant Yves rocher Biossance Missha   #GenZBeauty #ConsciousBeauty #CleanBeauty #SustainableSkincare

Imagine a luxury hotel experience where everything feels magically personalized - your preferences anticipated, your needs met before you express them - yet you never interact with a single screen or app during your stay. This is the future of hospitality that's already here. The most successful luxury brands today operate like swans: graceful and seamless on the surface, while powerful technology works invisibly beneath. Too many companies make the mistake of showcasing their technology as a feature, missing that guests don't value the tech itself; they value what it enables: deeper human connections and more personalized attention. Marriott's Bonvoy program exemplifies this balance. Their AI-powered system works behind the scenes to personalize everything from room recommendations to loyalty rewards, but guests primarily experience these benefits through enhanced human interactions with staff who are freed from administrative burdens. The organizations thriving in this new paradigm understand a crucial truth: technology should enhance rather than replace personal service. AI and automation are most powerful when deployed strategically behind the scenes to create the conditions for authentic human touchpoints. This isn't about reducing staff or cutting costs; it's about repositioning your human talent where they add the most value. Let technology handle operational complexities while your people focus entirely on creating memorable, emotion-rich experiences. For executives navigating this transition, the blueprint isn't about chasing every new trend. Success comes from steady improvements in anticipating and prioritizing what travelers truly value. The question is no longer "how much should we invest in technology?" but rather "how can we make our technology invisible while making our human touch unforgettable?" The companies that answer this question effectively are creating the next era of travel experiences—where the digital and physical worlds blend seamlessly, and technology serves humanity rather than the other way around. Are you building a swan, or just showing off your tech? —— Want to know which travel companies are best positioned for the AI-driven future? Read my latest report: https://lnkd.in/e7nc5Qyk

In the clutter of D2C brands, customization can make you win. Last weekend, I was trying to buy a gift for my friend's anniversary, but every option felt generic. Basic. Non-memorable. Then, I found a leather wallet and cardholder set online where I could add their initials, choose the leather texture, and even include a hidden photo inside. Suddenly, it became a gift they’d remember. This experience made me realize that as the landscape matures, we’re moving from an era of 'product-market fit' to 'product-person fit.' Here’s why I think mass customization is becoming the new competitive advantage in retail: 1/ The New Consumer Psychology Five years ago, customization was a luxury add-on. Today, it's becoming the baseline expectation. When I asked my teenage nephew why he refused a popular sneaker brand, his answer was telling: "If I'm wearing the exact same thing as everyone else, what's the point?" The data confirms it: > 60% of Millennials and Gen Z prefer customized products. > More surprisingly, they’re 4x more likely to recommend brands that offer customization. 2/ The Business Transformation The most fascinating insight I’ve discovered as an investor: Customization is creating an entirely new business model. Take Traya – they analyze your background, health, diet, and lifestyle through a 30-question diagnostic, then create regimens with 4x higher efficacy. The result? ₹7Cr → ₹300Cr in 2.5 years. Or Bombay Shirt Company – by letting customers design everything from the collar to the thread, they’ve achieved what seemed impossible: mass-produced customization at scale. 3/ The Economic Advantage When we analyze the unit economics, customized products are creating an unfair advantage: > Customer acquisition costs drop by 35% (word of mouth increases). > Return rates fall by 55% (customers keep what they helped design). My favorite examples: > Perfora’s name engraving on toothbrushes. > Mokobara’s luggage monograms (they started it). > Lenskart.com’s custom-fit frames. Yes, it adds cost and effort. But it makes you stop while you’re scrolling. And it makes the customer feel like the ONLY customer. That’s everything today. 😉 Which customized product experience has impressed you the most? #ConsumerTrends #Customization #Retail #D2C

𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 Are you seeing what i am seeing? There is a gradual shift taking place in the space of Procurement technology. New solutions like a Guided Buying solutions i reviewed recently do not meet any conventions of classical Procurement software solutions any longer. They are breaking the mental models we are used to carry as references of what a good solution look and feels like. How we expect procurement solutions to be used and to work is being redefined. What's driving this shift? I'd say mainly two factors: ▪️ An infusion of AI capabilities into platforms ▪️ Changing expectations by new generations So what's shifting? Our evaluation criteria for Procurement technology. Find here are six key shifts in mental models i see taking place: 1️⃣ 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 → 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 Legacy solutions are based on sequential workflows based on rigid step-by-step tasks. New solutions adapt dynamically to scenarios and context. 2️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁→ 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Tedious data entry by users is increasingly automated through automation and AI. 3️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 → 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Legacy tools provide search-based support options while new tools provide smart, interactive assistance across the process. 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘂-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 Instead of drilling down into complex menus, users can now interact via natural language and ask specific questions such as "What are my top suppliers this month?". 5️⃣ 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 → 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 & 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Disconnected data and guess work has given way to unified, actionable insights that allow procurement professionals to act more quickly. 6️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 → 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 New generations coming from a mobile first environment, demands sleek, intuitive tools with a focus on personalisation adapted to their own ways of working. Generic solutions and clunky UI's don't cut it any longer. This isn’t just about adopting new tools. It’s about recognizing the fundamental shift in how we design, evaluate and use Procurement technology. The infusion of AI and the expectations of younger generations are forcing us to rethink what makes a solution valuable, effective and user-friendly. A transition where trust in data and responsible, autonomous actions of technology has to be earned. It’s an evolution into next-generation Procurement which cannot be avoided. What’s your view on this? Have you noticed a change od mental models?

This week’s defining shift for me is that XR is becoming a marketing medium. What once felt like a technology for experimental activations is maturing into a channel for ongoing engagement and sales. Across industries from retail to real estate, XR is transforming how people experience products, events, and spaces, creating immersive experiences that connect with customers and deliver measurable results. This week’s spatial computing news surfaced signals like these: 🍕 Pizza Hut’s AR racing game turns pizza boxes into a campaign platform, letting customers scan a QR code to unlock an interactive Supercars experience tied to the Bathurst 1000. 😎 Banuba’s new eyewear try-on for Shopify gives online retailers an easy way to integrate AR into e-commerce, letting customers “try before they buy” directly from their devices. ⛵ SailGP’s RaceScape XR app blends live video and an AR tabletop racing experience on Vision Pro, making mixed reality part of how the league engages fans worldwide. 🪞 Aircards’ £3M raise will expand AR mirrors, LED tunnels, and spatial analytics, helping brands transform retail and event spaces into measurable, immersive experiences. 🏡 Three Space Lab’s $3M seed round scales VR real estate tours that act as both sales and marketing tools for luxury property developers across global markets. Why this matters: We’re still early, but XR is no longer limited to one-off activations. CPG, sports, retail, real estate, and fashion are all exploring ways to integrate it into their marketing and sales strategies. Once this kind of cross-sector momentum builds, it rarely fades. #realestate #marketing #advertising #brands #CPG #QSR #retail #ecommerce #mixedreality #augmentedreality #virtualreality #XR