The world of research and design moves fast. New tools emerge user expectations shift, and fresh methodologies pop up every few months. Year 2025 is just around the corner, and every UX design content creator on YouTube will likely post a video about “UX trends you should expect to see in year 2025”. I’m sure that you would have likely come across those videos showing up on your feed.

If you’re not paying attention to what is new and evolving, it’s easy to find yourself stuck using outdated techniques and missing out on more efficient ways of working. The importance of keeping up with UX trends cannot be overstated. Take AI for instance. Incorporating artificial intelligence in design. Lately, with my team at DODO, we’ve seen much value in seeking out intelligent information on a topic on ChatGPT as a quick resort when we run into a block in our work process. In no time, we get a good understanding of a subject matter, or ideas start to flow and the work session progresses again.

What is my point? AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s becoming the jumping off point for how we fill in the gaps in our knowledge, analyze data, design products, and anticipate user needs before they’re even voiced. Today’s AI trends are reshaping everything from product roadmaps to user interactions. Embracing these innovations means tapping into smarter decision-making, faster feedback loops, and more personalized user experiences.

That said, I will give you 3 reasons why every designer and researcher needs to stay up to date  on UX design and research trends. I will also share a few experiences of mine or someone I know within this field.

• Staying Relevant: If you rely only on old approaches, you risk producing solutions that feel dated. Last year, my friend, let’s call her “Amanda”, a UX researcher got passed over on a key project because she still used SurveyMonkey for user feedback, coupled with manual note-taking and spreadsheets for analysis. It worked but offered limited interaction and real-time insights as opposed to a new colleague of hers who recommended User Testing to the team, which not only collects responses but also provides video sessions of participants interacting with products, built-in analysis tools, and automatic transcripts. Amanda’s new colleague headed that particular project because she showed she was current on research tools.

• Gaining Competitive Edge: One of my old mentors, Tobiloba, experienced a shift in his start up in 2020 when he incorporated a collaborative whiteboarding tool, Miro, into his workflow with his team. Not many had encountered Miro then. As soon as they did, discussions with potential overseas partners felt more immediate, and projects stopped getting bogged down by time zones. Within a few months, this real-time approach led to three new foreign clients—companies in markets as far as Europe and Asia—who appreciated the transparent, hands-on way they were included into the design process. Instead of waiting on static updates or sifting through old decks, these clients could jump right into the session, sketch ideas, and give feedback on the fly. That level of instant collaboration made all the difference.

• Boosting Creativity: As a User researcher that is constantly working on one project or the other, I always begin with some secondary research. It’s not just about revisiting established knowledge; I also look at what methodologies were used to gather truly valuable user feedback. This helps me understand what worked, what didn’t, and what approaches are considered best practice right now. As a product designer, to stay on top of these trends, I often browse sites like mobbin.com, where I can see which tools and techniques are currently making waves in the industry. It’s a simple step, but it keeps me inspired and ensures that I’m approaching my work with fresh eyes and updated methods. This has opened a world of creative solutions in my work process.

In conclusion, staying current doesn’t mean one has to jump on every bandwagon or chase every flashy new app. It’s about understanding which trends align with your goals, experimenting with fresh approaches, and being willing to step out of your comfort zone. By doing so, you ensure that your methods are relevant, your insights are sharp, and your final products resonate with today’s audiences.

Exploring current trends and emerging practices, engaging with professional communities, attending workshops, or seeking insights from colleagues can all shed light on approaches that enhance both effectiveness and creativity. Trends exist for a reason: They’re the response to changing user behaviors and evolving market needs. After all, if the world’s moving forward, why stay behind?