As a junior designer at Blue Iris Design Studio, understanding and leveraging design trends has been integral to my role. Part of my approach involves studying the prevailing design currents and taking note of their influence not just on aesthetics, but also on functionality and user experience. However, I firmly believe in applying trends wisely - not everything that's in vogue will suit a particular design. My approach is to assess project needs individually and integrate trends in a manner that enhances and complements the project, rather than forcing a trend fit.
For instance, on a recent project designing an educational app, I incorporated the micro-interactions trend. This involved creating subtle animations and transitions which improved user engagement and interactivity. As a result, the app received positive feedback from users and we saw a 15% increase in session durations, which was a benchmark for the success of my design decisions.