Festive Vibes: Enhancing UI and Elevating User Experience

The latter half of the calendar year is filled with festivals and celebrations, both in India and globally. This festive season often leads us to explore countless apps for our shopping needs. While browsing through Amazon recently, I noticed a delightful change on their product listing page. Instead of the usual expected delivery date, they featured "Arrives before Diwali." This thoughtful touch reduces the anxiety many shoppers face about whether their orders will arrive on time.

Source: LinkedIn

This observation highlights a growing trend among brands to incorporate festive elements into their app and website interfaces. Such seasonal adaptations not only resonate with users but also foster a stronger connection to the brand. Let’s delve into how these festive UI changes can significantly enhance user engagement and loyalty.

Builds emotional connection

Updating app and website interfaces for festivals helps brands worldwide connect on a personal level with their users. When a brand embraces a seasonal theme—like Halloween, Christmas, or Diwali—it’s not just about adding colors or animations; it’s about showing they’re in sync with their users’ cultural moments. According to a study by Harvard Business, 64% of consumers feel a stronger connection to brands that reflect shared values and experiences. Major global brands like Starbucks and Google showcase this by creating holiday-themed apps, logos, and promotions, which build a sense of familiarity and nostalgia that users love.

This approach boosts user engagement and creates a shared festive atmosphere, making the brand feel like part of the celebration. To give an example, according to a report by Business Standard, Flipkart, one of the largest e-commerce players, witnessed a record breaking number of 282 unique million visitors to the website during the festive season, which was mostly driven by personalized choices for the customers.

Increases brand recall value

When users see unique themes or seasonal elements—such as festive icons, colors, or limited-time offers—they are more likely to associate these visuals with the brand, increasing the chance they’ll remember it long-term. 

Furthermore, these customizations often enhance the user experience by delivering relevant, engaging content in a fresh way. The novelty keeps users coming back, and even minor UI updates make the brand seem dynamic, giving users a reason to check in more often. By refreshing visuals and creating a festive, limited-time experience, brands stand out in users' minds, which supports ongoing recall.

Increases sharing and word-of-mouth

Updating an app or website with a festive twist encourages sharing and word-of-mouth for a few clever reasons. First, it taps into users’ natural tendency to share anything new or unique with friends—especially if it’s seasonally relevant. When users spot an exciting festive design, they're more likely to talk about it or even post about it, making the brand part of the holiday conversation. Another key reason is that users enjoy interacting with fresh, dynamic designs that break the usual interface routine. A holiday-themed UI can feature interactive elements, animations, or unique deals tied to the celebration. These features naturally prompt users to tell others about their discoveries, creating a free promotional chain reaction. 

Encourages exploration of new features

When familiar interfaces get a seasonal twist, users are naturally more curious about what else might have changed. It’s like a virtual scavenger hunt; small design changes—like seasonal icons, animations, or themed menus—lead users to click around, revealing new tools or features they may have overlooked before. 

One brand that has done it well is Lego, their website has a Holiday Gifts section devoted to Christmas buys. This page is a centralized location for information about special holiday sales, holiday do-it-yourself inspiration, user-generated content—such as Christmas pictures of consumers using LEGO—and tailored suggestions for LEGO toys to buy.

Spotify also uses holiday themes to highlight curated playlists or seasonal content, encouraging users to explore beyond their typical choices​. Even financial apps join in, introducing festive vouchers and payment rewards tied to specific interactions within the app.

Leverages user generated content

When a brand’s app or site takes on a fresh, festive look, users are more likely to take screenshots, snap photos, and post their experiences on social media. Think of it like a subtle nudge from the brand, encouraging users to celebrate not only the season but also the experience of using the brand’s app with friends and followers.

Special themes, limited-time decorations, and unique interactive elements (like AR filters or themed rewards) spark curiosity and give users a sense of exclusivity. Platforms like Snapchat and Instagram have mastered this approach, using holiday-themed filters and effects that drive UGC. 

Additionally, festival-themed updates give users a fresh reason to post about a brand they may not normally engage with, helping the content reach an even wider audience.

Adapting app and website interfaces to reflect the festive season has multiple benefits that go beyond surface-level appeal. Festive themes, whether in colors, icons, or animations, resonate with users on a cultural level, making them feel recognized and included, which in turn fosters loyalty. Together, these elements make a brand memorable, social media-friendly, and more engaging, proving that a seasonal interface refresh can be a powerful tool for connecting with users and standing out from competitors.