The user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are two important parts of designing systems and apps. A good UX may or may not have a good UI, but a perfect UX must have a great UI. The competitive differentiator is how you improve your customer experience through user interactions on your website or app. The following are the UI design principles that have stood the test of time.
1. Focus on the user experience
People do not always remember the information that is presented to them, but they do remember how they felt. “[It] is not the information itself that is important, but the emotional effect that the information has on your audience,” wrote Geoffrey James.
That statement rings true for me as a travel consultant. Why did customers return? They had a pleasant experience. The same applies to user experience in web and application development. The design effectively combines text, images, layout, and interactive elements to create an amazing experience. The design should make it easy to use the applications. I would leave a website unless I was in desperate need of information.
Consider this. How many times do you pause to read the content in your Instagram and Facebook feeds? Because there is so much information out there every day, people pay more attention to posts with clear images.
2. People scan a page content quickly
We don’t have time to read. Infographics have become the standard way to show a lot of information. I try to make it easier to read and scan this article. You won’t likely read the whole article. Go to the part you want to read more about instead.
In reality, we can scan a longer page in 5–10 seconds, but the average website refresh time is 7 seconds. It takes about 27 seconds to click four buttons. So, we don’t have time to waste.
3. People want simplicity and clarity
Visitors decide whether or not to visit a website in as little as 0.5 seconds. Instead of four buttons on the page, your interface should focus on one actionable button. The design’s goal is to make most of your visitors happy. Think about how you can make your app or website easier for people to use.
The key is consistency. Maintain a consistent design throughout the app or website. It reuses components and colours that are familiar to the majority of users. Users can figure out what to do without being told. A good example is the Microsoft Office application. If you are familiar with Word then you will feel at ease with Excel.
Simplify interfaces by removing unnecessary elements or content. Try to make a user interface where all of the information is useful and important.
4. Design to draw the user’s attention
The content on the home page is critical for capturing user attention. It is the first thing that people notice. Shopify has a nice user interface. Don’t give users too much information that isn’t useful. A minimalist design allows users to concentrate on their objectives without being distracted by the design. Each screen should only contain components that are relevant to the task at hand. It also provides easy access to other content.
To balance simplicity, clarity, and the user experience, information hierarchy comes in handy. Which screen is displayed first? A clear page hierarchy makes it easier for people to find the information they need. This brings us to the next point.
5. Maintain a balance of creative and common design patterns
People prefer not to think too hard. Most users should be familiar with the interfaces. Buttons, for example, should look like buttons, and links should look like links. Sign-in access is usually in the upper right corner, with company names and logos in the upper left.
Try looking up a video on YouTube. Imagine you remember the title of the video before you find it. Isn’t it frustrating? Next, avoid using jargon or technical terms.
Page navigation and button placement should put usability ahead of creativity in design. The best practice is to wireframe the layout first. Usability and creativity must coexist.
6. Create a responsive design
With responsive design, your website can have an interface that works well on a variety of devices. However, most websites are only responsive, and the image and text sizes are out of proportion. Users today use a variety of screen sizes. You want your website to look good no matter how you look at it. There is a distinction between having a responsive design and a responsive design that looks good.
7. Visibility of User Progress
Your design should tell users how things are going. If a user is making a purchase, a good design should show how far along the checkout process is. Don’t hide things from your clients.
With visual cues, users can easily navigate through the interfaces.
8. Assist users in detecting and correcting mistakes
Error messages should be direct, actionable, and written in plain English. The design should explain what went wrong and provide a solution. How many times have you encountered a “404 Not Found” page? Do you understand what it means?
Youtube did an excellent job. Try to watch a video without an internet connection. YouTube will let you know that you aren’t connected and will tell you to connect or watch the video you downloaded.
A good user interface also informs users of the password requirements when they fill out a password field in the signup form.
9. Remove any unnecessary design elements
Use metaphors from the real world to help people understand something new. For example, the recycle bin on our desktop is a good visual representation of the trash bin. Then, try to minimise the number of actions needed. Remember the three-click rule? The design should imply that a user should finish a task with no more than three mouse clicks.
Most design problems have appropriate solutions. These solutions are known as patterns. The vast majority of users are already familiar with them. When the pattern is not used, the user experience will be frustrating.
Design is not a monologue; it’s a conversation.
Conclusion
The goal of UI design is to create user-friendly interfaces. The design principles help users figure out what to do. For a more seamless experience, the principles improve usability, increase user appeal, and put the users in charge.
To summarise,
- Breadcrumbs show users where they are
- Create an information hierarchy
- Make designs that are efficient and streamlined
- Maintain consistent standards so that users understand what to do next
- Gather items that are related together
- Allow them to undo or redo their actions while preventing errors
- Write in simple language rather than jargon
- Create systems that are adaptable to all user groups
- Avoid cluttering the interface with unnecessary items
- It provides a few options, not all of which are desirable
- Make it simple to find things
- Make an excellent first impression
- Be trustworthy and credible
To effectively apply these design principles, you must first identify user problems and how they use your systems. It isn’t about you. No matter how much you like the system, it is all about the people who use it Examine your systems from the user’s perspective.