What makes a good UI design
9 rules to follow
We have created an informative article that is addressed to marketing specialists who are put in the situation of evaluating a quality UI design or the portfolio of a potential provider of such services. Thus, we are trying to shed some light on this area of UI design where there are no strict rules, but rather lines that can be followed and adapted to each design, each individual style.
About UI design
A standard definition of UI design is strictly related to the visual appearance of a web or mobile application (spaces, fonts, colors, layout, etc.), but the user interface is much more than that. UI design means more than creating elements or making the product look good visually. It represents the very interaction between the user and the application.
We could say that, rather, UI design is about anticipating the user’s needs, about creating elements that are easy to access, understand and use. As a rule, the interface is the first element that the user will access in experiencing the brand, through which the user makes the first contact with the brand, so it is extremely important that it supports the brand’s values, creates an emotional connection with the user, and, above all, to support with strong user experience elements.
Nowadays, websites and applications are interactive and dynamic. A good interface helps to increase the conversion rate and helps to maintain competitiveness in the market. But what makes a UI design considered good?
Here are 9 rules you must follow to build a successful UI:
1. Know the user
”You cannot understand good design if you do not understand people; design is made for people” – Dieter Rams, Hands on UX design for developers
One of the most important rules of design is that when you build an interface you have to keep in mind, foremost, the people, the users. A good UI design goes beyond what users want and anticipates what their needs are.
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, said that it is always good to “start with the customers and work backward”. It is advisable to take your time and try to get to know the user, to see what he likes, how he interacts with other applications, how he behaves, and, above all, what are his expectations and how can you meet them. And, above all, to speak his language. A good UI design uses terms that the user is familiar with.
2. Clarity and simplicity
”Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” – Don Norman, The design of everyday things
Clarity is another point to focus on when building a UI design. If the elements are not intuitive, clear, or simple, the user will feel frustrated by the inability to navigate the interface and will no longer interact with it.
It is said that a good design is invisible, it does not contain elements that are not necessary or stand out. A good UI design is well-connected, simple, and concise. When you want to integrate an element into the design, it is good to ask yourself the question: “Does the user need it?”.
3. Consistency
”The more users’ expectations prove right, the more they will feel in control of the system and the more they will like it” – Jakob Nielson, The Fundamentals of Interactive Design
It is very important to maintain a general design, language, layout that communicates the values of the brand, with which the user can become familiar. An interface that is based on consistency allows the user to better understand how it works, thus improving its efficiency.
If the criterion of consistency is reached, one can go further, towards coherence – such an approach allows much more freedom, but it is riskier. A lack of public knowledge can lead to user disappointment, confusion, and adverse reactions. This step can bring great benefits, but it is very important to be done professionally.
4. Familiarity
UI design does not mean reinventing the wheel. An intuitive design is a simple design that attracts the user. People have already created a general image of an application in their mind, that’s why when evaluating a UI design it is necessary to look for common elements, familiar icons, easily recognizable terms, minimizing the time the user spends completing tasks in the interface.
5. Visual hierarchy
The visual hierarchy of the elements leads to the efficiency of the design. Elements on the page must “flow”, have a clear hierarchy for both usefulness and functionality. The visual hierarchy helps the user to organically navigate the page, presenting more than just some services, telling him a story. The design must flow from left to right and from top to bottom to create a positive user experience. Thus, the visual hierarchy, obtained through the use of titles, colors, blocks of various sizes, is directly related to the organization of the design page.
6. Aesthetics
Although we said that a good design is invisible to the user, this does not mean that it must not be attractive from an aesthetic point of view. Nowadays, the market is invaded by more and more products. For the user, it is important that a product is good, but also attractive. A good UI design connects a suite of elements for a successful result, both aesthetically and functionally.
7. The user is in control
As the user navigates the interface, it is essential that he believes that he is in control, that he is the one who makes things move, that he has fully understood how the interface works and that he no longer needs help. Experienced users feel that the interface responds to their actions. They do not react well to change or to the need to enter data repetitively and even less to the difficulty of obtaining information (for example, too many clicks needed to reach information).
8. Prevents errors
People are subject to mistakes, which is why it is very important for a user to be able to fix any mistakes he makes when navigating an interface. It is important that the interface gives him the opportunity to go back, to fix the mistake, without starting over, giving him clear instructions.
9. Gives fast feedback
Normally, in everyday life, we constantly receive feedback. Feedback is usually associated with action. The user expects that every action he undertakes in an application will also have a clear and, above all, quick reaction. A system that provides quick and clear feedback, helps the user reach his goal faster when navigating the application. Simple elements, such as changing the color of a button upon interaction or displaying a short message as a result of an action, make navigating an interface simple and intuitive.
These rules must be adapted to each individual project and used in order to create a good UI design that helps the user find the information and the product he needs. Every time you evaluate a UI design, keep in mind that it is created for people, and you always have the user and his needs in mind.
Sources:
- usability.gov
- medium.com
- xd.adobe.com
- uxdesign.cc
- usabilitypost.com
- elegantthemes.com
- cs.umd.edu
- nngroup.com
- Donald A. Norman, Design of everyday things
- Dieter Rams, Hands-on UX design for developers
- Jakob Nielson, The fundamentals of interactive design
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