Let’s stop for a moment and think of the last great website you landed on. Now, guess why it was so appealing?
Was it the eye-catching images? Or the informative copy that appealed to your pain points? Probably not.
It was far more likely that you were impressed by the website because you got something done fast and effectively.
This is what interface design (or UI design for short) is all about!
Now, let’s dive into what UI means precisely.
What is user interface design?
User interface design is the process of creating intuitive interfaces that connect customers to your product or service.
The goal is to have a smooth and pleasant experience both in use and in visual appearance.
It’s focused on visual touchpoints like buttons, navigation menus, icons, typography, etc.
What are the main rules of good UI design?
Now that you are familiar with what UI means and why it is crucial, let’s go a bit deeper into the top UI rules shared by every excellent UI design out there.
1. Consistent UI design across the entire website
We will start with the most vital element of good UI design – consistency.
It means that when developing a website, you should have consistent brand guidelines for text and color schemes all over it. The user should never wonder if they are still on the same website.
Use the colors in your favor. They can make it easy for users to recognize essential functions on your website. For example, the “request more information” button should be similar to the “request a demo” button.
This way, by simply scanning the website, users can easily find similar actions they are looking for.
2. Predictable website navigation
Users won’t return to websites that are difficult to digest. And they have all the right to do so.
The best websites make the user experience as simple as possible by:
- Using a simple font, easy to read;
- Structuring the content in a digestible way (avoiding long blocks of text);
- Reducing the amount of text on the website;
- Adding colorful buttons or links to grab attention when needed;
- Providing visual cues to the user.
The idea here is to make the website navigation as predictable as possible. You never want a visitor wondering what a button or link is for or where they are located on the website.
Please note: Ensure users can reach the goal in less than 3 mouse clicks!
3. Give users the control
Along with making it easy to navigate your website, users should have a sense of control over this process.
Here is how to achieve this:
- Include a main menu or links to commonly used pages, so they can easily explore your website and feel in control of their journey.
- Make it easy to go back to a previously visited page.
- Acknowledge when a specific action is completed (such as creating a password).
- Provide real-time updates of system status to prevent impatience – add linear progress bar when downloading, delivering, processing, etc.
- Make it apparent what tab is for which action by using familiar symbols and clear labels.
- Enable auto-save to avoid losing previous work when a button is clicked by mistake.
To wrap up
As you can see, the goal of good UI design is to make browsing a website or application easy and enjoyable for users. They should feel encouraged to explore your product or service with ease.
If creating a great UI design sounds like something you would love to do, we can land you a hand!
Make sure to check our UX/UI Design Academy!
The enrollment for the next group is in progress! The interest is too high and the number of places limited, so save your slot on time!
Make an appointment with our student success manager for more details about the program!
