UI/UX design is an extremely intricate part of any app or website development process, and it can be quite challenging to determine which elements of the design are most important. That’s why I’ve decided to make this article that outlines some very important principles of UI/UX design that will help you create great experiences for your users. Here are eight amazing principles of UI/UX design you should know.
Principle 1: Simplicity
KISS. Keep it simple, stupid. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, as this quote by Leonardo da Vinci has implied time and time again. This is a principle that should be the foundation for any design and for any business. KISS-ing a design just means getting rid of everything that does not need to be there, both aesthetically and functionally. An important part of simplifying a product is keeping interface and commands self-explanatory; if it's not intuitive enough to understand without reading an explanation, then it needs to be simplified or redesigned completely.
Principle 2: Use Negative Space
Designing with negative space is more than just choosing an attractive color scheme. It's the idea that something needs to be left open for the viewer to create their own thoughts and associations. Think about why painters always leave a white canvas behind- it's not just to save paint, but because if they didn't, there would be nothing for the observer to connect with on their own. So how does this principle translate into design? Think about a web page that only shows one box at a time (one login box, one search box). Without any blank space or separation between these boxes, it becomes difficult for users to distinguish where they should enter their information. The unused space makes it easier for visitors to know where they need to fill in each field.
Principle 3: Grids and Hierarchy
Hierarchy provides meaning by organizing content into different levels and is based on the principle that some content deserves more attention than others. Fostering a clear hierarchy makes it easier for your audience to scan and locate what they're looking for.
The hierarchy can come from the size, color, weight, placement, etc. The goal is to establish a clear order to what's important so your user can scan quickly and find what they're looking for.
Principle 4: Animation, Transitions and Motion
Animation and transitions help users understand what is happening on the screen, or to see what's coming up next. Just think about when you're watching a presentation in PowerPoint or Keynote, those animations between slides give you time to absorb the content and time to anticipate what will happen next.
It is all about giving your user control over the interface, so that they feel comfortable navigating their way through it. In other words, make sure that people always know where they are and where they can go next by using simple illustrations with clean layouts that don't overwhelm them with too many choices. Plus, with all these design features at your disposal, there's really no excuse for a poorly designed site or app - so go out there and create something awesome!
Principle 5: Colour Psychology
Colour is a powerful element in the design process and needs to be implemented strategically. While you may know what colours are used, there are many principles to follow when determining which colours to use, where they should be used, and how they affect the consumer's perception. In some cases, different colours can even have completely opposite meanings based on where you place them in your design. Below are 8 of the most important principles that designers need to keep in mind:
Colours evoke different emotions – if you choose your colour scheme with care, certain colours can be effective for certain product types or goals.
Principle 6: Mobile First
Since you spend most of your time on your phone, design for this screen first. There are two important considerations for the mobile screen: navigation and content presentation. When designing for these screens, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your content is presented well.
Principle 7: Patterns for Good UX Design
The key to UX design is creating a product that people can understand quickly. For example, the more you repeat an interface component, the more familiar it becomes and the easier it is for users to interact with it. Repeat patterns are also a great way to reduce complexity and ensure consistency across your product. They help lead users intuitively through your app or website and make navigating complex UIs easy for even novice users.
Principle 8 : Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
People always have the urge to think that their concept is original and is never done before. In most cases, these people will spend time reinventing the wheel. This can lead to design discrepancies and results in a lot of wasted time and energy. Rather than trying to think outside the box, it’s more efficient for you to identify an already established design strategy and research how it has been applied to different products or websites. This strategy is commonly referred to as best practices. Focusing on what other designers have done will ensure you are using proven ideas that your potential customers expect. This approach may save you a lot of stress when you don’t want to work on trial-and-error methods alone without any feedback or guidance in your creative process.
Final Note
A UX Design company in India will guide you through the necessary steps to creating a good User Interface design. For example, they will be able to help you determine what is more important to show on your homepage and how it should be arranged so that users can quickly scan the page. An awesome website Design company will also work with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes to convey a strong brand message as well as making sure that information is not cluttered or missing. Having a proper User Interface/User Experience design for your site or app can help attract and retain more visitors which in turn makes your business grow!
