The Golden Rules of UI/UX Design

When you land on a website and it just feels right to browse through, you know the UI/UX design is structured appropriately.

UI/UX are two concepts interlinked with one another. UI is abbreviated for user interface, and UX for user experience. Together, UI/UX create visually appealing digital products that ultimately garner the attention of users.

UI focuses on the architecture of a website, whereas UX is how the user interacts with the website. This makes the presence of both user interface and user experience design for businesses equally important.

To help you build an impeccable user experience for your website, this blog will discuss the top seven rules of UI/UX design you must keep in mind when designing. So, let’s dive in.

Rule 1: Keep it User Centered

The golden rule of UI/UX design is that the website should be created by keeping the user as the center of attention. This means that the digital product must be created according to the user who has to browse through it.

To do so, you need to understand the demographics, age, and intent of the user using the application. This information will help you create an appropriate and useful design for your business.

For example, the UI/UX for an application to be used by a 7-year-old child will differ from the design used for a 20-year-old.

Rule 2: Prioritize Usability over Aesthetics

79% of users will leave a site and search for another if the content isn’t easy to find.

A UI/UX with great aesthetics is of no use if the usability gets complex.

The attention span of a user is limited. A digital product with aesthetic features that make it difficult to navigate can backfire. This can happen when the structure of the web application is complex and the user is unable to find relevant information.

Furthermore, users return to web applications that are seamless and easy to memorize its navigation. Thus, effectively fulfilling the desires and wants of the user.

Rule 3: Consistency is the Key

A custom UI/UX development agency can help build uniformity of visuals, colors, and fonts is essential for the user to recognize and memorize your brand. Using the same colors and fonts makes the user feel comfortable and confident moving around the interface.

Functional consistency, where elements work the same way throughout the platform, reduces ambiguity and cognitive load. Supporting this effort would require designers to work with design systems and UI libraries that maintain such a level of coherence.

These tools help developers create apps faster and improve user experiences. They make the apps more appealing and easy to use, which keeps users engaged and satisfied.

Rule 4: Make it Accessible

Truly great UI and UX design are those that consider everyone. Accessibility makes certain that a product can be effortlessly employed by users of all levels of abilities: Visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor impairments, or cognitive impairments.

Follow the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to make your website easier to use for everyone.

1. Keep a strong color contrast between text and background.

2. Use alt text for all images.

3. Support screen readers.

4. Allow users to resize text as needed.

Minor but essential details greatly impact user experience. Microsoft exemplifies this by integrating accessibility features into its products, highlighting that accessibility is both an ethical and usability issue for all.

Rule 5: Minimize Cognitive Load

UI/UX should feel effortless for the user. An unpleasant experience is a more mentally taxing journey, and the quicker it is dropped. It is all about cognitive load - keeping it minimal.

It simplifies the interaction through fewer clicks, removing haphazardness, and guiding it clearly, knowing clear-cut paths. Hick's Law is a reminder that too many options make it slow in decision-making: offer fewer, smarter choices.

Progressive disclosure reveals information as required, reveals information only as needed, keeping the screen clean and the activity focused. A minimalist touch with clean layouts helps to orient and keep users tied. The fewer users have to think about, the more naturally they will interact with your product.

Rule 6: Provide Clear Feedback & Error Handling

Communication always empowers the user, from a loading spinner to a success toast, to an error alert, which relays the happening to users. Microinteractions in the form of slight animations or messages confirm what is happening in real-time, which builds trust and enhances usability.

Make sure users understand what's going on when something goes wrong. Clearing messages with a friendly tone that not only explains the problem but also grants users insight into how to fix it is essential.

This is something Slack does very well- it's humorous and suggests e-commerce UI/UX solutions to errors that make the user's irritation quite human and even pleasant. Clear communication is the glue of great UX.

Rule 7: Mobile First & Responsive Design

With the majority of users accessing sites and apps through mobile devices, mobile-first design is no longer an option but imperative. Start with the smallest screens to bring forward the most important content and functions, and scale up the design from there.

Consider thumb-friendliness, generous touch targets, and easy vertical scrolling first. Acquiring responsive web design services allows UI to adjust seamlessly regardless of screen size, guaranteeing a consistent and optimized user experience on any device. The mobile-first approach supports your design by staying lightweight, fast, and user-oriented.

Conclusion

The path to mastering the art of UI/UX design lies beyond following trends and anticipating user behavior. If you adhere to these golden principles, your product will be intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable for users. Always remember, the real beauty of design is its invisibility; it just works! Continue to test, learn, and evolve to design interfaces that no user can resist.

If you want UI/UX design for enterprise websites, contact BestPeers. They have a team of skilled professionals who will integrate your application or website with the seven golden principles discussed above. Schedule a call with them to get a seamless website today!