9 Principles of an Effective UI/UX Design

Web design is fascinating. 

It goes beyond aesthetics and appeal to combine design ideas, accessibility, functionality, responsiveness and usability between humans and interfaces. Web design is user-focused, as well as creative.

Web designers seek inspiration from all the corners to sharpen their craft. It’s easy for web designers to lose sight of the most important thing, which is to create meaningful and useful designs for their users.

What does it take to design a meaningful interface?

It all begins with the user interface design and its key principles.

The general design principles refer to the application of laws and guidelines, biases, design considerations, and other design considerations. However, the principles of user interface design are more specific because they only focus on one interaction between a user’s interface and a user.

Let’s first understand what user interface design is and the essence of user interface design. Next, we’ll discuss 9 essential principles of user interface designing.

What is user interface design?

The user interface design (UI), is the basis of a website’s design and appearance, ties together concepts from interaction, information architecture, and visual design.

It’s all about creating a clear, consistent and simple user interface.

A good user interface is the foundation of a positive user experience. However, it also focuses on the user’s interaction with the interface. User experience design (UX) focuses on the user’s overall experience.

UX design is a key aspect of product development. The product will not be accepted by the users if it doesn’t provide a great user experience.

This is also one of the most difficult aspects of product design. It is difficult to imagine the end user of most products and the designers are not often the ones who use them. Experts have over time developed design principles that can help teams create better designs.

Introduction to UX Design Principles

UX design principles can be described as a set of guidelines that helps designers better understand their audience, provide insight into their behavior, and define good design. These principles give designers a starting point or a foundation to build their designs from scratch.

UX principles were developed over time after studying user behavior, design, and how they interact. These principles are used by designers to guide their design decisions and help them make informed decisions. These principles can help designers reduce costs and avoid common pitfalls. They also reduce the amount of trial and error.

9 Essential UX Design Principles That You Must Know

These are the fundamental UX design principles that will help you create designs your audience will love and deliver great results.

1. Design that is user-centered

To create beautiful products, it is essential to be user-centric. 

The first step in the design process should be to understand the user. This will guide all subsequent steps. The design team must understand the user before they create the wireframe, prototype, or initial sketch.

It is important to understand and address the pain points of users and the problems they are having and then design the product that solves them.

This information should be used by the team to make all design decisions, from colors and icons to UX design.

This principle emphasizes the importance of user testing. The product might not provide the best user experience, even after extensive user research. The development team can’t know the needs of the users without extensive testing. 

2. Hierarchy

Hierarchy is crucial as it is the way a user is guided through a product. Hierarchy plays an important role in how users interact with the product and how they use it. Designers can also use hierarchy to control user behavior and how they interact with the product.

Two aspects of hierarchy in design are information architecture and visual hierarchy.

Information architecture refers to how the product presents information to users or shares it. It is how we arrange content in a product to make it easy for users to find what they need and also present it in the right context.

When someone first begins using digital drawing software, all they need is a pencil and a canvas. As they become more proficient, they will want more powerful tools. 

Designers can use visual hierarchy to draw users attention. If a designer wants users to quickly find something, they might make it prominent or give it bright colors. The visual hierarchy is how users’ attention moves from one element to the next.

To grab attention, typography, color, alignment, white space and other elements are all carefully considered.

3. Jakob’s law

Jakob’s law says that users prefer a site to function in the same way as other sites they know. This law is primarily about web design but can be extended to other interfaces.

Designers who are too creative with their products should be warned by the law. The law requires that development teams keep the user in mind and forces them to consider whether they should use a familiar interface or a completely new interface.

Jakob’s Law is why many e-commerce websites look the same or have similar structures. However, the law does not stop innovation. This simply means that you shouldn’t invent the wheel unless the product provides sufficient value for the users, and then test it thoroughly.

4. Usaability

Usability can be described as the ability to use the product with minimal friction, and with all features accessible with minimum effort. There are many aspects of usability.

It should be easy for users to learn how it works. They shouldn’t need to read through 100-page manuals just to get started. This is where consistency plays a major role.

Users should be able to derive value from products without losing productivity. Users should receive enough value for the effort and time they have put into it.

5. It is better to have less than you think

This principle aims to lower the cognitive load of users. It should take as little mental space as possible for the product or its functions. Users shouldn’t spend too much time understanding or evaluating different options.

This means that the product should simplify user choices. The product must not be overwhelming or cause users to keep too many things in their heads.

Clear, precise language should be used in UX copy. To use minor features, the user should not have to read through a series of ten-point guidelines.

6. Context

The context of the product is important for an effective UI UX design. This includes the industry it will be used in, the demographics of the users, the location the user might be using it, how they may use it, and any other context information. To get it done efficiently, you can Hire UI/UX Designer Canada. 

If you are designing an interface for industrial equipment, consider the noise level and avoid relying solely on alarms or audio alerts. A payment app should allow the user to perform transactions without having to navigate through multiple menus.

7. Clarity

Clearness is the key to a user interface that works.

It is important that users are made aware of the purpose and benefits of visiting a new website when they visit it.

Clear interfaces can be maintained by creating a clear path between users and interfaces. It is important that the user sees only the actions they need at each stage of the process.

Clearance is lost when your interface is unclear or cluttered. There is no clarity without frustration.

8. Feedback

We often take it for granted that feedback is associated with actions on an interface.

This includes button hovers and error pop-ups as well as confirmation messages, check marks, color changes, and completion animations.

Users have grown so used to receiving feedback via interfaces that they expect it. You probably do too.

9. Personalize your interface

This is because humans don’t enjoy engaging with machines or robots. The product should allow users to feel connected with it and as though they are interacting with another person.

Although this is optional, it will make your solution or product more interesting. The Duolingo Owl, for example, makes it feel that a person (or an animal!) is speaking to the user rather than an app.

Design Intuitive UX and UI with OPRIM

OPRIM has a team of skilled developers and designers. We have worked with large corporations and SMEs to create products and solutions. We take pride in catering the best UI/UX Design and Development Services Canada.

Conclusion:

These principles have been a great help to organizations in accelerating their design process. Many small businesses have been able to launch products that are successful despite having limited resources. 

Even though product interfaces, technologies, and design trends may have changed over time, UX principles have remained constant and helped developers deliver great results.

What are you waiting for?

Partner with us and let’s make something amazing together!