UI Design Hacks for User-Friendly Interfaces

User interface design is complex due to the variety of choices in layout, spacing, typography, and color. It becomes even more challenging when adding usability, accessibility, and psychology into the mix.

However, UI design doesn’t have to be so difficult.

A system of logical rules enables efficient and informed design decisions. Without it, you’re left relying on gut feelings to make elements look appealing.

While I appreciate rules and logic, design decisions aren’t always clear-cut. Think of the following advice as flexible guidelines that work well in most situations, rather than strict rules to follow.

The best way to learn is through practice, so let’s get started.

1. Utilize space to cluster related elements.

Dividing information into smaller, related groups helps to structure and organize an interface, making it quicker and easier for users to understand and remember.

You can cluster related elements through the following techniques:

- Place related elements in the same container - Position related elements close to each other - Make related elements visually similar - Align related elements along a continuous line

Containers provide the strongest visual cue for grouping interface elements, but they can sometimes add unnecessary clutter. Consider using other grouping techniques, which are often more subtle and can simplify the design.

Spacing is particularly effective and simple for grouping related elements. You can also combine multiple grouping methods to enhance clarity.

2. Maintain consistency.

In UI design, consistency means that similar elements have a uniform appearance and functionality. This should be consistent within your product and align with other well-established products. Predictable functionality enhances usability and minimizes errors, as users don’t have to constantly relearn how things work.

In our example, the icon styles are inconsistent, with some icons filled and others not. This inconsistency can be confusing, as filled icons often indicate a selected state. Standardizing all icons with a 2pt stroke weight and rounded corners improves consistency and gives each icon a uniform visual weight.

03. Set a minimum line height of 1.5 for body text.

Line height, the vertical spacing between lines of text, helps prevent readers from accidentally rereading the same line and makes text more comfortable to read.

To enhance accessibility and readability, especially for lengthy body text, ensure the line height is at least 1.5 (150%). Generally, a line height between 1.5 and 2 works well.

04 Align text to the left.

Since English is read from left to right in an F-shaped pattern, left-aligned text provides the best readability. For long body text, avoid center or justified alignment as it can be more challenging to read, especially for individuals with cognitive disabilities.

Center alignment can be effective for headings and short text because it’s easy to read quickly. However, for longer body text, center alignment makes reading more difficult as the starting point of each line varies, causing your eyes to work harder to locate the beginning of each line.

05. Steer clear of pure black text.

In UI design, it’s advisable to avoid using pure black text, as its high contrast with white can lead to eye strain and fatigue.

Pure black has 0% color brightness, while white has 100%, creating a stark contrast that makes our eyes work harder. Instead of pure black on white, opt for a dark grey to improve readability.

06 Stick to regular and bold font weights.

While many typefaces offer a variety of font weights, using too many can clutter your design and make it hard to maintain consistency.

Simplify your design system by using only regular and bold font weights. Here are some tips:

- Use bold font weight for headings to make them stand out. - Use regular font weight for smaller text. - If you opt for very thin or thick font weights, limit their use to headings and larger text, as they can be hard to read at smaller sizes.

07. Use uppercase sparingly.

Unless you’re emphasizing a message, there are few good reasons to use all uppercase letters. It can be visually overwhelming and harder to read.

When reading, we recognize words by their overall shape rather than by each individual letter. Uppercase letters all have a similar rectangular shape, which requires reading each letter individually.

08 . Choose a typeface that has taller lowercase letters.

Opt for typefaces that feature taller lowercase letters and increased letter spacing, as they tend to be easier to read when used in smaller sizes. The height of lowercase letters in a typeface is referred to as the x-height.

09. Stick to one sans serif typeface.

A typeface encompasses a collection of related fonts with a similar style, like Helvetica. Fonts, in turn, are variations within a typeface, such as different weights or sizes — like Helvetica bold and Helvetica regular.

For interface design, it’s best to use a single sans serif typeface. Sans serif typefaces are typically clear, straightforward, and easy to read.

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