User Interface Design Principles You Must Know

User interface design refers to creation of a user-friendly interface between the users of a website, computer application of communication model. For this to be effective, it must be I line with a set of regulations that are provided to ensure the user is able to achieve and reach out to their desired event. Among the most considered aspects in interface, design includes among others the input controls, navigation components information components and the containers. To ensure that the UID accomplishes the desired standards, the following principles must be put into consideration.

When choosing the principles to follow it is important to ensure that, they are chosen in accordance to the project at hand. The rules of choosing the appropriate principles indicate that at no instance should the application at hand lose the data entered as a result of inactivity. More so, it should be created to make the work projected much easier and easily accessible. Before embarking on the design, it is important to ensure that the interests of the user are put into consideration alongside the type of device that will be used by the user to ensure ease in usage.

User Interface Design Principles You Must Know

Simplicity Principle

The user interface is required to make the work of the user much easier in navigation and use of the program in question. For this reason, the language used in its design should be simple to understand. It is important to give preference to the language used by the user in this regard, as this will make understanding of the content much easier and better. This may entail the use of varying simple and meaningful shortcuts to make the work of the user much easier. This ensures the user does not have to follow long unnecessary procedures that might end up complicating the process.

Consistency Principle

Every person is comfortable while interacting with a known object. For this reason, it is important to ensure the elements used in the design are common elements. This includes using similar elements to perform like tasks even when the event is being performed at different points of usage. This will make the interaction with the user easier to understand and as well to use. This includes using similar objects, shortcuts, and fonts in areas where a similar event is being undertaken. This will also include among other factors ensuring that related items on the page are put together as this will give ease in navigating through them.

Principle of Purpose

When planning the layout of your page during user interface design, it is important to ensure that the purpose of the items is given consideration. By doing this, there is need to ensure that the relationship on the items on the page and its structural layout is enhanced. This will see the most important items being given priority of visibility and accessibility as this will give ease in usage of the page. This will ensure that they easily draw the attention of the user hence easing readability.

Hierarchy and Clarity Principle

The items placed on the page will not automatically carry the same weight. This means that though all-important they will have different importance ratings to the user at any given instance. For this reason, clarity should be enhanced to ensure there is ease in choosing the appropriate activity at any given instance. In this regard, using different font sizes, types and colors maybe an ideal way to distinguish between varying items on the page. Where the item is used to give a link to a particular item or a certain page, this should be highlighted accordingly to ensure the user is not left at a loss when redirected.

Defaults Principle

Visitors to your page will more or less be searching for a similar result or item. For this reason while designing your appropriate user interface design, it is important to bear in mind the goals that the user will be seeking and as such make their accessibility much simpler. In this regard, it may be important to have access to certain parts of the page made simpler by foregoing some of the required steps or by simply filling out some of the common information that might be required to give quicker access and usability.

Feedback Principle

The user interface design is done to give the user easier access to particular information. For this reason, the user will from time to time require to get updates on the state of affairs at a given instance. For this reason, models should be in place to reports errors, indicate acceptance of any fed information and as well suggest possible options where necessary.

Principle of Tolerance

In feeding information, the user is bound to make mistakes and errors. In such situations getting the user to restart the process maybe a cumbersome experience. It is for this reason that there should be in place tools that will allow the user to undo or redo a certain piece of information without the need to restart the process all over.

Principle of Strategy

While creating a page, highlighting the important aspects of the page helps attract the attention of the user and in such allow the user to get easy and fast access to the required content. The power of visibility is quite effective I this regard and in this regard using color to highlight the important aspects essential. This will mean having the items with high importance bearing attractive and highly noticeable colors and less visibility for the less important.

Principle of Interaction

The main purpose behind creation of user interface design is to give an interaction between the user and the application. For this reason, it requires to be simple and direct to the point. In this regard, the interface being created should allow adequate interaction, show adequate relationship manage expectations and give access to the required service

Conclusion

The effectiveness of the user interface design lies in its ability to give the desired results. For this reason, it should be tailored to ensure that the user has clear and concise access to the information required. As such, it should have the ability to provide effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of the user. This includes ensuring there are adequate resources in the user interface design to help navigate through the application.

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Jessica is the Lead Author & Editor of UsabilityLab Blog. Jessica writes for the UsabilityLab blog to create a source for news and discussion about some of the issues, challenges, news, and ideas relating to usability.