Many internet users do not know what user interface design is. It is a different concept from user experience design. But the two, UI and UX design, go hand-in-hand. This post will help you understand UI design well.
Understanding UI (user interface) design
A user interface is the stage of interaction between computers and humans. The main objective of designing the user interface is how it will behave and look.
Here are the essential elements of the user interface:
- Navigation elements – these help users complete a task by using the search fields, hamburger menus, and sliders.
- Input controls – these interactive elements allow the user to input information using the text fields, dropdown lists, buttons, and checkboxes.
- Informational components – users can get useful information through notifications, progress bars, and message boxes.
- Containers – this component of the user interface comprises meaningful sections. Various elements are grouped in such a way that they would fit in the screen size. The accordion menu is an example of a container. Clicking the accordion menu shows or hides the content.
Aside from integrating all the essential elements to make the interfaces visually pleasant and easy to navigate, UI design also covers the following:
- Visual design – it pertains to the appearance of the interface, including the color, graphics, imagery, typography, spacing, icon design, and logo.
- Interactivity – it determines the function and behavior of the interface, such as the results when a user clicks a specific button.
- Information architecture – tells how the content within the interface is labeled and organized.
UI design process
Designing the user interface involves a few stages while carrying out the process as follows:
- Understanding the context – the UI designer starts with familiarizing the project. It is essential to understand how the product will help the target audience.
- Conduct competitor analysis – this step will help the designers understand how the other brands in the same space operate. It will also give an idea of how the users will interact with the products.
- Designing UI elements and screens – designing the individual screen is a crucial part of UI design. It includes designing buttons and icons, choosing the typography and icons, creating imagery, and designing interactions and animations.
Throughout the design process, it is necessary to follow the guiding principles, including consistency, predictability and familiarity, flexibility, feedback, accessibility, and efficiency.
Designing the user interface is not easy. The good thing is there are design tools and software available. All you have to do is choose the best software or tool to help you.
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