Nearly 55% of people globally use smartphones to access websites and applications. The user interface (UI) significantly facilitates interaction between human beings and websites or apps. An excellent UI design is essential to strengthening customer loyalty and brand recognition. The designers who design it ensure that it is visually stimulating, attractive and easy to use. It includes several elements like icons, buttons, typefaces, colours and scrollbars. The most common interfaces are display screens, mouse, and keyboards. These interfaces have touchpoints like buttons and scrollbars to allow users to navigate their way around. A good UI needs to be intuitive, user-friendly and efficient.
Tips for designing the User Interface
Before starting to design the interface, designers must know who their users are and how they can achieve their goals using the software.
Giving the users a sense of control of the interface makes them feel comfortable. They make efforts to learn things quickly and gain a sense of mastery.
Efficient interfaces allow users to backtrack on what they are doing quickly. It allows more people to explore the interface without the fear of failure. The undo/redo option enables users to make changes and then move through them again.
The interface must be easy to navigate, and the users must enjoy exploring it. They must know where they are and where they can move next. They must never wonder how they got to that point.
Designers must ensure that all the things a user needs are readily accessible. They must understand that they will get consistent help when using the software.
Types of user interface
Touch user interface
Graphical user interface
Command line interface
Menu-driven interface
Features of good UI
The design must be simple, and users must accomplish tasks with fewer clicks and keystrokes. Additional features should be included only when they add significant value to the application.
The interface must provide consistent results. It must eliminate chaos and instability. The design needs to be intuitive to enable the users to learn it quickly. The icons must be consistent, and labels should conform to the terminology.
The design must prevent users from doing inappropriate tasks but encourage them to use the software to the maximum extent. It must enable them to find a way out when they reach points where they must not go. It must allow users to try different options quickly.
The interface must have a responsive design. It must work fast, and users should not wait for things to load. Quick-loading interfaces improve the user experience and eliminate frustration.
The interface design must be attractive. A UI becomes attractive when it is simple, efficient, easy to use and responsive. An interface having all these elements gives a truly satisfying experience to the users.
A good interface allows people to perform functions quickly with less effort. It must understand what the user is trying to do and allow them to do it without complications.
Any UI should not have too many descriptions and explanations, making it big and bulky. Users only care a little about the design. They are more concerned about completing their tasks quickly with less effort. When the design meets the users’ requirements, they have a more personalized and enjoyable experience.
The UI design plays an essential role in providing a seamless experience to the users. It must be easy to navigate and allow people to complete tasks effectively and efficiently. The best interface design makes more people return and use the application again.