Have you ever visited a website that seemed outdated or visually unpleasant? Maybe the layout seemed chaotic or difficult to navigate? 

User interface (UI) goes hand in hand with user experience (UX). Think of UX as how the website operates and how the customer experiences their journey throughout the website – UI is the portion that focuses on the visual aspect of a website. This can involve elements from visual design and typography to navigation buttons and user feedback. So, how can you detect good UI design?

Here are some basics:

• Simplicity

• Consistency

• Pleasant aesthetic

• Balanced white space

• Readable typography

• Easy to understand

• Provide user feedback

Take a look at the examples below. Does one seem a little easier on the eyes?

Yep, you’re right (at least we hope so). Behance has done a great job with their UI. Not only does the site have a nice, clean layout but it also provides easy navigation. Elements as simple as the plus symbol for creating, the search bar placed front and center, or the hashtags to indicate different categories. These elements provide simplicity and straightforward navigation for end-users. Put simply, it’s clean and easy to understand.

Let’s try another one -

You’ve got it (fingers crossed), Airbnb for the win. Among other issues, notice how Option 1 has poor typography - choosing a bright red font color and placing the text on top of graphics, making it even harder to read. You may also notice the use of different font sizes within the same font style, resulting in a lack of consistency. On the flip side, Airbnb provides simplicity with a clean layout and a clear call-to-action. The headline even tells you exactly what to do, in bold, when you arrive at the home page. 

While UX provides the necessary functionality of a website, keep in mind that the user interface can act as a first impression to a user. I’m sure we’re all guilty (I know I am) of visiting a website with bad design and immediately exiting. Aside from affecting SEO, poorly designed UI can reflect the company badly, making it seem out of touch. So when developing your UI, always keep the end-user in mind. What first impression would you want to make?

For a deep dive into UX/UI, stay tuned for our Four Part Guide in the following blogs.

PK Information is a FileMaker-certified development agency serving the Tampa Bay and Knoxville regions. We believe that great software can change everything. Would your database benefit from a process review? Contact us today!

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