UI fundamentals every designer should know

All UX & UI projects should serve the user – helping them achieve their goals by using your site or app. With this in mind there are a few essential fundamentals we have thought of to help elevate your projects to the next level.

Design for accessibility

Design is and should be for everyone. This is why it is critical to ensure your UX projects are governed by UI principles that ensure accessibility. Colour, the size of type and the placement and arrangement of graphic devices all contribute to the overall accessibility of a project. We should consider the contrast between the colours in the foreground and background, as well as not relying on colour to convey information (for example, a text link should also be underlined, so if someone can’t see the colour change, they still understand that the information is different). As well as colour accessibility, elements that are interactive should stand out and be easy to identify and site navigation should be clear, consistent and user friendly.

Make the interface consistent

Consistency is key for any UX/UI project. It will allow the user to easily access information across a platform quickly and efficiently, ensuring they can follow the golden path without unnecessary complexities. Regarding the application of graphic design principles, typography, the use of space and hierarchy and the size and placement of elements are decisive factors that will determine the consistency of your project. In particular, consistent typographic application will establish the user journey and allow them to meaningfully engage with content without having to struggle to find it.

Provide a clear user journey

A clear user journey is essential within every UX/UI project. This is because it will determine the overall design and functionality of a project, allowing the user to achieve their desired goal. How you deploy graphic devices will dictate the user journey, in most cases the simpler the UI the more effective the user interface. Even the simplest of the things like the use of colour and typefaces are viewed differently by people, therefore it is essential to consider how to best use your design expertise to serve the user and target audience in the most effective way, thus providing a clear user journey.

Testing

Before releasing a project, be sure to test it and conduct user testing. Everything we do and perceive is subjective, and sometimes the user journey you had in mind may not come to fruition. User’s often have their own way of navigating through a site. Therefore, it is a good thing to be tolerable of mistakes and willing to receive feedback as this will fundamentally make the project better. As you take your project through its development, test whenever possible as this will help you identify any discord in the overall user experience. This will allow you to rectify any issues early on saving cuts in time and cost later down the line.