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XD Ideas   /   Process   /   UI Design

UI Design

The user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. UI is an integral aspect of user experience (UX) that consists of two major parts: visual design, which conveys the look and feel of a product; and interaction design, which is the functional and logical organization of elements. The goal of user interface design is to create a user interface that makes it easy, efficient, and enjoyable for users to interact with a product. Learn about the different types of UI as well as fundamental design requirements for each type.

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What Is UI Design?

UI design prioritizes the user’s visual experience. A good user interface is functional, reliable, and enjoyable to use. User interface design should minimize the effort that the user has to invest interacting with a product and help users accomplish their goals with ease.

Designers use methods of user-centered design (user interviews, direct observations, etc.) to learn about their target audience and ensure that the visual language they introduce in the UI is well-tailored to them. It’s important to make the UI aesthetically pleasing because interfaces that have great aesthetics are perceived as more usable by end-users, according to the aesthetic–usability effect.

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What Are the Most Important Elements of UI Design?

Good UI design is critical to a product’s success. Without it, users may find a product to be unusable. Most designers follow a set of user interface design principles to guide their designs and ensure their products are successful.

The most important elements of UI design are:

  • Place users in control of the interface
  • Make it comfortable to interact with a product
  • Reduce cognitive load
  • Make user interfaces consistent

What Are Three Main Types of UI Design?

There are various types of UI design, but three of the most popular are graphical user interface (GUI), voice user interface (VUI), and menu-driven. In GUIs, users interact with information by manipulating visual objects on a digital screen using a device or touch. The elements of a well-designed graphical user interface should be designed to support good learnability and findability. When users see familiar visual elements and interaction patterns, they can understand how to interact with the UI just by looking at it. It’s also important to make sure that elements in a GUI are uniform–UI should be consistent to create a sense of control and reliability.

Voice user interfaces (VUI) are quickly gaining traction. The rising number of voice-enabled assistants being sold across the world prove that users find such devices valuable. Voice user interfaces require a different design approach. Designers need to create an efficient, conversational UI in which words and syntax play a crucial role. To create more human interactions, designers need to invest in learning human psychology and put even more focus on validating their design decisions using voice-based prototypes.

Another main type of UI includes a menu-driven interface, which provides users a range of commands in menu or list form via a drop or pull-down, full-screen, or pop-up.

What Are UI Design Patterns?

UI design patterns are a fundamental part of UI design. These best practices are general solutions to common problems in UI. Design patterns help organizations by designing reusable, reliable solutions to a user interface problem.

Create a user interface that is right for your product and company by browsing our selection of regularly updated articles that contain tips, tricks, and best practices to help you level up your skills.

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Emerging Technology

Best Practices in Voice User Interface (VUI) Design

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