Best tips for improving interface design

To produce design that is usable, intuitive and of high quality, there are a few key ingredients to include in the process. Interface design takes time and may sometimes require experimentation and adjustments. Here we list nine tips on the best design principles.

1. Comfortable, balanced spacing

Empty spaces, so-called "white space", are as important as content-filled areas. The right kind of spacing creates visual balance and gives breathing room between objects. It also helps group the content and makes it easier to interpret. The appearance becomes more "polished".

2. Establish a clear visual hierarchy

By creating contrasts you make it easier for users to both interpret and navigate the content. It is also a useful way to highlight what is most important. The brain will perceive larger elements as more prominent and therefore more important than smaller ones.

3. Have clearer Call-to-actions

Call-to-actions need to be easy and quick to understand. Here the text on the button is just as important as the design because it directly determines the user's behavior. Do not use complicated words or long sentences.

Here, the choice of colors can also be decisive for the design and have a strong impact on the user's perception.

4. Design for interaction

The user gets a better experience and a better understanding of how the interaction works if it receives clear visual feedback. It is therefore important to design clickable areas such as buttons and forms with different states, so-called "hover states". A "thank-you message" can also be nice for the user as a response to a completed interaction.

5. Typographic hierarchy and choice of fonts

The use of fonts and their characteristics can either make or break a design. It is often a good idea to limit a design to one or two fonts. Using different font weights in the text can create good contrast. Hierarchy also helps the user interpret and perceive the content.

6. Size, alignment and length of text areas

The body text in longer blocks of copy, for example in articles, should be a size that is easy to read for long periods. Here, 18pt or even 20pt is often a good choice for digital use. To guide the eye, it's also good design to have a narrower width for the text block.

Centered text can work well for shorter texts – but keep it short! For longer texts the appearance becomes jagged and uneven, and the eye has difficulty jumping down to the next line without obstruction.

7. Do a contrast check

Colors need to have sufficient contrast so the user can perceive them and there are also accessibility principles and standards developed for this (WCAG). Content needs to be clear and readable.

If light text sits on a light, slightly cluttered background, it's both practical and stylish to have a tinted panel that lifts the text.

8. Consistent style for icons and pictograms

Icons should be easy and simple to understand – but they should also have the same manner in style, line weight and roundness.

9. Shadows that make elements pop – the tiny, tiny details

Shadows are a great trick for lifting especially light objects, e.g. a white box. Here it’s the tiny, tiny details that make the difference. The shadow should be subtle and sometimes it can be a good idea to have an outline in a slightly darker color than the shadow itself.

Need help with exceptional interface design? Our creative design team can help you. Contact Mikael Mathison, project manager, who will be happy to tell you more.

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