Although the design of the user interface is most often associated with unlimited creativity and the search for new solutions, there are certain principles that influence the optimization of the entire design process. These include Shneiderman's 8 Golden Rules, which he created in 1985. Despite the passage of time, these principles are still relevant and used by designers around the world. How do they sound and what problems do they help solve?
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8 golden rules of user interface design
To create a digital product of the highest quality, you need to know 8 guidelines that will facilitate the achievement of the ideal effect:
1. Striving for consistency
Consistency is the use of the same design patterns and actions in situations that can be considered similar. These include user workflow, as well as appropriate use of colors, typography and terminology. It is worth remembering that a particular digital product is not the only one that users have access to. They can choose from many alternatives, compare them and build certain expectations for the application. Therefore, it is very important to create a coherent solution that make it easier for them to use the product and achieve their intended goals. It is necessary to bet on a certain predictability, which in this particular aspect — is an advantage.
In order to be able to maintain consistency when designing the user interface, the first thing to do is create a design system. Thanks to this, it will be possible to collect graphic guidelines that define the visual side of the interface and design for a given brand. This system should include:
- style guide — a set of knowledge, relating to the use of colors, fonts, fonts and logos, as well as methods of communication of the organization with users,
- component library — a collection of components with templates. It is found in the code used by programmers to encode elements of a digital product,
- pattern library — a collection of examples of individual parts of the user interface and their behavior. An example would be contact forms and a description of their use.
Said design system helps to collect all the necessary information so that any user could use them appropriately. Thanks to it, it is possible to create clear, understandable guidelines, necessary for design according to the principle of coherence.
2. Bet on universal usability
The optimal design of the user interface ensures that you get to know and find yourself in the application without problems and quickly achieve the intended goals. Universal utility is one that meets the requirements of all user groups. The digital product is intended to be used by both new and returning customers. These groups will differ from each other in age, gender, background, and expectations.
To help users learn about an application or other digital product, it is worth applying method of labeling tools in the interface. This element should appear when you hover over the selected fragments. It is intended to detail the explanation of the role of this part of the interface.
3. Take care of feedback
If the user interface is optimally designed, it should Provide users with access to information or activitiesThe things they did well. Every user wants to be sure that they understand the actions taken by them.
The system must therefore respond appropriately to the actions performed by the user, giving him a clear feedback. If he has to wait for the result, he should be informed. If he takes an incorrect action, make sure he knows about it. This will help him to make subsequent decisions that are positive for the result of the application.
4. Feedback, leading to the closing of the task
At the moment when the user is tasked with performing certain actions, check that they have access after feedback messages, especially at the moment when they perform the actions correctly. In this case, they will be satisfied with the implementation of the task. In this case, it is therefore worth taking care of a verification or summary message at each stage of the activity. Feedback should be as short as possible and maintain a positive tone, despite the mistakes made.
5. Bug protection
The high-quality user interface guides him through the entire process intuitively enough that he should not make mistakes. It is therefore a good practice make it as easy as possible, eliminating all possible inconveniences. Since the application can be used by many users — it can be difficult — but worthwhile.
For this purpose, it is necessary to verify the data provided by users and inform them of irregularities on an ongoing basis. In this way you can minimize the risk of them making significant mistakes. So, if there is a probability that the user will give a non-existent date, for example, September 31 — it is worth sharing the calendar with him.
3. Possibility of reversing actions
Every user who uses a given application or other digital product should have a sense of freedom and control over the actions they take. So he has to have an option cancel the action and resume it at the moment when you enter the data incorrectly or click not the button you intended. If he does not have this opportunity, he will feel tired and frustrated. This can lead to the abandonment of further participation in the process.
In this case, it is good to opt for the introduction of buttons or links that the user will be able to use freely. They can be:
- cancel — Enables the completion of a task or process,
- backwards This will allow you to return the user to the previous page,
- undo — will give the opportunity to revert to the previous activity,
- replay — will enable the execution of the correct action,
- close — will close the current view.
7. Control the user
Users should have a subconscious feeling of control over the app or website. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that used it in any way and used an interface that met their needs. At the moment when a certain element of this interface is not necessary to complete a given activity, it is worth removing it temporarily or muting the notifications that appear at the moment when an unnecessary element appears.
8. Limit short-term memory load
In order to prevent unnecessary strain on short-term memory, limit too long sequence of actions. The user is not obliged to memorize unnecessary data that will not help him in the execution of a given action. It is therefore a good practice to highlight the information needed to complete the task.
To make the task easier for users, it is worth prompting them certain behaviors, which can be:
- silent help, e.g. use of prompts, which the customer can type in a specific field,
- visual aid, which implies the use of specific characters to focus the user's attention and a gentle hint on what he should do next,
- automatic data entry — if the user has already filled in the data once — it is worth duplicating them in a similar field,
- Facilitating processes — at the time the user has entered the password before — you can enable the option to remember it.
How to use the 8 principles of interface design
The rules that Shneiderman established many years ago are still valid today. They represent an important point in case you want to improve the usability of the user interface. They also enable Correcting errors that may discourage the user from taking action. However, it should be borne in mind that these principles are general and provide the basis for change and innovation. Each of them is worth adapting to a specific project.
If you are interested in the topic of interface design or want to learn the ins and outs of creating effective websites and applications — Check out our other blog posts, where you will find a lot of useful information. Are you looking for a company to do a UX audit for you? Need help with website design or web analytics? Apply to us! Together we will find the best solution for you.
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