Characteristics of Great User Interface & Best UI practices

Introduction
User Interface (UI) design is a crucial aspect of creating a successful product, website, or
application. It is the visual representation of the product that the user interacts with. As a user
experience (UX) designer, one of the key areas you work on is user interface (UI) design. This
aspect of UX design is concerned with the visual and interactive elements of a digital product,
such as a website or mobile app. UI design plays a crucial role in ensuring that the product is not
just usable, but also visually appealing, engaging, and consistent with the brand identity. Great
UI design is essential for creating user-friendly interfaces that meet the needs of users. It
involves understanding user needs, designing for accessibility, creating effective visual hierarchy
and layout, choosing appropriate typography and color, and designing for mobile and web. In
this paper, we will explore the key characteristics of great UI design and provide best practices
for creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
User Interface Design
User Interface (UI) design is a branch of design that anticipates how users might interact with a
designed element. UI design analyses points of access that users might come across and
ensures that they are easy to understand, navigate, and facilitate.
Thus, UI design is at the intersection of other disciplines such as information architecture,
interaction design, and graphic design.
Main Elements in User Interface
There are some aspects of websites and apps that we have all come to expect. These features
are broadly consistent across different platforms. The reason for this consistency is that
interface design needs to be predictable so that it helps complete functions easily and quickly.
To better understand user interface design, let us take a look at the main interface elements:
1. Input controls: Includes details such as buttons, text fields, dropdown lists, or date
fields.
2. Informational components: Includes tooltips, notifications, and progress bars.
3. Navigational components: Includes elements such as sliders, search fields, icons, and
tags.
Most websites and apps have a combination of these different elements. Remember, each
aspect of UI design serves a practical purpose - directing the user to the end of the navigational
journey.
User interface designs (UI designs)

User interface design is a critical aspect of creating digital products, focusing on visual presentation and
interaction between users and the system. It encompasses the design of elements such as buttons,
menus, and layout to enhance user experience and satisfaction. A well-designed user interface not only
considers aesthetics but also prioritizes usability, accessibility and efficiency and is enjoyable for users.
So, User interface design is the process of creating the look and feel of a website page user interface [3].

The main purpose of user interface is that they should match and satisfy the skills and expectations of its
users. A system will always be judged by its users not by its functionality, but by its interface design.
Many software systems are never used because of the poor interface design as this will confuse users
and will lead to many errors. UI plays an essential role in the user experience. A user will not have a good
experience if the design of the app is not intuitive or cohesive [3]. User interface (UI) design is likely the
first thing you encounter when you use an application or visit a website. It’s important as UI designs is
responsible for a product's appearance, interactivity, usability, behavior, and overall feel. UI Enhances the
overall user experience and makes the app more enjoyable to interact with. There are many human
factors which should be considered before designing an effective interface. These factors could be like
limited memory as most of us cannot remember more than seven things at once. If the user is presented
with more than seven things to remember, he is more liable to make mistakes. It is very common that
the user will make mistakes while using any new interface as they are not familiar with them. Different
users with different backgrounds and culture are also one of the factors that needs to be taken in mind
while developing the webpage to fit all types of users [2], [3].

There are some principles which the developer should follow while making the webpage that led to good
interface designs. The user interface should look familiar to the user as it should be based on the use
terms rather than computer concepts like documents and folders better than directories or file identifier.
Consistency should be followed when commands and menus are taken into consideration as they should
appear similar in format and punctuation [4]. The confusion of usage when the user uses the system
should be avoided. The user also should have the ability to recover any errors to overcome any mistake
by using the undo and redo. Any interface developed should provide a manual to guide the user and
user diversity should be observed to make the interface support different users [4].

Types of UI designs

An interface should be designed with proper colors and objects. Colors should be used restrictively with
a meaning. Proper color pairing should be observed and at the same time people with blindness should
be taken into consideration [5]. Objects like buttons, menus and icons should be used. Navigation should
be made easy. Proper style of interaction should be followed with proper language and symbols. A bad
interface will produce a useless system. According to the basics mentioned previously for the user
interface designs, there are different types of UI designs that depend on the need of the product. These
types are Flat Design, Material Design, Skeuomorphic Design, Minimalist Design, Typography-Based
Design, Responsive Design, Gradient Design, Card-Based Design, Neomorphism Design and Dark Mode
Design. So, the flat design mainly focuses on simplicity, using minimalistic elements and flat colors. While
the material design is mainly developed by google and it emphasizes a realistic use of layers, shadows,
and motion. Further the Skeuomorphic Design which Mimics real-world textures and objects to make
the interface resemble physical counterparts that make the design more familiar and closer to real life.
The minimalist design struggles to achieve simplicity and clarity by removing unnecessary elements [5].
While Typography-Based Design emphasizes the use of typography as a primary design element to
convey information. Adding more to the types of designs, Responsive Design ensures the UI adjusts to
different screen sizes and devices. Additionally, Gradient Design involves using gradients to add depth
and dimension to the interface. Also, Card-Based Design utilizes card-like containers to organize and
present information in a concise manner. Moreover, Neomorphism is a design trend that combines
elements of skeuomorphism and flat design, creating a soft, three-dimensional appearance. And finally,
Dark Mode Design provides a dark color scheme, reducing eye strain and improving visibility in low-light
environments. Each type has its own aesthetic and functional considerations. The choice often depends
on the application's purpose, target audience, and design goals [1], [2], [5].

UI design primarily involves visual and interactive elements, so it doesn't typically use algorithms in the
same way that programming or data processing might. However, there are some design-related
processes where algorithms play a role such as Grid Systems, Responsive Design Algorithms, Image
Compression Algorithms, Color Algorithms, Font Rendering Algorithms, Animation Algorithms and
Machine Learning for Personalization. The Grid systems are algorithms that help establish grid layouts for
consistent spacing and alignment of UI elements [1], [2], [5]. While the Responsive Design Algorithms
ensure that the interface adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions dynamically. Further, Image
Compression Algorithm Used to optimize and compress images for faster loading times without
compromising quality. Additionally, Color Algorithms are used to generate color schemes or adjust colors
based on accessibility standards. Further, Font Rendering Algorithms ensure that text is rendered legibly
on various devices and screen resolutions. Animation Algorithms create smooth and visually appealing
animations, algorithms help determine the timing and easing functions. Finally, Machine Learning for
Personalization can be applied to predict and personalize user preferences, influencing UI elements.
While these algorithms are part of the design process, they are not necessarily exclusive to UI design.
UI/UX designers often use various tools and platforms that incorporate these algorithms to streamline
and enhance the design workflow [1], [2], [5].

Techniques for UI design

UI design for web pages involves various techniques to create visually appealing and user-friendly
interfaces. Here are some common techniques. Wireframing, Prototyping, Responsive Design, Consistent
Branding, Whitespace Utilization, Hierarchy of Information, Typography Techniques, Color Schemes,
Progressive Disclosure, Interactive Elements, Loading Optimization, Micro interactions, Card-Based
Design, Parallax Scrolling and User Feedback Design [6]. Starting with Wireframing which is Creating basic
sketches or outlines of the web page layout to plan the arrangement of elements. While the Prototyping
is building interactive prototypes to simulate user interactions and test the flow of the interface.
Moreover, Responsive Design ensures the web page adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes and
devices. Further, consistent Branding which is maintaining a consistent use of colors, fonts, and imagery
to reinforce the brand identity. Adding to that the Whitespace Utilization that Use sample whitespace to
enhance readability and create a clean, organized appearance. The Hierarchy of Information is employing
visual cues like size, color, and contrast to emphasize the importance of different elements. While
Typography Techniques are Choosing appropriate fonts, sizes, and spacing to enhance readability and
convey hierarchy. Also, Color Schemes employs color psychology and accessibility standards to choose
suitable color palettes. Progressive Disclosure which is revealing information progressively to prevent
overwhelming users with too much content at once. Interactive Elements incorporates intuitive and
interactive elements, such as buttons, forms, and navigation menus. Further the Loading Optimization
that implementing techniques like lazy loading and image compression for faster page loading times.
Micro interactions add subtle animations or feedback to enhance user experience and provide visual
cues. Also, Card-Based Design is using cards to organize and present content in a visually appealing and
digestible format. Parallax Scrolling creates a sense of depth and engagement by moving background
elements at different speeds during scrolling. Finally, User Feedback Design that incorporates visual
feedback for user actions, such as button presses or form submissions. These techniques contribute to a
cohesive and user-centric web design, ensuring that the website is not only aesthetically pleasing but
also functional and easy to navigate [6].

An easy way to recall the fundamental principles of UI design is to learn the four c’s which are control,
consistency, comfortability, and cognitive load. The first one is the control which makes the user in
control of everything in the interface [1], [2]. This will make the user feel that the interface is very familiar
and easy to use as they can navigate between the pages easily and handle everything in it. The second
principle is consistency which is to use common elements to make your UI predictable and easy to
navigate even for beginners. Third principle is comfortability which is interacting with a product should
be an effortless, comfortable experience. Finally, the fourth principle to complete the four c’s is cognitive
load which is to be mindful of bombarding users with unneeded content. Be as clear and concise as
possible [1].

Tools and technology

There are different tools that could be used to develop the user design interface according to the
business need such as:

 Sketch
 Adobe XD
 UXPIN
 Marvel
 Figma
 InVision Studio
 Zeplin
 Origami Studio
 Uizard
 MockPlus

Conclusion

UI design in web pages focuses on creating an intuitive and visually appealing user interface. It involves
selecting cohesive color schemes, designing user-friendly layouts, incorporating responsive elements for
various devices, and ensuring a seamless navigation experience to enhance user satisfaction. Effective UI
design strives to balance aesthetics with functionality, optimizing the overall user experience. UI design
for web pages is crucial for user satisfaction. It encompasses creating visually pleasing layouts, choosing
appropriate colors, and ensuring responsive design across devices. A successful UI design strikes a
balance between aesthetics and functionality, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience. Great UI
goes unnoticed. Simplicity, familiarity, and consistency are a few of the most important principles for a UI
designer to keep in mind. Consider the following UI design tips while developing any user interface web
 page that users should not need to zoom or scroll horizontally to view the entirety of a page’s content. In
the text part sufficient contrast to increase legibility is needed. Also be aligned to demonstrate relevance
and relativity to users. Whether the user is viewing the UI on a large screen, small screen, in portrait
mode, or landscape mode, it should be easily readable and maneuverable.

References

[1] W. O. Galitz, “The Essential Guide to User Interface Design An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and
Techniques Third Edition.” 2019.

[2] L. Moreno, H. Petrie, P. Martínez, and R. Alarcon, “Designing user interfaces for content simplification
aimed at people with cognitive impairments,” Univers Access Inf Soc, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s10209-023-
00986-z 2019.

[3] R. Chandra and C. Guntupalli, “2008:PR002 User Interface Design-Methods and Qualities of a Good User
Interface Design.” [Online]. Available: www.hv.se.

[4] K. S. Kuppusamy and V. Balaji, “Evaluating web accessibility of educational institutions websites using a
variable magnitude approach,” Univers Access Inf Soc, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 241–250, Mar. 2023, doi:
10.1007/s10209-021-00812-4.

[5] L. Suoknuuti and K. Aaltonen, “Prashamsa Mishra User Interface Design for existing System Monitoring
Application Title Number of Pages Date Prashamsa Mishra User interface design for existing system
monitoring application 56 pages 14 April 2013 Degree Bachelor of Engineering Degree Programme
Media Engineering Specialisation option Audio Visual Technology and .NET Technology Instructor(s),”
2019.

[6] P. Zhang, G. M. Von Dran, R. V Small, and S. Barcellos, “Websites that Satisfy Users: A Theoretical
Framework for Web User Interface Design and Evaluation,” 2020.