{"id":4039,"date":"2023-04-26T07:59:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T05:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/?p=4039"},"modified":"2023-04-26T08:04:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T06:04:54","slug":"top-5-design-principles-every-designer-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/top-5-design-principles-every-designer-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Design Principles Every Designer Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why do some apps and websites fail to attract or engage users despite the huge budget, aggressive marketing, and advanced features?<\/p>\n<p>There are many ways to answer the question. But one of the foremost reasons they do not make it and others do is how they apply the key user experience (UX) design principles.<\/p>\n<p>Having been in the business for years, <a href=\"https:\/\/limeup.io\/\">Limeup.io<\/a> is an expert in seamlessly blending these concepts into an aesthetically pleasing, highly functional, navigational website. We begin with these five design principles:<\/p>\n<h2>1. Balance<\/h2>\n<p>In UX design, balance refers to the harmonious arrangement of visual elements. There are two primary types:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Symmetrical<\/strong>, where the design elements are evenly distributed on either side of a central axis or point. For example, a symmetrical layout would feature two photos of the same size, one on each side of the page with text in between.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Asymmetrical<\/strong>, where elements are placed unevenly across the page. An example would be placing a large photo at the top and a smaller one at the bottom. This type of balance helps create visual interest by drawing the eye to specific focal points.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The goal of design balance is to produce harmony and equilibrium among the visual elements in a composition.<\/p>\n<p>Balance aids in the even distribution of visual weight, ensuring that no single feature overpowers or dominates the others. This gives a design a sense of stability and order. And this makes the website feel more pleasant and less overwhelming to navigate despite its many elements.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Contrast<\/h2>\n<p>Contrast is the difference between two elements. It is one of the most powerful tools designers have to draw attention and emphasize a certain element on the screen.<\/p>\n<p>Contrast can be achieved in a variety of ways, depending on the design\u2019s purpose: with color (light versus dark), size (large versus small), shape (geometric versus organic), texture (smooth versus rough), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/best-free-online-typography-courses\/\">typography<\/a> (bold versus light), and more.<\/p>\n<p>Common examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You can write the call to action in large red letters enclosed in a box to mimic a button. This way, it pops out from the landing page while the color creates a feeling of urgency.<\/li>\n<li>A white text on a black background makes the words easier to read.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Its purpose in design is twofold:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contrast helps create a visual hierarchy, allowing the viewer to quickly focus on important information by making it stand out from the rest of the design.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s also a great way to add interest and energy to a page without overwhelming it with too many details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. Hierarchy<\/h2>\n<p>Simply put, it is a UX design principle that prioritizes the elements of a page.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Which ones are the most important and, therefore, need highlight on the page?<\/li>\n<li>How do users navigate around the growing number of pages on a website?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hierarchy is a two-fold concept that encompasses both information architecture and visual hierarchy.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Information architecture deals with the overall organization of a product, with each element placed at varying levels of the hierarchy. A great example is the menu on the page. When a user clicks it, they either move to another immediately or choose among the options, which are the subpages.<\/li>\n<li>Visual hierarchy focuses on how elements are arranged to lead the eye around a page. Let us use the example in contrast. By giving the call to action a distinct shape and color, you emphasize to the reader that the message is vital. However, placing these buttons in the middle or below the landing page also tells them you need all the supplemental information above it before deciding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>4. Consistency<\/h2>\n<p>Also referred to as repetition, consistency ensures that all elements on a page have a similar look and feel.<\/p>\n<p>Maintaining consistency in UI design is important because it creates an identity for the product. Users expect to find a certain color scheme, typography style, and other visual cues when they visit any given website or app\u2014and this is exactly why consistency needs to be considered.<\/p>\n<p>A consistent design also ensures that users\u2019 experience is predictable and familiar, thus making the product easier to use. This is especially critical today when people easily shift across various platforms, such as desktops and mobile devices.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the biggest brands are well-known for using consistency in design. These include McDonald\u2019s:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Its website and app have the same look and feel. The space is mostly white, allowing its primary colors, yellow and red, to stand out.<\/li>\n<li>The texts are the same size and color, whether headings or descriptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>5. User-Centricity<\/h2>\n<p>Gone are the days when apps and websites cater to the whims of the designers or that they should be loaded with colors, photos, and even GIFs to make them worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p>The thrust (and the purpose) of UX is to put the users\u2019 needs first, and this principle is called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digital-adoption.com\/user-centric-design\/\">user-centricity<\/a>. But what does this mean exactly? It:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focuses on the needs of the user and how to meet them<\/li>\n<li>Ensures that every element serves a purpose, such as providing useful information or helping users complete tasks quickly and easily<\/li>\n<li>Takes into consideration user experience in all design aspects, from content to visuals (for instance, high-contrast colors may be ideal for people with visual challenges)<\/li>\n<li>Uses data and feedback from users to continuously improve the product<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Following these five design principles\u2014contrast, hierarchy, repetition\/consistency, flow, and user-centricity\u2014helps you create a worthy and engaging product and a memorable experience that encourages users to stay and even act, whether it is to buy or subscribe to a mailing list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do some apps and websites fail to attract or engage users despite the huge budget, aggressive marketing, and advanced [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web-design"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - 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