When it comes to interface design, creating an optimal user experience (UX) is crucial. Good design isn't just about aesthetics, it's also about making the application intuitive, efficient and pleasant to use. To achieve this, it's essential to follow certain design principles based on visual psychology and user needs.
UX (User Experience) is the set of elements that influence a user's experience when interacting with an interface. The aim is to create a product that meets users' needs while offering a smooth and pleasant navigation. Many SaaS products fail because of poor user experience.
The ux designer is constantly balancing user needs, business requirements and technological constraints.
The design principles we've explored form the basis of all good UI design. However, to transform these principles into real products, it is essential to follow structured UX design methodologies. These methodologies provide a framework for the design process, ensuring that every decision taken is user-centered.
To find out more about user experience design methodologies, check out this excellent article. It covers in detail the strategic approaches that can reinforce and guide your design process, ensuring a better match between user expectations and the solutions you propose.
Design principles aim to improve the user experience along four main axes:
The psychology of visual perception, in particular the laws of Gestalt, lies at the heart of UX design. These laws enable elements to be visually structured so that they are perceived as a coherent whole.
Origine et Principes des Lois de la Gestalt
The principles of Gestalt, derived from the psychology of form developed in the late 19th century, play a fundamental role in the design of user interfaces.
Gestalt, which means “form” or “configuration” in German, is based on the idea that our brain perceives the elements of an interface not as isolated components, but as an organized whole.
These principles enable designers to understand how users perceive complex structures visually, and how they organize information unconsciously.
By applying these laws, we can create interfaces that appear natural and intuitive to users.
The more choices there are, the longer it takes to make a decision. It is therefore essential to limit options to the essentials to facilitate user choice.
In a restaurant, a menu with a large number of dishes lengthens the customer's decision-making time.
=> Focus on the essential options to make it easier for users to make decisions.
Larger elements are easier to reach, which improves user efficiency. Smaller items, on the other hand, take longer to pinpoint.
=> Buttons
Our brain prefers simple forms. Simplifying interfaces reduces cognitive load.
In UX, we apply this principle by simplifying interfaces to reduce cognitive load and facilitate user comprehension.
=> Flat UI, simplified icons, simple geometric shapes, simplified pages, step-by-step progression
Users prefer familiar interfaces. It's therefore important to build on existing standards.
Jakob's Law emphasizes that users prefer sites that function like the ones they already know. In UX, it is therefore essential to create intuitive and familiar interfaces rather than seeking radical innovation. This means drawing on the standards of other sites to design a fluid user experience.
=> Industry pattern detection
Elements close together are perceived as belonging to the same group.
The law of proximity in UX stipulates that objects close to each other are perceived as belonging to the same group, because our brain associates them more easily than distant elements.
=> Menus, parameters, buttons
Elements that resemble each other are perceived as belonging to the same group.
The law of similarity indicates that elements with common characteristics are perceived as a group, as our visual system automatically looks for patterns and structures in the environment.
=> consistent colors and shapes
=> similar typography for titles and paragraphs
=> icons and illustrations to reinforce comprehension Menu
The law of common region states that elements located in the same area are perceived as a group, even if they are not close, due to the way our brain organizes visual information.
=> Use containers to organize elements.
=> Use contrasts to delimit areas.
=> Use backgrounds to differentiate or group elements.
The “law of the magic number seven”, states that human short-term memory can retain an average of 7 items, plus or minus 2. This limit has been confirmed by tests on a large population.
=> Menu, lists
The law of symmetry states that symmetrical elements are perceived as more harmonious and pleasing, because our brains are naturally attracted to order and regularity.
=> Symmetry to create a sense of balance and order
=> Centering important elements
=> Layout grids to align elements
The law of continuity states that our brain tends to naturally follow the direction suggested by an arrangement of objects, perceiving the elements as an extension of each other, even if they are divided.
=> Lines and arrows to guide the user's eye
=> Visual links between elements
=> Smooth animations for transitions
=> Arrow icon in a button
From all these laws we can deduce design principles that will guide us throughout the design process.
To design effective interfaces, the following principles must be applied:
A simple interface improves productivity by reducing distractions. Navigation should be intuitive, so that users can quickly find what they need. According to UX design principles, cognitive overload can slow users down and reduce their efficiency. Simple design improves adherence and reduces the time needed to complete tasks.
=> Simple Interface, Cognitive Load Minimization, Contextual Guides and Aids, Intuitive Navigation
The interface should be designed so that new users can quickly understand how it works. Allowing customization also enhances the experience. Anticipate user needs and provide solutions before they even realize they need them.
For example, suggest popular dishes or offer options based on previous orders.
=> Guidance and support, Customization and flexibility, Anticipation of user needs
Visual and functional consistency creates a seamless experience and makes the application easier to learn.
It helps reduce confusion and errors by enabling users to transfer their knowledge from one part of the application to another.
=> Visual Coherence, Consistent Behavior
An accessible application can be used by everyone, including people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities. Ensuring accessibility is not only a legal requirement in some countries, but also good UX practice to include as many users as possible.
=> Graphic Elements, Language Clarity, Guidance and Support, Responsive Design and Uniformity
Users should receive clear indications of the actions they are carrying out, such as confirmation of an action or error messages. Immediate feedback helps users understand the consequences of their actions, correct mistakes and gain confidence in the application.
=> Immediate Responses, Clear Error Messages, Preventive Error
Our products need to be able to evolve over time, adding new features without having to reinvent the wheel every time. A modular, scalable design facilitates this growth.
=> Modular Design, Flexibility and Adaptability to New Content
Emotional design aims to create a more human, memorable and satisfying experience, fostering user engagement and loyalty.
=> Pleasant UI, Illustrations, Animations and Micro-Interactions, Surprise and delight, Tone and personality
This principle can contradict all the others, because EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON CONTEXT! We need to adapt the interface and content to the time and place where the user interacts with the application, offering a more relevant and personalized experience.
=> Different Contexts : Physical Context, Context of Use, Social Context, Cultural and Linguistic Context, Technological Context, Emotional and Cognitive Context
By following these principles, you can design interfaces that not only meet user needs, but exceed them, delivering a fluid and intuitive experience. Gestalt laws and validation methodologies should be at the heart of your design process to ensure that your products are not only functional, but also fun to use.
