When it's done well, we don’t notice it. Think back to a smartphone application that frustrated you. What was it that made you feel that way? Endless menu searching, buttons that were too small to tap, or unnecessary additions which serve no one, but the ego of a developer who thinks they know best? Good user interface design always puts the user first.
Good design should be unobtrusive. The designer must understand the user and create designs that cater to their needs and the application’s purpose, ensuring the user can achieve their goals with minimal effort.
Bad design leaves users feeling frustrated and lost. which is the last thing you want when they interact with your business. This alone should motivate you to place importance on user interface design.
Steve Jobs once said: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” When UI design is done right, users don’t have to think about what they’re doing. They just do it. So do the thing that makes people not have to think about what they’re doing. Whether it’s a quick checkout process or customising shortcuts in your app.
Even more importantly, allow people to easily find what they need without digging through endless menus. It’s about getting them where they need to go with as little friction as possible.
Spotify
Spotify excels in using personalised content and suggestions. Have you ever noticed that it never runs out of music to play, even though your selected playlist finished 30 minutes ago? Spotify wants you to have a seamless experience, building in your music preferences to keep playing what it thinks you will like more of. The app also uses a clear design language, allowing you to easily search, view your library or explore suggestions. The interface is designed so that the main features—like discovering new music or playing a favourite song—are always just a tap away.
Airbnb
Airbnb taps into that feeling of wanting more than just a place to sleep. Next time you search, pay attention. When the app loads, it shows you a curated list of places that they think you might want to experience - because as much as you can get a basic room to crash for the night, you can also sit in a living room with Doja Cat. If you want the former, you get a few clear and easy navigation options like ‘Tiny Homes, Beachfront, or Farms’ to get you booking your next stay as quickly and easily as possible.
Uber
Uber’s original tagline was ‘everyone’s private driver,’ but it did much more than that. Remember when ordering a cab meant calling up and hoping they showed up on time, if at all? With Uber, that hassle is gone. When you open the app, it simply asks, “Where to?” it already knows your location, so all you need to do is enter your destination. It cuts down on the back and forth. Plus, seeing the nearby drivers gives you that feeling of, “Oh! There’s a driver just around the corner.” Once you order your ride, you get an ETA and can track the driver’s location in real time, so there are no surprises, just a smooth, reliable experience.
As you can see, user interface design goes beyond just making an app or website look good, it’s about ensuring the experience is seamless, intuitive and satisfying. When done right, users shouldn’t even notice the design; they should simply be able to interact with your product easily and efficiently.
By keeping things simple, focusing on user needs, and removing unnecessary friction, you create an experience where people feel comfortable and confident using your service. Whether it's a quick ride on Uber, discovering new music on Spotify, or booking a unique stay on Airbnb, good user interface design is critical to leaving users satisfied and coming back for more.
Overcomplicated
Unnecessary additions to your page? Analyse the use of each element, the content and if it’s really required. Is the content too big or too small? The sizing and hierarchy of items should always be clear and easy to follow, or you risk confusing the user. These are the common design mistakes.
Not mobile responsive
Almost half (42%) of all internet traffic in Australia is accessed via mobile phone, and 97% of Australian internet users own a smartphone, so why not cater for them? Consider designing and building your websites with a mobile-first approach. All of your design considerations should start with mobile users in mind
Not accessible
We want people of all abilities to be able to access your content, even if they need assistive devices to do so. There are practical steps to take to make your site more accessible, for example allow variable text sizes and high contrast versions. Ensure your website meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG), or at least as close as possible. This not only improves accessibility for people with disabilities but also makes your site more user-friendly for everyone.