Collecting UI inspiration is a key part of the creative design process. It helps them stay current with design trends, find innovative solutions to common design challenges, and explore different aesthetics that could improve the user experience. Popular sources for UI inspiration include platforms like Dribbble, Behance, Awwwards, and Pinterest, where designers share and discover creative examples of interface design.

UXPin is the go-to platform for designers seeking UI inspiration that’s both creative and practical. With pre-built design systems and interactive, real-code components, UXPin lets you explore and prototype with production-ready elements. Test animations, user flows, and conditional logic to bring ideas to life, all within one seamless tool. Spark your creativity—try UXPin for free today.

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What is UI Inspiration?

UI inspiration refers to sources, ideas, and examples that designers use to spark creativity and inform the look and feel of user interfaces. It’s a way for designers to explore new layouts, color schemes, interactions, typography, and design patterns that can enhance usability and visual appeal. UI inspiration can come from websites, apps, design galleries, or even non-digital sources like art, nature, and architecture.

Why You Should Seek Inspiration as UI Designer

UI design is a blend of science and art: while one part of the process relies on principles like usability, structure, and function, the other part thrives on creativity, emotion, and visual storytelling.

Seeking UI inspiration is essential because it nurtures the artistic side of design, helping designers cultivate a unique, creative flair that resonates with users. By exploring various color palettes, typography choices, layout patterns, and interaction styles, designers can experiment with new visual directions that make their work stand out.

Inspiration serves as a catalyst for creativity, allowing designers to see how others have balanced function with aesthetics. This not only brings fresh ideas but also expands the designer’s toolkit, offering diverse ways to infuse emotion, energy, and personality into their designs.

Studying UI inspiration from different sources helps designers break out of rigid design patterns and develop a more refined, artistic eye. This approach leads to UI designs that are not only scientifically sound in terms of usability and accessibility but also compelling and memorable. In the end, seeking inspiration enriches a designer’s creative palette, allowing them to merge function with artistry, creating experiences that engage users on multiple levels.

How UXPin Helps Get UI Inspiration

UXPin helps designers gather UI inspiration by providing a platform that combines prototyping, real-code components, and a vast library of interactive elements to experiment with and draw ideas from. Here’s how UXPin supports UI inspiration:

1. Pre-built Design Systems and Component Libraries: UXPin offers access to libraries like Material Design and Bootstrap, enabling designers to explore established UI patterns and see how various components work together. This helps designers get inspired by standardized elements and speeds up the design process.
2. Merge with Real Code Components: With UXPin’s Merge technology, designers can pull in real, code-based components from existing design systems, enabling them to see how actual, functioning UI elements work within a prototype. By experimenting with these components, designers can find inspiration for how different UI patterns function in a realistic context.
3. Interactive Prototyping: UXPin’s interactive prototyping capabilities allow designers to test out UI ideas in real-time, including micro-interactions and complex animations. This hands-on experimentation with functionality and interactions provides a new layer of inspiration that goes beyond static visuals.
4. Collaboration with Design Systems: UXPin allows designers to create and reuse shared design systems. By centralizing UI components, designers can explore and get inspired by elements used across projects, ensuring consistency while also sparking new ideas for reusable patterns.
5. Inspiration from Accessible and Inclusive Design: With built-in accessibility features, UXPin helps designers get inspired to create a UI that’s visually appealing while also being usable by all audiences. Accessibility tools encourage design choices that are both functional and visually inspiring, balancing creativity with inclusivity.

Where to Get UI Inspiration From?

These brands and platforms serve as invaluable resources for UI designers, offering a blend of structured design thinking, fresh creative ideas, and exposure to current trends across different industries.

Other Designers’ Work and Design Thinking

Platforms like Dribbble, Behance, and Awwwards feature designs shared by other professionals. Here, designers showcase their work and often describe the design thinking and process behind it, giving insights into creative approaches and trends.

• Dribbble: A popular social platform for designers to share small snippets or “shots” of their work, such as UI elements, branding, and illustrations. It’s known for highly visual inspiration and creative experimentation.
• Behance: A portfolio platform by Adobe where designers, photographers, and creatives share full projects and case studies. It’s ideal for seeing detailed design workflows and cohesive project presentations.
• Awwwards: A website awards platform that recognizes outstanding web design from around the world. It’s a go-to resource for cutting-edge trends and examples of innovative design.

Networking Meetings for Designers

Design meetups, networking events, and online communities connect designers to share feedback, insights, and solutions to design challenges.

• Meetup: A global platform where designers can join local or virtual groups for networking, workshops, and collaborative sessions. It’s widely used for design meetups around UI/UX.
• ADPList (Amazing Design People List): A free mentorship platform where designers connect for one-on-one or group sessions, sharing feedback and insights on design projects and career development.

Conferences

Design conferences offer sessions and workshops led by experts, covering the latest tools, techniques, and trends in UI/UX design.

• UXDX: A conference focused on the entire product lifecycle, from UX and design to development, with sessions on UI trends, design systems, and user experience strategies.
• Smashing Conference: A hands-on conference by Smashing Magazine that dives deep into UX/UI design, front-end development, and accessibility.
• Adobe MAX: Adobe’s annual creative conference, featuring sessions on everything from design tools and UI trends to interactive design, branding, and illustration.

Looking for Inspiration Outside of Design

Observing the world beyond screens, such as nature, art, and architecture, reveals patterns, colors, and textures that inspire unique, non-digital elements for UI design.

• Architecture: Architectural design, with its emphasis on structure, space, and form, can inspire layouts and spatial relationships in UI.
• Fine Art and Museums: Museums and galleries, featuring classic and contemporary works, provide ideas for color schemes, contrast, and texture that enhance visual appeal.

Reading Fiction

Fictional narratives in books, poetry, and films inspire creativity and emotional depth, which can lead to more engaging, story-driven UI designs.

• Books: Novels and short stories can spark ideas for storytelling in user journeys, helping designers create emotionally engaging experiences.
• Films: Film visuals, narrative pacing, and cinematography offer inspiration for crafting user flows and immersive digital experiences.

Inspiration Websites and Galleries

Websites like Pinterest, Muzli, and SiteInspire offer curated design galleries showcasing UI and UX inspiration from across the web.

• Pinterest: A visual search engine where designers save and share inspiration boards, covering everything from color palettes to UI patterns.
• Muzli: A Chrome extension and website that curates the latest design trends and inspiring work, including UI, UX, branding, and illustration.
• SiteInspire: A showcase of well-designed websites, categorized by style, type, and industry, helping designers explore UI ideas for specific website themes or industries.

Unlock UI Inspiration with UXPin

UXPin is more than a prototyping tool—it’s a platform that fuels creativity and brings UI inspiration to life. With access to pre-built design systems like Material Design and Bootstrap, UXPin provides an inspiring foundation of components and patterns ready to use and customize. Designers can explore real, interactive code components with UXPin’s Merge technology, allowing them to prototype with production-ready elements that mimic the final product’s look and feel. This feature enables designers to experiment, innovate, and refine, breaking away from static design and diving into fully interactive ideas.

UXPin also brings together design and development in one place, creating a seamless flow where designers can try out ideas in real time without limits. Advanced prototyping features allow you to test animations, interactions, and conditional logic, providing endless inspiration for user flows and experiences. For designers looking to keep up with the latest in UI, UXPin’s design system integrations, accessible UI patterns, and collaborative tools offer a dynamic space to explore and implement cutting-edge ideas, making it a go-to platform for both creativity and functionality. Try UXPin for free today.

The post UI Inspiration – Where to Get it From? appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Designers use carousels to showcase multiple pieces of content in a compact, engaging way without overwhelming users. Carousels allow them to highlight key content—such as promotions, product images, or featured stories—while saving screen space. Read about carousels in UI design, when not to use them, and how to create them in UXPin.

UXPin makes it easy to create carousels that highlight products, promotions, or content in a sleek, space-saving format. Whether you’re using UXPin’s intuitive design tools, AI Component Creator, or powerful Merge capabilities, you can build fully customizable, responsive carousels that look and feel production-ready. Try UXPin for free.

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Design better products with States, Variables, Auto Layout and more.

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What is Carousel UI?

A carousel is an interactive component used to display multiple pieces of content within a single section, allowing users to navigate through images, text, or other media one at a time. Typically, carousels are horizontally scrolling panels that users can control by clicking navigation arrows or swiping (on mobile devices).

Key Features of a Carousel in UI

1. Multiple Slides: A carousel can contain several slides, each showcasing a different image, product, or message.
2. Navigation Controls: Carousels include left and right arrows or other controls that allow users to move back and forth between slides.
3. Auto-Rotation (Optional): Some carousels automatically advance to the next slide after a short delay, though this can sometimes be optional or user-controlled.
4. Pagination Indicators: Dots or other indicators often show the number of slides available, helping users understand their position within the carousel.

When to Use a Carousel?

Carousels are commonly seen on homepages, galleries, product showcases, and promotional sections to save screen space and visually highlight important content.

Instead of stacking multiple images or promotions vertically, carousels allow users to view content in a controlled, engaging way without overwhelming the screen. They’re especially useful for:

• Showcasing Products: In e-commerce, carousels display multiple product images or related products.
• Highlighting Features or Promotions: Carousels often spotlight key promotions or updates on homepages.
• Creating Visual Flow: Carousels guide users through content sequentially, which can help with storytelling or leading users to the next action step.

While carousels can add visual appeal and functionality, they need to be designed thoughtfully to ensure they enhance the user experience rather than distracting from it.

What to Use Instead of a Carousel?

While carousels look appealing, they often create usability issues and may not be the best choice for achieving your design goals.

Here’s why and what to use instead:

Why Avoid Carousels?

1. Low User Engagement: Studies show that most users don’t interact with carousels as much as designers expect. Often, they view only the first slide and ignore the rest. This means important information on later slides may go unseen.
2. Distractions and Cognitive Load: Auto-rotating carousels, in particular, can be distracting. They shift content automatically, which can interrupt users and make it harder to focus on the information.
3. Slower Decision-Making: Carousels hide content until the user actively clicks or waits for the next slide. This can make it harder for users to quickly scan available options and make a choice, slowing down decision-making.
4. Accessibility Issues: Carousels can be challenging for users with disabilities, especially those who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation. Poorly implemented carousels might make navigation frustrating or impossible for these users.

What to Pick Instead?

1. Grid or Card Layout – With a grid, users can quickly scan through options without needing to click or wait for slides to change. This format is great for showcasing multiple products, articles, or visual content.
2. Tabs – They are ideal for categorizing content when you have a few distinct options. They provide an instant way for users to switch between sections without extra animations or waiting times.
3. Lists– Lists allow users to control the pace of browsing, which feels more natural and keeps information accessible. It’s especially useful for mobile designs where scrolling is second nature.
4. Accordions – Accordions are perfect for structuring content-heavy pages, like FAQs or product specs, without overwhelming the user. Unlike carousels, they allow users to navigate to specific sections without waiting.
5. Content Block with Supporting Links – This is an ideal solution when you want to spotlight one piece of content but still make additional options available without hiding them behind a carousel. It’s often used for news articles or promotional sections.

How to Create Carousel UI in UXPin

Creating a carousel UI in UXPin is a great way to display multiple items or images in a single interactive component. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a basic carousel:

• With UXPin
• With AI Component Creator
• With UXPin Merge

Method 1: Using UXPin

This setup creates a basic, interactive carousel in UXPin, allowing you to showcase multiple slides in an engaging way. With UXPin’s advanced prototyping features, you can further customize each slide with animations, clickable elements, and interactions.

Step 1: Set Up Your Carousel Container

1. Create a Container: Start by creating a rectangle (or any shape you prefer) to act as the container for your carousel. This container will hold your images or content slides.
2. Set Size: Adjust the container size to fit the area where you want the carousel to appear.

Step 2: Add Carousel Content

1. Add Images or Content Blocks: Inside the container, place images or content blocks (text, icons, buttons) you want to showcase in the carousel. Position them side-by-side in a horizontal line.
2. Group Content: If each slide has multiple elements (e.g., image and text), group them so each slide remains cohesive.

Step 3: Create States for Each Slide

1. Add States: With the container selected, go to the Properties Panel and select Add State. This feature allows you to create multiple versions of the container, where each state represents a different slide.
2. Duplicate and Adjust: For each new state, adjust the content so that only one slide is fully visible within the container. For example, in State 1, only the first image is centered and visible, while in State 2, the second image is centered, and so on.

Step 4: Add Navigation Controls

1. Create Navigation Buttons: Add left and right arrows (or other navigation icons) outside the container to allow users to navigate between slides.
2. Set Up Interactions:
   • Select the right arrow, then go to Interactions in the properties panel.
   • Choose On Click as the trigger, and select Set State as the action.
   • Link the right arrow to advance the container to the next state (i.e., State 2 → State 3).
   • Repeat this process for the left arrow to go back to previous states.

Step 5: Add Auto-Transition (Optional)

1. Auto-Transition: To make the carousel auto-slide, add a Timer interaction on the container itself.
2. Set Time: Define the time delay (e.g., 3 seconds) and link it to trigger the next state automatically. You can also set it to loop back to the first state when the last slide has displayed.

Step 6: Preview and Test

1. Preview: Click Preview to test your carousel and ensure each interaction works smoothly.
2. Adjust as Needed: If the timing or transitions feel too fast or slow, adjust the time in your interactions for the desired effect.

Method 2: Using AI Component Creator

The AI Component Creator in UXPin lets you generate basic components with functionality quickly using ChatGPT. The AI Component Creator is a quick way to prototype, but for more complex or tailored functionality, consider using UXPin Merge. Here’s how to create a carousel:

1. Open AI Component Creator:
   • In UXPin, open the AI Component Creator and enter a prompt that describes your carousel. For example, “Create a responsive image carousel with left and right navigation arrows that cycles through images automatically.”
2. Define Carousel Specifications:
   • When prompted, specify details like the number of slides, timing for auto-transition, and whether you want looping or manual navigation only.
3. Customize Generated Component:
   • The AI Component Creator will generate a carousel component with the specified features.
   • Customize the component’s styles, size, and transition speed as needed by adjusting the component’s properties in the Properties Panel.
4. Preview and Test:
   • Once generated, preview the carousel in UXPin’s Preview Mode. Test the navigation buttons and ensure the auto-transition and looping work as expected.

Method 2: Using UXPin Merge

Using UXPin Merge allows you to work with real code, making it the perfect choice for enterprise teams who need pixel-perfect, production-ready components. It also offers the flexibility to adapt the carousel as your design needs evolve, ensuring consistency between design and development.

With UXPin Merge, you can import ready-made React components (or create new ones) and customize them to behave as a carousel. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare or Import a Carousel Component

• Option 1: If you already have a React carousel component, import it into UXPin using Merge. The component should include all necessary props for images, auto-transition, looping, and navigation.
• Option 2: Use a popular React component library like Material-UI or Swiper.js, which includes pre-built carousels. Customize the component in your code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code) as needed.

Step 2: Configure Props for Customization

• Once imported, configure the carousel’s props in UXPin Merge to control options like:
  • Image Array: Add a prop to let you easily swap out the carousel images.
  • Auto-Transition: Enable a prop for timing (e.g., 3-second delay).
  • Looping: Set a boolean prop to turn looping on or off.
  • Navigation Controls: Customize left and right arrows or pagination dots.

Step 3: Add Carousel to Your UXPin Project

• In UXPin, drag the imported carousel component from the Merge Library to your canvas.
• Adjust the component size, styling, and layout within UXPin as needed. Since it’s a coded component, the design will match your production-ready UI exactly.

Step 4: Preview and Test in Real Time

• Go to Preview Mode in UXPin to test the carousel’s behavior.
• Verify that the navigation arrows, looping, and timing function as intended. Make any final tweaks in your React code if needed for more precise control.

Best Practices for Creating Carousel

By following these best practices, you can create a carousel that not only looks appealing but also delivers a smooth, engaging, and accessible experience for all users:

1. Use auto-rotation sparingly – While auto-rotation can attract attention, it can also be frustrating if slides change too quickly. Apply a delay of at least 3-5 seconds per slide. Provide users the option to pause or manually navigate if desired.
2. Include strong Calls-to-Action – CTAs guide users to take the next step, whether it’s exploring more content or making a purchase. A clear CTA on each slide ensures the carousel is purposeful and engaging.
3. Optimize for responsiveness – Mobile users often have less patience for interactive elements that are difficult to use. Responsive design ensures the carousel is usable on both desktop and mobile devices.
4. Test the carousel’s usability – Run usability tests to see how users interact with the carousel and gather feedback on navigation and content. It’s an essential step for validating design effectiveness.
5. Use clear navigation controls – Include visible left and right arrows for manual navigation, and consider adding pagination dots or a progress indicator.
6. Make the carousel accessible – Ensure slides are keyboard-navigable and compatible with screen readers. Add descriptive alt text for images and consider using HTML <button> elements for navigation.

Create Carousel and Other Interactive Elements in UXPin

A carousel is a dynamic UI component used to showcase multiple pieces of content—like images or text—in a limited space. With UXPin, creating an interactive carousel is easier than ever, whether you’re highlighting products, features, or stories. UXPin offers flexibility for building and testing carousels through its standard editor, AI Component Creator, or UXPin Merge, allowing designers to experiment with advanced prototypes that feel like real products. Try UXPin for free.

The post Carousel UI – What is a Carousel in Web Design? appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

There are many important UX design principles organizations must consider when building products. These UX principles complement the design thinking process, placing the user at the center of all decision-making.

This article looks at 16 UX design principles organizations can use to build better products. 

UXPin’s advanced prototyping and testing features allow design teams to minimize usability issues to create better user experiences. Sign up for a 14-day free trial today!

Focus on the User

While it might seem obvious to focus on the user, many designers still make decisions based on personal preference or bias rather than fully understanding their users.

Designers also get sidetracked with design and technical innovation that doesn’t always solve users’ problems or add significant value to the product.

The best design decisions come from understanding your users and fulfilling their needs. Why?—because you’re designing products for people!

Many experienced UX professionals believe focusing on users rather than humans creates a disconnect where designers forget they’re dealing with human beings.

Reframing the term to human-centered design helps UX teams shift from solving design and technical issues to helping people.

Building a framework based on design thinking principles will always keep the user front and center:

1. Empathy—know your humans (end users)
2. Define the problem
3. Generate ideas
4. Prototype
5. Test and iterate

You can read more about human-centered design here.

Be Consistent

Design consistency is a vital ingredient to providing a good user experience. An inconsistent user experience means people will have trouble using parts of a product or might have to relearn how to use it with every feature release or update!

A designer’s goal is to build a product that fulfills users’ needs without worrying about inconsistencies, ultimately building trust and loyal customers.

Creating a design system can help develop consistency, so designers, product teams, and developers always use the same elements, typography, colors, components, assets, etc.

Don’t have a design system? Check out our 7-step process for building a design system from scratch.

Easy to Digest

Create content and experiences that users can easily digest. Designers must recognize that people will always look for the easiest route. If you don’t provide something easy to use in this highly competitive tech landscape, someone else will!

If your product requires onboarding, ensure your documentation is easy to understand with step-by-step instructions.

The UXPin documentation is a perfect example. Firstly, we categorize instructions, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Next, we organize content with subheadings, step-by-step instructions, and explainer videos, making the information easy to follow and digest.

Don’t Make Users Think

Information architect and user experience professional Steve Krug states in his book, Don’t Make Me Think, “As a user, I should never have to devote a millisecond of thought to whether things are clickable or not.”

UX designers must follow design standards for product, app, and web design. For example, don’t hide navigation where users wouldn’t expect to find it. Make sure buttons, CTAs, and links are obvious to find and take users to their intended destination.

Creativity and innovation come from solving problems competitors haven’t thought of, not creating experiences where users have to relearn fundamental standards and processes.

How human psychology and cognitive load relate to UX design is something every designer must learn. Optimizing product design to minimize cognitive load will foster better user experiences and trust in the brand.

Understand Visual Grammar

First defined by the Bauhaus school in the early 1900s, the building blocks of all design comprise of three core elements: points, lines, and planes.

The best UX designers understand how to use these three elements to minimize design complexity, making products easier to navigate thus creating better user experiences.

If you feel your designs are getting too complex and complicated, return to the basics and figure out how to create the same user experience using simple design elements.

Identify the Problem First

Identifying problems comes from thorough UX research and testing—not designer intuition. 

UX researchers should keep asking why a problem exists to understand the root cause and find the right solution. Testing and iterating prototypes play a crucial role in helping to identify and solve problems.

If you don’t have proper prototyping and testing tools, you might get inaccurate results or even create problems that don’t exist!

UXPin is the world’s most advanced prototyping and testing tool. Designers can use a design system to build high-fidelity prototypes for testing quickly. Share prototypes straight from UXPin to identify problems through testing, make changes, and iterate! 

Sign up for a 14-day free trial to discover how UXPin can identify and solve user problems better than any other design tool.

Simple Language Is Best

Language should be as simple as possible, and designers should avoid using jargon or insider terms that people won’t understand. Alienating people through complicated language is a quick way to lose customers!

Readability can have a significant impact on cognitive load, even for highly educated users. It goes back to point four, Don’t Make Users Think. 

According to the widely-used writing aid Grammarly, you should use eighth-grade language (13 years old in the United States) for written content.

Have Empathy for Your Audience

Empathy is the heart of human-centered design—taking designers beyond understanding to connect with users on a deeper level. Designers use empathy so they can relate with users, their struggles, and their environment.

An empathy map is a UX research tool that helps designers empathize by identifying what users:

• See
• Hear
• Think
• Feel

Teams use empathy maps during initial research and usability testing to identify different feelings and emotions. Understanding users on a deeper level can help identify problems they might not express or verbalize.

Provide Feedback

Use microinteractions and animations to communicate with your users to provide feedback and context for their actions.

For example, if your product needs time to process an action, use a throbber or loading icon to let the users know to wait. Ensure error messages help users correct the problem, like highlighting missed required form inputs.

Use consistent feedback that aligns with brand messaging to ensure you always provide a positive user experience.

Don’t Forget the Business Value

Designers must satisfy two entities, users and the brand. While focusing on users is vital to building a successful product, designers must also ensure designs create business value.

Business value and human-centered design often overlap. For example, a smoother, faster eCommerce checkout experience will improve the user experience (user-centered) while increasing conversion rates (business value).

Whenever you’re trying to solve user problems, always look for opportunities to create business value simultaneously.

Ewelina Łuszczek from the Polish-based agency, HERODOT, summarizes a designer’s obligation to business value in one concise sentence, “A great UX designer will manage to link user goals with business goals so that both users and the company reap benefits.”

Here are four great examples from a 2014 INFRAGISTICS study, The Business Value of User Experience:

Bank of America

• Designer action: user-center redesign of the registration process
• Result: registration up 45%

Anthropologie (clothing company) 

• Designer action: UX redesign of the checkout process
• Result: sales up 24%

GFK (consulting firm)

• Designer action: buy button redesign
• Result: sales up $500 million

United Airlines 

• Designer action: user research
• Result: online ticketing up 200%

You can read INFRAGISTICS’ complete 12-page study for more information about creating business value through UX design here.

User testing

Like point six, Identify the Problem First, user testing is crucial for designers to understand real user issues rather than making educated guesses.

Usability testing provides UX teams with valuable feedback and user insights, including:

• Validating design concepts to solve users’ problems
• Exposing usability problems to fix
• Discovering opportunities for improvement
• Learn more about the users
• Identifying business value opportunities

Teams should test from conceptualization to final design handoff—constantly looking for problems to solve and validating their solutions.

Learn more about testing in this article: What is Usability Testing and How to Run It.

Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy helps organize a product or screen layout so users can identify important elements and quickly scan to find what they need.

Designers create visual hierarchy by using distinct variations in color, contrast, scale, and grouping.

An excellent example of visual hierarchy is how writers use header tags to structure and organize content in an article—as we’ve done with this blog post!

Check out this informative article from the Nielsen Norman Group, Visual Hierarchy in UX: Definition.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important design consideration to make products inclusive for users with impairments or disabilities. Accessibility should also consider who Google calls the “Next Billion Users” (people using technology for the first time).

Some key accessibility considerations include:

• Ensuring screen readers can interpret content and instructions
• Ensuring colors and contrast don’t impair readability
• Using a combination of icons and text so that all users understand links and navigation
• Using legible fonts and text sizes

UX designers often forget about these considerations because design tools don’t provide accessibility checker functionality. 

At UXPin, “We believe no one should feel excluded from digital experiences because of their visual disabilities.” So, we built Accessibility Features into our design editor.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial and start building more inclusive products with UXPin!

Give the User Control

Where possible, always make it easy for users to change their minds or edit the information they submit. For example, providing a back button on every screen in a checkout flow gives the user control to fix errors or make changes.

Never force people to commit to a decision they’ve made, and always ensure your product does not mislead users—whether it’s intentional or not.

Many organizations intentionally make it difficult for users to cancel a subscription by hiding the option in settings or making them contact support (where they usually try to offer incentives to continue the subscription).

Limiting the controls users have to change their minds or edit information creates distrust in the brand and pushes customers to find other solutions.

Design Handoff

Although it’s an internal process, a poor design handoff can adversely affect users by causing unnecessary delays or introducing technical errors. 

UX teams, product designers, and developers must work together to develop processes and protocols, so design handoffs run smoothly with minimal errors.

UXPin Merge can help bridge the gap between design and development. Firstly, Merge allows designers to sync components with a repository (via Git or Storybook integrations) so design teams can build fully functioning high-fidelity prototypes—improving testing and reducing usability issues.

Secondly, UXPin’s Spec Mode facilitates an easy handoff process where developers can get detailed information about designs.

• Inspect properties: grab CSS for elements and components, including sizing, grids, colors, and typography
• Distance measurement: hover over elements for the distance between elements and the canvas edge
• Style guide: a summary of the product’s design system with the option to download assets when applicable

Explore the power of UXPin Merge and how to connect your preferred technology, either through our Git integration for React or Storybook for other popular front-end libraries.

Reevaluate and Revise

One of the beautiful things about UX design is that it’s constantly evolving, allowing organizations to improve products and user experiences continuously.

Once you launch a new product or release, the work of analyzing data and reviewing designs begins. 

• How does the product perform when thousands or millions of people use it? 
• Do users use the product as intended?
• Do users take shortcuts that you can use to improve their experience?
• What do heat maps tell you about user behavior?
• Where do users drop off on signups or checkouts?

When analyzing a product’s performance, teams should always look for ways to improve the user experience while exploring avenues to increase business value.

Summary

Hopefully, you can use these 16 UX design principles to improve workflows and create better product experiences for your users. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so we recommend you always look for ways to improve your processes.

UXPin is a collaborative design tool that can help foster healthy UX design principles for your company. It’s the only design tool that successfully bridges the gap between designers, product teams, and developers to improve every aspect of the UX design process.

Get started with a 14-day free trial to explore a new world of design with UXPin!

The post UX Design Principles for 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

A CRUD app is an application that performs the basic operations of Create, Read, Update, and Delete on data. That’s why it’s abbreviated into CRUD. The four operations represent the fundamental actions that can be performed on most database management systems and are essential for managing data within an application.

CRUD operations are most commonly used in cases where there is a need to manage and manipulate data. Its use spans across various industries, such as task management tools, booking and reservations systems, CMS platforms, and more.

Build an interactive prototype of admin panels, internal tools or any other user interface without a designer. Drag and drop pre-built components on the canvas and create beautiful interfaces that are ready for development. Discover UXPin Merge.

Design UI with code-backed components.

Use the same components in design as in development. Keep UI consistency at scale.

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What is a CRUD app?

A CRUD application is a foundational software app designed to perform fundamental operations on data that form the basis of data management in various platforms, providing end users with the ability to interact, organize, and maintain data efficiently.

The acronym CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update and Delete — four actions that represents the core operations performed on data. In the acronym, “Create” involves adding new data, “Read” focuses on retrieving and displaying existing data, “Update” allows for modifying existing data, and “Delete” provides the capability to remove unwanted or obsolete data.

From content management systems to e-commerce websites, CRUD apps empower end users to interact, organize, and maintain data efficiently, forming the backbone of dynamic and responsive user experiences.

In essence, a CRUD app is the engine driving data interactions, enabling users to systematically and intuitively create, retrieve, update, and delete information. Understanding these fundamental operations is key to grasping the essence of data management in the digital realm.

What are 4 CRUD operations?

Here’s a breakdown of each CRUD operation:

1. Create Operation: Adding new data or records to the system. In a CRUD app, this could be, for example, creating a new user account, adding a new product to an inventory, or creating a new post in a blogging platform.
2. Read Operation: Reading or retrieving data from the database is the second operation. This includes fetching and displaying information. In a CRUD app, reading may involve displaying a list of all user accounts, showing details of a specific product or presenting a feed of posts.
3. Update Operation: Modifying existing data in the system to keep it current. This could include editing user information, changing the details of a product, or updating the content of a post.
4. Delete Operation: Removing unwanted or obsolete data from the system. This could be deleting a user account, removing a product from inventory, or deleting a post.

Breaking CRUD operations into distinct categories enhances front-end and back-end development practices by promoting clarity, modularity, reusability, and maintainability. It aligns with best practices in software engineering and contributes to the overall efficiency and robustness of a software application.

Each operation has a clear and specific purpose, making it easier for fullstack developers and stakeholders to comprehend the system’s functionality. They all can be implemented independently, allowing for easier maintenance, updates, and scalability.

What’s more, developers can create standardized functions or components for each CRUD operation, making it possible to reuse these elements across different parts of the application or in future projects.

Breaking CRUD into discrete operations also makes sense from the end user’s perspective. It allows for granular control over user permissions. Different roles or users can be granted or restricted access to specific CRUD functionalities based on their responsibilities and requirements.

Plus, CRUD operations help users easily grasp the distinct actions they can perform—create, read, update, or delete. It contributes to creating more user-friendly applications with clear and intuitive interfaces.

Breaking Down the CRUD Functions in Design

Based on the article by Tanya Anokhina, here are CRUD functions explanations for designers:

1. Create: This involves designing ways for users to add new content. Think of “+” buttons or “New” prompts that lead users into a smooth content-creation experience. Entry points should be easy to spot and accessible, and actions like autosave can prevent accidental data loss.
2. Read: Design readable displays of user-generated content, like lists or grids, with helpful previews or thumbnails. Users should be able to easily navigate, sort, or filter content to quickly find what they need.
3. Update: Updating or editing content should feel natural. Inline editing, undo functions, and clear “Save” and “Cancel” options protect users from making accidental changes. Consider modal dialogs for focused editing, especially for content that’s crucial or complex.
4. Delete: Since user-generated content is often valuable, design deletion workflows that help users avoid mistakes. Use “Recently Deleted” sections, confirmation prompts, or undo options to allow recovery of deleted data.

What are examples of CRUD apps?

Here are some common examples of CRUD applications that most of us heard about.

WordPress

• Type of application: Content Management System
• CRUD Operations:
  • Create: Authors can create new blog posts, pages, and media content.
  • Read: Users can read published content on the website.
  • Update: Authors can edit and update existing posts and pages.
  • Delete: Unwanted or outdated content can be deleted.

Salesforce

• Type of application: CRM System
• CRUD Operations:
  • Create: Sales representatives can create new customer records.
  • Read: Users can view customer profiles and interactions.
  • Update: Sales teams can update customer details based on new information.
  • Delete: Remove records for customers who are no longer relevant.

Shopify

• Type of application: eCommerce platform
• CRUD Operations:
  • Create: Merchants can add new products to the inventory.
  • Read: Shoppers can view product listings.
  • Update: Merchants can update product details, prices, and availability.
  • Delete: Remove products that are discontinued or out of stock.

Facebook

• Type of application: Social Media Platform
• CRUD Operations:
  • Create: Users can create new posts, upload photos, and add comments.
  • Read: Users can view posts, photos, and comments from their friends.
  • Update: Users can edit or update their own posts and profile information.
  • Delete: Remove posts, comments, or even the entire account.

Trello

• Type of application: Task Management Application
• CRUD Operations:
  • Create: Users can create new tasks, boards, and cards.
  • Read: Team members can view tasks, boards, and project progress.
  • Update: Users can edit and update task details, due dates, and assignments.
  • Delete: Tasks that are completed or no longer relevant can be archived or deleted.

What are the equivalents to CRUD operations?

In the world of web development, equivalents to CRUD exist with slight variations in function names and operations. For instance, SQL, a widely-used language for interacting with databases, refers to these functions as Insert, Select, Update, and Delete.

In NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, and CouchDB), however, the expressions corresponding to CRUD operations are based on the specific database and its query language. For example, in MongoDB, you have insertOne, find, updateOne, and deleteOne.

Cassandra uses CQL (Cassandra Query Language) with INSERT INTO, SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE FROM. CouchDB employs HTTP methods like POST, GET, PUT, and DELETE.

While the specific names and syntax may vary across different databases and programming languages, the basic CRUD actions performed—creating, reading, updating, and deleting data—are essentially equivalent or analogous.

What are the steps of building CRUD apps?

Here is an overview of developing a crud app. The process involves prototyping phase – a very important step. Why is that? Prototyping ensures that the app will be a user-centric, reliable, and scalable solution that stands the test of time.

Gather requirements

Before you will build a Crud app, sit down with your team and decide what your app needs to do, outlining the specific information you intend to handle through each CRUD operation. This initial step lays the foundation for a robust and efficient application that seamlessly manages data interactions.

The easiest way of gathering requirements is design thinking workshop, a structured meeting during which you discuss what needs to be built and how, imagining user journeys and user requirements, as well as technical constraints and business objectives. In design thinking, user, business, and technical requirements are translated into desirability, feasibility, and viability.

Learn about design thinking workshops here.

Design a Prototype of a Crud App

An aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly interface is the face of any successful CRUD app. Leverage UXPin Merge to build prototypes that function like an end-product. Craft screens that cater to each CRUD operation—creation, reading, updating, and deleting data.

Why would you start with a design? The design-centric approach ensures that you can test the design before committing resources to building it. It allows you to check if what you want to design is intuitive to the end-users. What’s more, it helps you make sure you’re creating an app that you actually need. Lastly, it ensures that your design is feasible as UXPin Merge is a design tool for designing with real React components that will be building blocks of your app.

Set Up Database

Are you happy with your design? Great! The next step is installing and configuring a database based on your data model. Let’s say you picked MongoDB. It’s high time to install and configure it

Build API endpoints and Connect them with UI

Develop dedicated routes and controllers to facilitate smooth communication between the user interface and the database. Embed proper validation and error-handling mechanisms, ensuring the reliability and security of your app as it processes data through each CRUD functions.

Then, build a front-end based on your design and connect the interface with API endpoints.

Test your Crud app

Validate each CRUD operation extensively to ensure they function as anticipated. This testing phase also encompasses ensuring data integrity and addressing potential edge cases. Rigorous testing guarantees that your app is not only user-friendly but also robust, resilient, and capable of handling various scenarios.

Deploy the app

The final step in the journey of crafting a CRUD app is its deployment. Make your app accessible to the public by deploying it to a server or a cloud platform. This ensures that users worldwide can benefit from the functionality you’ve meticulously designed. Deployment is the culmination of your efforts, transforming the app from a local development environment into a valuable asset in the digital realm.

How tools like AI Component Creator streamline CRUD UI creation?

Tools like UXPin’s AI Component Creator can streamline CRUD app design by automating repetitive UI elements, such as buttons, forms, and modals, for creating, updating, and deleting data. This automation enhances prototyping speed, allowing designers to focus on user experience rather than manual component setup.

Additionally, the AI ensures that all CRUD components adhere to design system standards, maintaining visual consistency across the app. For designers, this means faster, more cohesive CRUD interfaces that are ready for real-world testing and deployment.

Build an interface of a CRUD app with UXPin Merge

Time to build your own CRUD app. Start by planning its interface. Use UXPin Merge to quickly assemble an interactive, fully functional prototype of a Crud app that you can test and show to other team members. Try a design tool that’s made with developers in mind. Discover UXPin Merge.

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UI grid systems are essential for responsive design, ensuring layouts adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and resolutions. Designers use grid systems to create fluid layouts that maintain consistency and visual hierarchy, providing an optimal user experience across multiple devices such as desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.

Designers can create three UI grid types, including column, baseline, and square, in UXPin with a click of a button. Sign up for a free trial to explore UXPin’s advanced UX design features.

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What is a UI Grid?

A UI grid is a foundational layout structure in design that organizes content into rows and columns, providing a systematic framework for arranging UI elements on a page or screen.

UI grids establish a consistent and harmonious visual order, making navigating and comprehending content easier. By implementing a grid system, designers can create a cohesive and balanced layout that enhances the user experience while ensuring adaptability and flexibility across various devices and screen sizes.

Types of UI Grids

Manuscript grid

A manuscript grid (single-column grid) is the simplest grid type, consisting of a single column that spans the entire width of a layout. Designers primarily use manuscript grids for long-form textual content, such as blog posts or articles, where readability is a priority.

For example, an online newspaper might use a manuscript grid to display its articles in an easy-to-read format.

Column grid

A column grid divides the layout into multiple vertical columns, providing a flexible structure for organizing content. Designers often use column grids for complex layouts, like web pages or app interfaces.

For example, most websites use a column grid system with a 12-column grid for desktop, down to 2-4 column grids for smaller aspect ratios.

Modular grid

A modular grid is a versatile structure that divides the layout into rows and columns, creating a matrix of equally sized modules. Designers use modular grids for organizing content that requires a high level of consistency and uniformity, such as image galleries, product listings, or card-based UIs.

An example of using a modular grid is an eCommerce site that displays products in a consistent grid format, making it easy for users to browse and compare items.

Hierarchical grid

A hierarchical grid is a flexible structure that allows for varying alignments and organization based on the visual hierarchy of the content. This grid type is especially useful when working with content that has varying levels of importance or complexity.

An example of a hierarchical grid is a portfolio website, where designers can emphasize particular projects or elements by varying the size and positioning of the content within the grid.

Baseline grid

A baseline grid is a horizontal grid structure that ensures consistent vertical alignment of text and other elements across a layout. Designers use baseline grids in typography-heavy designs to maintain readability and visual harmony.

An example of when to use a baseline grid is on a content-rich website or digital publication, where maintaining consistent text alignment across different sections and pages is essential for a professional appearance and improved user experience.

Square grid

A square grid (grid of squares or a checkerboard grid) is a modular grid consisting of evenly spaced, equal-sized square modules. Designers use square grids to create a visually balanced layout, particularly with square-shaped content like images or icons.

An example of applying a square grid is in a portfolio website, where project thumbnails are arranged in a uniform grid layout, creating a visually appealing presentation and making it easy for users to browse and explore the showcased work.

Understanding Fluid Grids

Fluid grids are a modern UI design approach that facilitates flexible, responsive layouts that automatically adjust to various screen sizes and devices. Front-end devs achieve this fluidity using relative units like percentages instead of fixed units like pixels.

Fluid grids create a dynamic layout that resizes and adapts to the user’s viewport, ensuring an optimal experience across different devices and orientations. Developers implement fluid grids using CSS and breakpoints, which define specific viewport widths at which the layout should adjust or reflow.

Anatomy of a UI Grid

• Columns: Vertical divisions of the grid, providing a structure for organizing content within the layout. They help create balance, hierarchy, and consistency across different sections of a design.
• Gutters (alleys): The space between columns providing breathing room and separation for content within the grid. Gutters help improve readability and create a sense of order within the layout.
• Margins: The space around the outer edges of the grid separating the design elements from the edge of the canvas or screen. Margins help frame the content and maintain consistency across various screen sizes and devices.
• Rows: Horizontal divisions within the grid, often used in conjunction with columns to create a complete grid structure. Rows help establish the vertical flow of content and maintain consistent spacing between elements.
• Modules: Individual units formed by the intersection of rows and columns in a modular grid. Modules provide a flexible and adaptable framework for organizing various types of content, such as text, images, and other design elements.

Advantages of Using a Grid System

• Consistency: UI grids promote uniformity across different sections and pages of a design, resulting in a cohesive, polished appearance that reinforces brand identity and enhances user experience.
• Visual hierarchy: Grid systems help designers establish a clear hierarchy of content by guiding the placement and sizing of design elements, making it easier for users to comprehend and navigate the information presented.
• Scalability and adaptability: Grids enable designs to easily adapt to various screen sizes and devices, ensuring a consistent and responsive user experience across multiple platforms.
• Improved readability: Grid systems enhance readability and make it easier for users to scan by providing structured alignment and spacing for content, making it easier to digest.
• Facilitates collaboration: A shared grid framework simplifies the design process for teams, allowing multiple designers to work together cohesively and maintain consistency across different aspects of a project.

How to Create and Use UI Grids

Determine the purpose and content structure

Begin by defining the purpose of your design and the content structure you’ll be working with. This step allows you to understand the layout requirements and helps inform the type of grid and the number of columns (or rows) that will be most effective for organizing and presenting the content.

Choose the appropriate grid type

Select the grid type that best suits your design needs based on the purpose and content structure. Consider complexity, layout flexibility, and hierarchy when choosing the grid type.

Establish margins and gutters

Define the margins and gutters to provide consistent spacing between elements and maintain a balanced layout. Margins give space around the layout’s edges, while gutters ensure consistent separation between columns and rows. Properly established margins and gutters contribute to a clean and organized appearance.

Define column and row sizes

Determine the size of columns and rows based on the content you plan to display and your desired flexibility. Consistent column and row sizes help maintain a uniform aesthetic.

Align elements and text

Align design elements and text within the grid structure, following the established columns, rows, margins, and gutters. Proper alignment ensures a cohesive appearance and enhances readability by creating a clear visual hierarchy.

Break the grid for emphasis and variety

While adhering to the grid is essential for consistency, occasionally breaking the grid can add emphasis and visual interest to your design. Breaking the grid for specific elements or sections can draw attention to critical content or create a dynamic, engaging user experience.

Best Practices for Using Grids in Design

• Keep it simple and consistent: Use a column grid to create a clean, organized layout for a blog, ensuring uniform text and image alignment across all pages.
• Make it flexible and adaptable: For example, design a responsive website using a modular grid, allowing for smooth adaptation across various screen sizes and devices while maintaining a cohesive visual experience.
• Use whitespace effectively: In a portfolio website, use generous margins and gutters to create ample whitespace around each project, allowing the user to focus on individual pieces without distraction.
• Maintain visual balance: For an online magazine, balance text and images within a hierarchical grid, ensuring that the visual weight is distributed evenly across the layout for a balanced aesthetic.
• Break the grid deliberately and purposefully: For example, on a landing page for a new product, break the grid by placing a large, eye-catching image or call-to-action element outside the grid boundaries to emphasize something fresh and different.

What are Grid Systems in UI Design?

Imagine you’re a city planner tasked with designing a brand-new city from scratch. To create a sense of order and flow, you start by drawing a series of streets, blocks, and intersections. You place important buildings on main streets and smaller structures in quieter areas. This grid structure is the backbone of the city, helping people navigate intuitively, while giving you a solid framework to place every building with purpose. In UI design, the grid system serves the same purpose: it organizes elements, guides visual flow, and makes the interface easy to navigate.

Let’s break it down into why a grid system is crucial, much like that city grid.

Laying the Foundation: Structure and Alignment

Just as city streets create a clear structure, a grid system in UI design provides the foundation for consistency and alignment. Imagine trying to navigate a city where buildings and roads are randomly placed without any structure. It would be chaotic, right? Grids help avoid this by using columns, rows, and spacing to organize content and elements. This creates a harmonious, structured look that feels balanced and intuitive.

Grids are often based on columns (like a 12-column grid), which helps divide the screen into manageable sections. Each column, gutter, and margin serves a specific purpose, ensuring that elements align properly across various screen sizes and resolutions.

A Map for the Eye: Visual Hierarchy and Flow

When a user lands on a screen, their eyes follow a specific path, just as pedestrians follow roads and intersections. Grids help guide the eye, emphasizing important areas (headlines, call-to-action buttons) and minimizing distractions. A well-structured grid sets up a visual hierarchy, so users can naturally understand where to start and where to go next.

For example, placing a headline across multiple columns at the top of the grid draws attention immediately, while smaller elements like icons or supporting text fit neatly into narrower columns. This creates an easy-to-follow journey across the screen, making users feel like they know exactly where to look.

Flexibility and Responsiveness: Adapting to Any “Screen Size”

Imagine that your city grid is flexible enough to expand or contract based on how many people visit the city at any given time. In UI design, grids help create responsive designs that adapt to various screen sizes, ensuring that content remains organized and accessible on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. By defining flexible columns and breakpoints, you can rearrange elements within the grid without sacrificing alignment or clarity, keeping the user experience consistent across devices.

Precision and Consistency: A Cohesive Look and Feel

Just as a city grid ensures consistent block sizes, a UI grid system brings precision to the placement of every button, image, and text field. This helps establish a cohesive design language across the entire application or website. When elements snap into a grid, designers avoid minor misalignments that can make the UI feel sloppy or cluttered.

This precision also creates a professional look that builds trust with users. People may not consciously notice every alignment, but subconsciously they feel the difference when a layout is meticulously structured.

Freedom within Structure

Some designers may worry that a grid limits creativity, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. Just as city planners add parks, unique buildings, and open spaces within a structured grid, designers can create dynamic, visually engaging layouts within the grid framework. The grid becomes a tool that supports creativity by giving elements a place to land. You can break the grid for emphasis or play with column spans to highlight key features—all while maintaining balance and structure.

In Summary

A grid system in UI design is the structural foundation that organizes, aligns, and guides every visual element on the screen. It’s like a city grid, ensuring that all components work together harmoniously to create a seamless, navigable experience for users. This structure not only enhances usability but also provides designers with a framework that supports creativity, allowing for flexibility and consistency across different screen sizes.

Using grids, we create digital spaces that are organized, intuitive, and beautiful—just like a well-planned city that users will enjoy exploring and navigating.

How to Create UI Grid System in UXPin

UXPin offers three types of UI grid systems:

• Column grid
• Baseline grid
• Square grid

We also have a Smart Grid that lets you quickly arrange and adjust the spacing between elements in grid layouts.

Once you’ve set up a desired grid system, UXPin will help with positioning and arrangement by snapping to grid edges–you can disable snapping in settings.

Depending on the grid type, you can adjust various grid properties, including columns, column width, rows, gutters, margin, and offset. UXPin will “remember” any grid settings you choose and apply them to any new pages within a prototype.

Take your prototyping to the next level with UXPin’s UI grids and many other advanced features. Sign up for a free trial to create your first interactive prototype with UXPin.

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Interaction design is one of the most critical facets of user experience design. It makes the product’s interface respond to user’s action, aiding in human-to-computer interaction.

Key takeaways:

• Interaction design is a multidisciplinary design field that focuses on the interaction between users and digital products, systems, or interfaces.
• It involves designing how users engage with and experience a product, with the goal of making that interaction intuitive and efficient.
• It’s often abbreviated as IxD.

It’s one of the most challenging stages of UX design process. UXPin’s code-based design tool reduces those challenges by allowing designers to build functional prototypes with extreme fidelity and interactivity. Deliver better customer experiences today. Sign up for a free trial.

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What is Interaction Design?

Interaction design is a process of making human-to-computer interfaces (HCI) feel human-like. Interactive digital products create this “human” connection by giving feedback to the end-users. The feedback can be through a scroll-provoked animation, clicked state of a button or transition to another page.

Often shortened to IxD, interaction design uses appropriate interactive elements, such as transitions, microinteractions, animation, but also text, color, visuals, and layout impact users’ feeling and behavior–allowing them to design interactions strategically to elicit the appropriate response.

A good use of interaction design successfully leads to positive user experiences, including:

• Greater product satisfaction
• Deeper usability comprehension
• Faster learnability
• A deeper personal connection
• Increased likelihood of repeated use

Interaction Design in HCI

Interaction design in HCI, which stands for Human-Computer Interaction, is designing the interactive elements of a product, such as buttons, menus, and other interface components, to ensure they are intuitive, user-friendly, and responsive to user actions, and facilitate good communication between the user and the system.

The goal of interaction design is to create an engaging user experience that facilitates seamless interaction with the technology. It encompasses understanding user needs, behaviors, and expectations to design interfaces that are not only functional but also enjoyable to use.

By focusing on how users interact with technology, interaction design in HCI aims to enhance usability, accessibility, and overall satisfaction.

Interaction Design vs UI Design

Interaction design focuses on human-computer interaction, including animations, microinteractions, transitions, search, and other motion-based designs. They decide, for example, what happens when a user taps an element.

User interface design focuses on visual design and aesthetics, including color, fonts, iconography, layouts, etc. They decide what a user interface must look like.

To summarize:

• Interaction design is about Interactions and movement
• UI design is about visual design and aesthetics

In smaller companies and startups, a UI designer is often responsible for both tasks, while the roles are separate in larger organizations. Like anything in digital product design, the roles and responsibilities can synergize. It all depends on the company, product, and organizational structure.

Interaction Design vs UX Design

Interaction design is a specialized discipline within UX design. Where UX looks at the entire user experience and how everything ties together, interaction designers focus on user interactions and motion.

User experience designers apply UX fundamentals like design thinking, human-centered design, and user research to make decisions. They’re specifically concerned with a user’s tasks, actions, and environment, while interaction designers focus on making the digital product respond to user actions in an appropriate way. They tend to think about what happens when a user clicks a button, types a phrase into a search bar or hovers over an image.

What are Interaction Design Principles?

We’ve chosen our favorite IxD principles from Don Norman’s (co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group) book, The Design of Everyday Things.

Visibility

With many features and limited space, prioritizing visibility is a significant design challenge. Don Norman’s theory is that the more visible something is, the more likely a user sees and interacts with it. Interaction designers must balance visibility prioritization based on user needs and business goals.

A typical example of visibility is prioritizing navigation links on mobile devices. What links are visible via the app bar, and what do designers place in the navigation drawer behind a hamburger menu?

Feedback

Feedback is how a digital product or system communicates with users. Interaction designers have several ways to express this feedback, including motion or animation, tactile, audio, copy, etc.

They must also consider accessibility and how products relay feedback to all types of users and assistive technologies.

Constraints

Cluttered UIs with too many possibilities confuse users and create usability issues. Good interaction design limits (or constrains) user actions to guide them through the product more efficiently.

We see these constraints most commonly with landing pages. Designers strip away navigation, links, and anything else that might tempt users to leave the page, leaving only a prominent button CTA or form. Constraining users to a single action allows them to focus on the content that leads to a conversion.

Mapping

Interaction designers must create a clear relationship between controls and their effect on a digital product. The idea is to map these relationships to feel natural to users.

For example, the top button on an iPhone increases the volume while the lower one decreases. This intuitive layout means users don’t have to think about which button performs which action.

The more intuitive and obvious a product is to use, the easier and more enjoyable the experience.

Consistency

Consistency is vital for interaction and UI design. Inconsistency can confuse users and create usability issues. Designers not only have to design consistent UIs and interactions but also consider consistency across multiple screen sizes and devices.

Many organizations build a design system or adopt an open-source component library to increase consistency with approved UI patterns and interactions. When designers don’t have to think about these choices, they can focus on the user experience and apply the appropriate pattern to help users achieve the desired result.

Affordance

Affordance tells users how to use something or perform an action. It’s an interaction designer’s job to ensure that it’s obvious to users how to complete tasks using UI elements.

For example, a submit button’s disabled state tells users to complete a form’s required fields before submitting. Using a different color and underline for links tells users which text they can click.

Cognition

Interaction designers must have a basic understanding of cognitive psychology in UX design–attention and perception, memory, problem-solving, and creative thinking. The aim is to design products and experiences that don’t overload these mental processes.

Cognition deals with several design psychology principles, including:

• Gestalt principles: how the human brain perceives visuals to create familiar structures.
• Von Restorff effect: predicts that in a group of objects, the one that differs stands out or is most likely to be remembered.
• Hick’s Law: the more choices you give someone, the longer it’ll take them to make a decision.
• The Principle of Least Effort: users will make choices or take action requiring the least amount of energy.
• The Serial Positioning Effect: humans are most likely to remember the first (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) items in a list, sentence, or piece of content.
• The Principle of Perpetual Habit: people rely on familiar routines and habits–which is why it’s crucial to use universal design patterns.
• The Principle of Emotional Contagion: humans will mimic or empathize with the emotions and behaviors of others, including animals and animations–which is why designers use faces (even emojis) to emphasize feeling and emotion.
• Fitts’s Law: the time required to move to a target area is a function between the distance and the target’s size.

Dive deeper into cognition in this article: UX Design Psychology Tricks for Design Excellence and this one: A UX Designer’s Guide to Improving Speed of Use. These principles apply to all UX disciplines.

Interaction Design Checklist

We found this helpful interaction design checklist from the US Government’s Technology Transformation Services website, usability.gov. The checklist includes several questions to consider when designing interactions.

• Define how users interact with the interface – click/tap, push, swipe, drag & drop, keyboard controls, etc.
• Give users clues about behavior before they take action – correct labeling, different colors for links, using consistency for clickable UI elements, etc.
• Anticipate and mitigate errors – how do you prevent errors while providing helpful messages to correct problems?
• Consider system feedback and response time – what happens after users complete an action, and how soon does that feedback appear?
• Strategically think about each element – have you chosen the appropriate element/pattern? Is there enough space between clickable elements to avoid errors? Have you followed design psychology principles (mentioned above)? Scrutinize every decision from a user’s perspective.
• Simplify for learnability – make user interfaces and tasks as simple as possible, use familiar patterns, and minimize cognitive-draining tasks and features to simplify the user experience.

Also, check out the IxD Checklist from Aaron Legaspi and Amit Jakhu.

Interaction Design Resources

• Interaction Design Association
• Interaction Design Foundation
• 50 Best Interaction Design Programs

What Interaction Designers Do?

An interaction designer’s role focuses on how users interact with products, particularly digital ones like websites, apps, or software interfaces. Their job is to ensure that these interactions are intuitive, seamless, and enjoyable.

Here’s a breakdown of what interaction designers do:

1. Understand User Needs

Interactive designers spend a lot of time researching who the users are and what they need. This includes conducting user research, interviews, and analyzing data to figure out the problems they face and how the product can solve them. Understanding these needs is crucial to designing interactions that make sense for the user.

2. Create User Flows

Once interaction designers know what users need, they design user flows, which are basically maps that outline the steps a user takes to complete a task in the product. For example, in an e-commerce app, the user flow might be from adding an item to their cart, through the checkout process, to receiving a confirmation. The goal is to make these steps as easy and efficient as possible.

3. Design Interactive Elements

This is where interactive designers focus on buttons, navigation, and forms—all the interactive elements users click, tap, or swipe. They design these elements to be clear, functional, and accessible. They’re always thinking about things like: “Does this button stand out? Will the user know what happens when they click it?”

4. Prototype and Test

Interactive designers build prototypes—early models of the product—so we can test how people actually use it. This stage is all about testing assumptions. They gather feedback from users and stakeholders, see what’s working and what’s not, and refine the design based on that.

5. Collaborate with Other Teams

Interactive designers work closely with UX designers, developers, and product managers to make sure the designs are feasible and meet business goals. Developers need to know exactly how interactions should work (like what happens when you hover over a button), and I’m there to clarify and iterate as needed.

6. Ensure Consistency

A big part of their role is making sure the design is consistent across the entire product. Users should feel familiar as they move through different sections. That means sticking to the same design patterns for similar tasks and interactions.

7. Balance User and Business Needs

While their main focus is the user experience, interactive designers also need to align the design with business objectives. For example, if the goal is to increase sign-ups, they might design an interaction that nudges users towards the registration page without feeling pushy or disrupting the user journey.

8. Stay Updated

Finally, interaction designers keep up with design trends, tools, and best practices. Interaction design evolves quickly, and it’s important to stay ahead to ensure the product remains competitive and user-friendly.

In essence, They’re here to make sure the product not only looks good but works in a way that’s easy and satisfying for users. Their focus is always on improving the interaction between the user and the product.

UXPin–The Ultimate Interaction Design Tool

A lack of fidelity and functionality is a significant problem for interaction designers when prototyping and testing using traditional image-based design tools.

Interaction designers must create multiple frames to replicate basic code functionality, which takes considerable time and effort. With UXPin’s code-based design tool, designers can achieve significantly better results with less effort. Here’s how:

States

UXPin enables designers to create multiple States for a single component. For example, you can build a button with default, hover, active and disabled states, each with separate properties and triggers.

UXPin’s States also allows designers to create more complex UI patterns like carousels, accordions, dropdown menus, and more using a single frame. These UI patterns behave like code, giving interaction designers accurate results and feedback during testing.

Interactions

With UXPin Interactions, designers can build immersive, code-like experiences far beyond the capabilities of image-based design tools. UXPin offers a wide range of triggers, actions, and animations to create fully functional, animated prototypes.

Conditional Interactions allow designers to take prototypes a step further with Javascript-like “if-then” and “if-else” conditions to create dynamic user experiences. 

Variables

In UXPin, form fields look and function like the final product. Variables allow designers to capture user inputs and use that data elsewhere in the prototype–like a personalized welcome message after completing an onboarding form.

Expressions

UXPin Expressions take prototyping to another level with code-like functionality, including form validation and computational components (updating a shopping cart). When combined with States, Interactions, and Variables, Expressions allow designers to build prototypes that function like the final product.

These powerful features mean interaction designers don’t have to learn code or rely on engineers to build fully functioning prototypes for accurate testing. With UXPin, designers can build, test, and iterate faster and achieve significantly better results.

Tired of asking usability participants and stakeholders to “imagine” something happening? Switch to UXPin and start prototyping with the world’s most advanced code-based design tool. Sign up for a free trial today.

The post What is Interaction Design? appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Teams compare UXPin Merge, Retool vs Bubble because they all serve similar high-level goals: enabling teams or individuals to build functional, interactive applications or tools without the need for extensive front-end development. However, they approach this goal from different angles and are tailored to different types of users. Let’s explore that!

Build unique React interfaces with UXPin Merge. Pull UI components from Git repositories, npm packages or Storybook and use them to create production-ready prototypes. Increase alignment between designers and developers and launch products faster. Request access to UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

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Retool

Retool is a platform for building internal tools quickly, allowing developers to connect to databases and APIs to create dashboards, admin panels, and other internal applications with drag-and-drop ease.

Who uses Retool?

Developers and teams who need to build and maintain internal tools (e.g., dashboards, CRMs, admin panels) quickly and efficiently.

What is Retool best for?

Retool is best for building internal tools to manage data, track metrics, or run operations efficiently. That’s why startups, small businesses, or enterprise teams love it.

Key Features

• Pre-built Components: Retool offers a library of pre-built UI components like tables, buttons, and forms that can be dragged and dropped into apps.
• Integrations: Easily integrates with APIs, databases, and third-party services (Postgres, REST APIs, Firebase, etc.).
• Custom Scripting: Developers can add custom JavaScript to enhance logic, making Retool highly flexible for custom use cases.
• Data Management: Retool excels at building tools that need to interact with various data sources, pulling and pushing data to manage workflows.

What are Pros and Cons?

• Pros:
  • Quick prototyping of internal tools without needing a dedicated front-end team.
  • Powerful integrations with third-party services.
  • Flexible, developer-friendly environment that balances drag-and-drop ease with coding flexibility.
• Cons:
  • Primarily focused on internal tools rather than public-facing applications.
  • Limited in creating more complex or highly customized UIs compared to full development environments.

Bubble

Bubble is a no-code platform that allows users to build fully functional web applications, from simple landing pages to complex SaaS platforms, without writing code.

Who uses Bubble?

Entrepreneurs, startups, and non-technical founders who want to build and launch web applications without needing a development team.

What is Bubble best for?

Bubble’s best for entrepreneurs or startups looking to quickly launch web applications without relying on a developer. It’s perfect for building MVPs, SaaS platforms, or customer-facing applications.

Key Features

• Visual Development: Bubble allows users to build both the front-end and back-end of applications with a visual editor.
• Database Management: Bubble includes a built-in database, allowing users to manage data without external services.
• Workflows: Users can create complex logic and automate workflows without writing code.
• Plugin Marketplace: A robust plugin ecosystem provides additional functionality (e.g., payment gateways, social logins).

What are Pros and Cons?

• Pros:
  • True no-code solution—perfect for non-developers.
  • Allows for building both front-end and back-end without writing a single line of code.
  • Scalable for creating MVPs, launching products, or testing ideas.
• Cons:
  • More limited in terms of performance and customization compared to fully coded solutions.
  • Can become complex for advanced functionality, despite being no-code.
  • Scaling a Bubble app for high performance in production environments can be challenging.

UXPin Merge

UXPin Merge is a design and prototyping tool that allows teams to build fully interactive prototypes using real production components. With Merge, designers and developers collaborate more effectively by working with the same code components in both design and development environments.

Who uses UXPin Merge?

Primarily designers and developers working in close collaboration. Merge is ideal for teams using a design system who want to reduce handoff friction between design and development.

What is UXPin Merge best for?

The tool is ideal for product teams focusing on high-fidelity prototyping with code components, or large enterprises wanting to leverage design systems for consistency across products.

Key Features

• Design with Code Components: Merge allows you to import React components directly into UXPin, enabling designers to create fully functional prototypes using production-ready elements.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Teams can work in sync using the same components, minimizing the gap between design and development.
• Scalability: Merge is perfect for large organizations with established design systems that need to maintain consistency across multiple products.
• Component Libraries: Seamlessly integrates with design systems like Material UI or custom React components.

What are Pros and Cons?

• Pros:
  • Ensures design consistency with production code.
  • Reduces the gap between design and development, improving collaboration.
  • Allows for highly interactive, realistic prototypes.
• Cons:
  • Requires some knowledge of coding (React) to experience full features.
  • Best suited for teams using React; may not be ideal for non-React projects.

Are all those tools drag and drop?

Yes, all of those tools incorporate drag-and-drop functionality. When compared, UXPin Merge is more advanced in terms of integrating code components, Retool combines drag-and-drop with coding for internal tools, and Bubble focuses on enabling non-developers to build apps entirely visually.

UXPin Merge

• Drag-and-Drop: Yes, UXPin offers a drag-and-drop interface for designing prototypes. However, UXPin Merge goes beyond basic drag-and-drop functionality by allowing designers to use production-ready components (such as React components) within the design interface. So, while you can drag-and-drop components, setting up and managing these components may require some development knowledge, especially when importing code components from design systems.
• Advanced Features: The drag-and-drop interaction is enhanced by the integration of real code, making it more powerful for high-fidelity prototyping.

Retool

• Drag-and-Drop: Yes, Retool has a drag-and-drop interface for building internal tools. You can place pre-built UI components like buttons, forms, and tables on a canvas, and configure their properties via an interface.
• Advanced Features: Retool also requires some coding for more complex logic and data management. Developers can write custom JavaScript to handle workflows, but the core UI elements are easily manipulated through drag-and-drop.

Bubble

• Drag-and-Drop: Yes, Bubble is a fully drag-and-drop no-code platform for building web applications. You can visually construct both the front-end and back-end of your application by placing elements like text, buttons, and forms on the page, then linking them to workflows.
• Advanced Features: Despite its drag-and-drop simplicity, Bubble allows for a lot of customization via its visual interface for creating workflows, data structures, and more advanced behaviors without coding.

Summary of Drag-and-Drop Functionality:

• UXPin Merge: Drag-and-drop design with real code components for high-fidelity prototyping.
• Retool: Drag-and-drop internal tool building, with custom logic via JavaScript for advanced functionality.
• Bubble: Full drag-and-drop interface for building entire web applications, without any coding needed.

Why Would You Compare UXPin Merge vs Retool vs Bubble?

UXPin Merge, Retool, and Bubble serve similar high-level goals: enabling teams or individuals to build functional, interactive applications or tools without the need for extensive front-end development. However, they approach this goal from different angles and are tailored to different types of users. 

No-Code/Low-Code Movement

All three tools are part of the broader no-code/low-code movement, which aims to make application development more accessible by reducing or eliminating the need to write code. People comparing these tools are likely exploring solutions to reduce development time, improve collaboration, or empower non-developers to participate in building digital products.

• Bubble is a pure no-code platform for building entire web applications.
• Retool allows teams to quickly build internal tools with minimal front-end development.
• UXPin Merge enables designers to prototype with actual code components, reducing the time spent on handoff between design and development.

Rapid Prototyping and Development

Users interested in quickly going from idea to functional product may compare these tools because each supports rapid prototyping and development in different ways.

• UXPin Merge offers high-fidelity prototyping with real UI components, which can be quickly transformed into production-ready products.
• Retool helps teams quickly create functional internal tools, like dashboards, without needing to build everything from scratch.
• Bubble allows non-developers to build fully functioning web applications, making it ideal for rapid MVP development or testing ideas.

Collaboration and Workflow Integration

All three tools aim to improve collaboration and workflow efficiency, particularly for teams where design, development, and data management must come together:

• UXPin Merge is great for design/development collaboration, as designers work with real components from the codebase.
• Retool makes it easy for developers to integrate with APIs, databases, and services for internal applications without needing a full front-end development effort.
• Bubble allows non-developers to collaborate on application creation, enabling teams with diverse skill sets to work together on building an application.

Which is Best – Retool vs Bubble vs UXPin Merge?

While UXPin Merge, Retool, and Bubble serve different specific purposes, people compare them because they all enable faster, more accessible digital product development. They differ in their focus—Bubble on fully no-code applications, Retool on internal tool creation, and UXPin Merge on bridging design and development workflows with production-ready code—but all reduce the complexity of creating functional applications. This makes them relevant for product teams, startups, and organizations looking to streamline app or tool creation processes.

Bubble and Retool simplify app-building, but both lack the power to connect your designs directly to production code. UXPin Merge lets you import actual React components from your design system, meaning your prototypes are 100% production-ready from the start. Request access to UXPin Merge.

The post Retool vs Bubble vs UXPin Merge Comparison appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Modern websites and apps rely on front-end frameworks to develop, maintain, and scale user interfaces. React’s Javascript library is arguably the most popular front-end framework with many component libraries to build digital products.

We’re going to explore the top React UI libraries and how to choose the right one for your next project.

With UXPin Merge, you can sync any React component library and assemble production-ready layouts super fast. Check out the build-in MUI, Ant design, and React Bootstrap components that are available for free in UXPin’s editor. Drag and drop them on the canvas and simplify React UI design. Try UXPin Merge.

Design UI with code-backed components.

Use the same components in design as in development. Keep UI consistency at scale.

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What is React Component library?

A React component library is a collection of pre-built UI components specifically designed for use with React applications. These libraries contain reusable components that cover a wide range of UI elements, such as buttons, forms, modals, navigation bars, cards, and more.

React component libraries aim to streamline the development process by providing ready-made components that adhere to best practices in terms of design, accessibility, and functionality.

What to consider when choosing a React component library

Below are six things to consider when choosing a React library for your next project. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and some of these factors may not apply to the product you’re building. 

1. Popularity

GitHub’s star rating allows you to quickly compare each React UI library’s popularity. The weekly downloads on npm also show how many people use the component library. Generally speaking, a React library’s popularity means it’s well established and serves its purpose.

2. Issues

Like star rating, a library’s GitHub issues can tell you a lot about its popularity and how well it’s maintained. Even if the library has minimal issues, do any of these affect the product you’re trying to build? 

3. Documentation & Support

Documentation is an important consideration when choosing a React UI library. You want to avoid running to Stack Overflow every time you run into trouble or want to know how to use specific components. Good documentation is updated regularly and gives you a comprehensive understanding of the library.

You also want to know if the React library has support directly from the creators or via a dedicated community forum. There are times when you need expert advice to overcome challenges. The ability to reach out for help (even if that means paying) is crucial to get issues sorted quickly and keep the project moving.

4. Customization

One of the downsides to using a component library is its constraints and lack of customization. For some projects, customization isn’t a factor, but if you’re looking to develop a unique UI, the ability to build your own design system is vital.

Explore the library’s documentation to see if they offer instructions for customizing the components and how easily you can achieve your desired results.

5. Browser or Device Compatibility

Depending on the app you’re designing, you’ll want to know the component library’s browser and mobile compatibility. The quickest way to research browser/device compatibility is by searching GitHub’s issues or Stack Overflow.

6. Accessibility

Accessibility is a time-consuming but necessary consideration for digital product design. If a React library hasn’t considered accessibility when designing components, then it’s something you’re going to have to do yourself, which takes us back to points 3 and 4–documentation and customization.

Which is the best React component library?

The best React component library for your project depends on your specific needs and preferences. It’s recommended to evaluate each library based on factors such as documentation quality, community support, active development, and alignment with your project requirements before making a decision.

Comparing the libraries involves assessing various aspects such as design philosophy, component offerings, theming capabilities, documentation, community support, and ecosystem. Take Material-UI (MUI) and Ant Design as examples.

Material-UI provides a comprehensive set of React components following the Material Design system. It includes components like buttons, cards, forms, navigation, and more, with a wide range of customization options.

Ant Design offers a rich collection of components tailored for enterprise applications, including layouts, forms, navigation, data display, and more. It provides components specific to data visualization and business logic.

5 React Component Libraries

These are our five best React UI libraries for 2024.

Note: Information regarding GitHub stars and NPM downloads are accurate as of March 2024.

MUI (Material-UI)

• GitHub Stars: 91.3k
• Weekly NPM Downloads: 3.4M
• Official website: mui.com

MUI is one of the most comprehensive and widely used React component libraries. The library is built on Google’s Material Design UI, one of the most extensive UI kits in the world.

MUI – Components

MUI has a massive component library for designers to build everything from mobile and web applications, websites, and even wearable apps. 

MUI Core features fundamental UI components you see in everyday digital products, while MUI X offers a list of advanced React components for building complex user interfaces, like data tables, data pickers, charts, and more.

For those of you who would like to try design with MUI code components, sign up for a UXPin trial and get 14-day access to UXPin. Read more about MUI 5 Kit in UXPin.

MUI – Theming & Customization

One of MUI’s biggest appeals is the ability to theme and customize components. Designers can use MUI as a foundation to scale designs fast but also adapt the library to build a custom design system for their product or organization.

Designers can also take advantage of Material Design and MUI’s comprehensive guidelines to avoid usability issues when customizing components.

MUI also has a template marketplace to purchase React theme templates for dashboards, eCommerce websites, landing pages, and more.

MUI – Documentation

MUI’s documentation is as detailed and comprehensive as its component library. Its curators have taken great care to provide designers and developers with step-by-step instructions and guidelines for installation, usage, customization, accessibility, and more.

There are also tons of videos on YouTube from MUI’s large community of users and contributors offering best practices, tutorials, tips and tricks, how-to guides, and more.

Where to get MUI components from?

You can get MUI components from the following sources:

1. UXPin’s Built-In MUI Kit: Access pre-built MUI components directly in the UXPin Editor.
2. MUI Website: Download components and get design inspiration from the official MUI library.
3. AI Component Creator: Use UXPin’s AI tool to generate custom MUI components from text prompts or images.

These options provide flexibility whether you need ready-made components or custom-coded solutions.

How to generate MUI components with AI?

You can use AI to generate MUI components that you need. The AI Component Creator by UXPin is an advanced tool that helps designers generate fully coded UI components from images, text prompts, or existing elements. It supports React-based libraries like MUI.

By leveraging AI, this tool bridges the gap between design and development, streamlining workflows and eliminating the need for manual coding. It’s perfect for creating consistent, scalable UI components in seconds.

To generate MUI components using UXPin’s AI Component Creator:

1. Get an OpenAI API Key from the OpenAI website.
2. Enable the AI Component Creator by contacting UXPin support if you have the Merge AI plan or Merge enabled.
3. Open the AI Component Creator from the Editor’s Quick Tools panel.
4. Paste your API key in the Settings tab.
5. In the Prompt tab, write a description of the component you want or upload an image.
6. Select MUI as your library, and let the AI generate your MUI component!

For more details, visit the documentation.

React-Bootstrap

• GitHub Stars: 22.2k
• Weekly NPM Downloads: 1.3M
• Official website: react-bootstrap.github.io

Founded in 2011, Bootstrap is one of the oldest and most popular open-source CSS frameworks for websites and web applications. Bootstrap was one of the first CSS frameworks to prioritize mobile-first web development, allowing designers to build and scale responsive websites quickly.

React-Bootstrap replaced Bootstrap Javascript while ditching resource-heavy dependencies like JQuery to build a comprehensive but simplistic React component library.

React-Bootstrap – Components

If you’re familiar with Bootstrap, then you’ll instantly recognize React-Bootstrap’s generic-looking component library. Like its CSS predecessor, React-Bootstrap features UI components that favor web design rather than mobile applications.

React-Bootstrap – Theming & Customization

React-Bootstrap is very generic with minimal styling, making it easy for designers to tweak and customize. Bootstrap’s defined classes and variants make it easy to select and customize components using CSS.

Due to Bootstrap’s long history and wide usage, you can find tons of free and premium React-Bootstrap themes and templates for everything from admin dashboards to multiple purpose websites, eCommerce, landing pages, and more.

React-Bootstrap – Documentation

React-Bootstrap has excellent documentation, albeit not as detailed and comprehensive as MUI. React-Bootstrap’s simplicity and naming convention make it one of the easiest React libraries to understand, use, and customize.

Bootstrap is also featured extensively on Stack Overflow, so you’ll likely find answers to most issues. There are also loads of blogs and YouTube videos offering advice, tutorials, design projects, and more.

Where to Get React-Bootstrap Components

You can get React-Bootstrap components from the following sources:

1. UXPin’s Built-In React-Bootstrap Kit: Access pre-built React-Bootstrap components directly within the UXPin Editor.
2. React-Bootstrap Website: Explore and download components from the official React-Bootstrap library.
3. AI Component Creator: Use UXPin’s AI tool to generate custom React-Bootstrap components from text prompts or images.

These options provide flexibility, whether you need ready-made components or custom AI-generated solutions.

How to Generate React-Bootstrap Components with AI

You can leverage AI to create React-Bootstrap components easily with UXPin’s AI Component Creator. This tool converts images, text prompts, or static elements into fully coded React-Bootstrap components, simplifying the design-to-development process.

To generate React-Bootstrap components:

1. Get an OpenAI API Key from the OpenAI website.
2. Enable the AI Component Creator by contacting UXPin support if you have the Merge AI plan or Merge enabled.
3. Open the AI Component Creator from the Editor’s Quick Tools panel.
4. Paste your API key in the Settings tab.
5. In the Prompt tab, write a description of the component you want or upload an image.
6. Select React-Bootstrap as your library, and let the AI generate your component!

For more details, visit UXPin’s AI Component Creator documentation.

Semantic UI React

• GitHub Stars: 13.2k
• Weekly NPM Downloads: 253k
• Official website: react.semantic-ui.com

Semantic UI React is a popular alternative to React-Bootstrap. Like React-Bootstrap, Semantic UI started as an open-source CSS framework that its contributors used to build React components.

Semantic UI React – Components

Semantic UI React offers an extensive range of UI components for websites and web applications. The components provide cleaner, more modern styling than Bootstrap while remaining minimalist and simplistic.

Semantic UI React uses the FontAwesome icon set, including over 1,600 free icons and 7,864 Pro (paid).

Semantic UI React – Theming & Customization

Semantic UI uses an intuitive, straightforward naming convention that makes it easy to customize components. The documentation also provides a step-by-step guide for theming with Semantic UI React. Unlike MUI and React-Bootstrap, Semantic has very few template options. 

Semantic UI React – Documentation

Semantic UI React’s interactive documentation provides you with CodeSandbox examples to inspect the code and play around with components. 

The docs also allow you to switch between an example, code, and props to visualize the component from multiple angles.

Ant Design (AntD)

• GitHub Stars: 89.9k
• Weekly NPM Downloads: 1.2M
• Official website: ant.design/docs/react/introduce

Ant Design (AntD) is another popular, widely used React component library developed by Ant Group–parent company to Alibaba, China’s biggest online marketplace. Like MUI, AntD offers a vast component library for both web and mobile applications.

AntD is the only React library featured in this article that uses TypeScript – a form of Javascript.

Ant Design – Components

AntD has a massive component library for desktop and mobile, including UI patterns like infinite scroll and pull-to-refresh for mobile devices. Ant Design ProComponents offers a range of advanced React UI elements ( similar to MUI X) for building complex interfaces.

You can also find a vast library of pre-made templates and scaffolds to kick start your project and build UIs much faster.

Ant Design – Theming & Customization

AntD uses design tokens or variables for devs to customize and theme components. The UI library uses Less and provides a complete list of all AntD variables in GitHub.

Ant Design – Documentation

AntD’s comprehensive documentation provides step-by-step instructions for using and customizing. You can also inspect each component in CodeSandBox, CodePen, or StackBlitz.

Where to Get Ant Design Components

You can get Ant Design components from the following sources:

1. UXPin’s Built-In Ant Design Kit: Access pre-built Ant Design components directly within the UXPin Editor.
2. Ant Design Website: Download components and explore design inspiration from the official Ant Design library.
3. AI Component Creator: Use UXPin’s AI tool to generate custom Ant Design components from text prompts or images.

These options allow you to choose between ready-made components or custom AI-generated solutions to meet your project needs.

How to Generate Ant Design Components with AI

You can easily generate Ant Design components using UXPin’s AI Component Creator. This tool leverages AI to convert images, text prompts, or static elements into code-backed Ant Design components—eliminating manual coding and streamlining design-to-development workflows.

To generate Ant Design components:

1. Get an OpenAI API Key from the OpenAI website.
2. Enable the AI Component Creator by contacting UXPin support if you have the Merge AI plan or Merge enabled.
3. Open the AI Component Creator from the Editor’s Quick Tools panel.
4. Paste your API key in the Settings tab.
5. In the Prompt tab, write a description of the component you want or upload an image.
6. Select Ant Design as your library, and let the AI generate your component!

For more details, visit UXPin’s AI Component Creator documentation.

Chakra UI

• GitHub Stars: 36.4k
• Weekly NPM Downloads: 523K
• Official website: chakra-ui.com

Chakra UI is a Nigerian-based React component library founded by Segun Adebayo. You can choose between Chakra’s free component library or Chakra UI Pro, which offers pre-made complex UI components to build interfaces faster.

Chakra UI – Components

Chakra UI’s component library caters to web-based applications and websites. The library offers the choice between TypeScript or Javascript React components, depending on your preference. Chakra’s designers follow WAI-ARIA standards, so every element is accessible.

The stylish UI components look similar to Semantic UI, with dark and light options available.

Chakra UI – Theming & Customization

Chakra’s designers created the UI library to be fully customized using variables to meet product and brand requirements. Charka also integrates with Create React App, Framer Motion, React Hook Form, and React Table to extend the library’s usage and customization.

Chakra UI – Documentation

Chakra UI has excellent documentation with guides, video tutorials, examples, FAQs, links to connect with core team members, and an active Discord community. 

Chakra’s users are extremely passionate and enthusiastic about the React library, and there’s always someone to connect with to ask questions.

Design Using React Components With UXPin Merge

One of the challenges of using a React library is that only few tools allow you to design UIs with real components. UXPin Merge allows you to assemble layouts with React components from Git repo, Storybook, or npm. See how it works. Discover UXPin Merge.

The post 5 Best React Component Libraries of 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

UI elements are the most integral part of product design. They are the core building blocks for all products.

As a UI designer or UI developer, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of UI elements and how users interact with them. It will help you create a better application/website structure.

Designers don’t usually draw UI elements by themselves when they’re building web pages or mobile apps. They usually start with a ready repository of UI elements, and if they’re backed with code, UI components.

UXPin Merge allows you to bring those components to UXPin’s design editor and build fully functional UIs in minutes instead of hours, thus optimizing the workflow of the whole product team. Learn more about UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

What are UI Elements?

UI elements are the building blocks of apps and web sites. They are what users interact with when they are using the product. They click on a button to sign up, they use navigational components to switch between pages, etc.

UI elements are what allows for good user experience and well-designed functionalities.

UX design rests on design patterns that your users are familiar with. If you break a design pattern, users may get lost or confused at least. Designers use well-known UI elements to prevent that.

Learning what are UI elements is not enough. You also need to know the context of use.

3 Types of UI Elements

Ideally, we can group UI elements into 3 major categories. 

1. Input elements – users interact with them to put in their information or move to the next step.
2. Output elements – those elements show the result of a previous user action.
3. Helper elements – further divided into navigational, informational, and containers, they help to move through the digital product, get information, and point user’s attention to some element.

Input elements

Input elements are responsible for handling different user inputs. Sometimes they’re also part of the input validation process. Some of the most used input elements include:

• Dropdowns – control elements that allow users to select one option from a list that appears when they click or hover over a specific area. The list “drops down” when activated, providing a set of choices for the user to pick from.
• Combo boxes – they combine the features of a text box and a dropdown. Users can either type a response or select from a predefined list by clicking a dropdown arrow. This provides flexibility for both manual input and selection from a set of options.
• Buttons – interactive elements that users can click to trigger an action or submit a form. They often have labels indicating the action they will perform, such as “Submit,” “Cancel,” or “OK.”
• Toggle switches – UI elements that allow users to switch between two states, typically on and off. They provide a visual indication of the current state and can be toggled by clicking or sliding.
• Text fields – areas where users can input alphanumeric characters, whereas password fields are specifically designed for entering confidential information like passwords. Password fields often hide the entered characters for security reasons.
• Date pickers – UI elements that facilitate the selection of dates from a calendar. Users can typically choose a date by clicking on a specific day, month, and year within the provided interface.
• Checkboxes – small, interactive elements that allow users to select or deselect options independently. They are often used in lists or forms where users can choose multiple items from a set.
• Radio buttons – they present a set of options to users, but unlike checkboxes, only one option can be selected at a time. When one radio button is selected, any others in the group are automatically deselected.
• Confirmation dialogues – pop-up messages that appear to confirm an action or decision before it is executed. They typically ask the user to confirm or cancel an operation to prevent accidental or unwanted actions.

Output elements

Output elements are responsible for showing results against various user inputs. They also show alerts, warnings, success, and error messages to the users. Output elements aren’t neutral by nature. They rely on inputs and various operations.  

Helper elements

All other elements fall into this category. The most widely-used helper elements include:

• Notifications – messages or alerts that appear on a user’s device or screen to inform them about important or relevant information. They can include updates, reminders, or warnings and are often designed to grab the user’s attention.
• Breadcrumbs – small navigational elements that show the user’s current location within a website or application. They typically appear as a trail of links at the top of a page, indicating the hierarchical path back to the main or home page.
• Icons – graphical symbols or small images used to represent actions, objects, or concepts. They serve as visual cues to help users quickly understand and navigate interfaces. Icons are commonly used in menus, toolbars, and buttons.
• Sliders – UI elements that allow users to select a value from a continuous range by dragging a handle along a track. They are often used for settings like volume control or adjusting numerical values within a specified range.
• Progress bars – visually represent the completion status of a task or process. They typically consist of a filled-in portion that grows as the task progresses, providing users with a visual indication of how much work has been completed and how much is left.
• Tooltips – small, contextual messages that appear when a user hovers over or clicks on a specific UI element. They provide additional information or explanations about the purpose or functionality of the element, aiding user understanding and interaction.

We can also group helper elements into 3 categories.

Navigational UI elements

Navigational components simplify moving through the site, desktop or mobile app or any other digital product. Navigational helper UI elements include things like navigation menus, list of links, breadcrumbs, to name but a few. 

Informational UI elements

Responsible for representing information. These include, for example, tooltips, icons, and progress bars. 

Containers

Responsible for holding various components together. Widgets, containers, and sidebars for part of this category. The Newsletter subscription widget of UXPin blog is also a good example of a container.

9 Common Input UI Elements

Here are nine of the most common input elements that every designer should know about. This list includes buttons, checkboxes, text fields, and you’re certain to find them in the most popular design systems, listed under UI components.

Checkboxes

Checkboxes allow the user to select one or more options from an option set. It is best practice to display checkboxes vertically. Multi-columns are also acceptable considering the available space and other factors.

Dropdowns

Dropdowns allow users to select one item at a time from a long list of options. They are more compact than radio buttons. They also allow you to save space. For better UX, it’s necessary to add a label and a helper text as a placeholder. I.e. “Select One, Choose, etc.”

Combo boxes

Combo boxes allow users to either type a custom value directly or select a value from the list. It is a combination of a drop-down list or list box and a single-line input field.

Buttons

Buttons allow the users to perform an action with touch or click. It is typically labelled with text, icon, or both. Buttons are one of the most important parts of a UI. So it’s important to design a button that the user will actually click. 

Toggles

Toggles allow the user to change a view/value/setting between two states. They are useful for toggle between on and off state or switching between list view and grid view. 

Text and password fields

Text fields and password fields allow users to enter text and password respectively. Text fields allow both single-line and multi-line inputs. Multi-line input fields are also known as “textarea”. Password fields generally allow single lines for a password.

Date pickers

A date picker allows users to pick a date and/or time. By using a native date picker from the platform, a consistent date value is submitted to the system. 

Radio buttons

Radio buttons allow users to select only one of a predefined set of mutually exclusive options. A general use case of radio buttons is selecting the gender option in sign-up forms. 

Confirmation dialogues

Confirmation dialogues are responsible for collecting user consent for a particular action. For example, collecting user consent for a delete action.

4 Common output elements

Alert UI Element

An alert presents a short, important message that attracts the user’s attention. It notifies users about these statuses and outputs.

Toast UI element

This refers to a UI feature where an event (user input, server response, calculation etc.) triggers a small text box to appear on the screen. Ideally, it appears at the bottom on mobile and bottom left or right side on the desktop.

The difference between “Alert” & “Toast” is that the former doesn’t dismiss itself and the latter does after a certain time. 

Badge

This feature generates a small badge to the top-right of its child(ren). In general, it represents a small counter or indicator. This can be something like the number of items over the cart icon or online indicator over a  user avatar. 

Charts

Charts are a common way of expressing complex data sets because they depict different data varieties & data comparisons.

The type of chart used in UI depends primarily on two things: the data we want to communicate, and what we want to convey about that data

Common Helper UI Elements

Navigational UI elements

Those elements aid navigation.

• Navigation menus – graphical interfaces that present a list of links or options, allowing users to move between different sections or pages of a website or application. They are commonly found at the top, side, or bottom of a page and serve as a primary means of guiding users through the content.
• List of links – a collection of hyperlinked text items that typically direct users to different pages or resources. Lists are often used in navigation menus, sidebars, or content sections to organize and present a set of related links in a structured format.
• Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are a navigational aid that displays the user’s current location within a website or application. They appear as a series of links, usually at the top of a page, indicating the hierarchical path back to the main or home page. Breadcrumbs help users understand their position in the site’s structure.
• Search fields – input elements that allow users to enter search queries. They are commonly accompanied by a button or icon to initiate the search. Search fields enable users to quickly find specific content within a website or application.
• Pagination – divide the content into separate pages to improve navigation and loading times. It involves organizing large sets of data or results into numbered pages, with links or buttons to move between them. Pagination is often used in search results, lists, or other content-heavy sections.

Navigation menus

This is a navigational UI element with several values that the user can select. They are taken to another area of the website/app from there. 

List of links

As the name suggests, a list of links consists of links. Sidebar with a category list is a good example of this. Links can be both internal and external. 

Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs allow users to see their current location within the system. It provides a clickable trail of proceeding pages to navigate with.

Search fields

A search bar is usually made up of two UI elements: an input field and a button. It allows users to enter a keyword and submit it to the system expecting the most relevant results.

Paginations

This feature divides the content between pages and allows users to navigate between them.

Informational UI elements

That category of UI elements transfers information. It comprises:

• Tooltips
• Icons
• Progress bars
• Notifications
• Message boxes
• Modal windows

Tooltips

A tooltip shows users hints when they hover over an element indicating the name or purpose of the item.

Icons

It’s a simplified symbol that is used to help users to navigate the system, presenting the information and indicating statutes.

Progress bars

A progress bar indicates the progress of a process. Typically, progress bars are not clickable.

Notifications

It is an update indicator that announces something new for the user to check. Typically shows completion of a task, new items to check etc.

Message boxes

It’s a small window that provides information to users but typically doesn’t prevent users from continuing tasks. Message boxes perform tasks like showing warnings, suggestions, etc.

Modal windows

It’s used to show content on top of an overlay. It blocks any interaction with the page — until the overlay is clicked, or a close action is triggered.

Group and Containers

How would you separate certain elements from the rest? That is what groups and containers are for.

Widgets

It’s an element of interaction, like a chat window, components of a dashboard, or embeds of other services.

UI Containers

Containers hold different components together. This includes text, images, rich media etc. Cards in modern UI design are one of the best examples of containers. 

Sidebars

Sidebars also contain other groups of elements and components. But that can be switched between collapse and visible state.

Search bar

The search bar holds the search field and search options. Typically, the search bar features a search field and filtering option. Twitter’s advanced search is a great example.

FAQ

Q1: What are the key elements of UI design?

1. Buttons: Trigger user actions and convey interactivity (e.g., Submit, Cancel).
2. Inputs: Fields like text boxes, checkboxes, and dropdowns for data entry.
3. Navigation: Menus, tabs, and sidebars that help users move through content.
4. Cards: Containers for grouping related information (e.g., products, articles).
5. Modals and Dialogs: Overlays that require user action, often for confirmations.
6. Alerts and Notifications: Inform users of updates, warnings, or errors.
7. Tooltips: Contextual hints for additional information.

Each UI component combines layout, color, typography, and spacing principles to ensure usability and consistency across designs.

Q2: How to identify UI elements?

• Analyze the Functionality: Break down the UI by understanding what each element is meant to achieve—e.g., collecting user input, navigating between pages, or presenting content.
• Visual Cues: Identify standard components by their shape and interaction patterns—e.g., buttons have a rectangular shape and react to clicks.
• Interactive Behavior: Hover, click, or tap on elements to see if they exhibit interaction states like animations or color changes.

Q3: What are UI elements names?

1. Buttons
2. Text Fields / Input Fields
3. Dropdowns
4. Radio Buttons
5. Checkboxes
6. Sliders
7. Toggles / Switches
8. Icons
9. Modals
10. Tooltips
11. Tabs
12. Cards
13. Alerts / Notifications
14. Menus
15. Breadcrumbs
16. Progress Bars
17. Accordions
18. Tables
19. Carousels

Design with Interactive UI Elements in UXPin

Now that you understand what common UI elements are and how they work, it’s time to put your knowledge to practice. UXPin offers all the features you need to design and organize your UI elements, simplifying the process of designing.

What if you have ready-made UI elements that come from a component library of your developers? Use UXPin Merge technology to bring them to UXPin editor and design fully interactive and consistent prototypes using those UI components that you share with your product team. Learn more about UXPin Merge.

The post User Interface Elements Every Designer Should Know appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

As UX designers, we need to create dashboards that are clear, purposeful, and user-centric. “Effective dashboards should not only present data but also convey the story behind it, guiding users toward making informed decisions without overwhelming them with details,” as UX Design World emphasizes. This statement underscores the essence of great dashboard design: presenting information in a way that is not only accessible but also actionable.

Creating data-driven applications with interactive dashboards can be complex and time-consuming, requiring seamless collaboration between designers, developers, and product teams. That’s where UXPin Merge comes in—a tool that bridges the gap between design and development, allowing teams to build highly interactive, production-ready dashboards using real components.

With UXPin Merge, design teams can import live components from a Git repository or Storybook and use them to create interactive UI designs that reflect the exact behavior of the final product. Request access to UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

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What is a Dashboard?

A dashboard is a visual display of essential information needed to achieve specific business objectives. It consolidates data from various sources into a single interface, using visualizations such as charts, graphs, and tables to present insights clearly and concisely. Dashboards are primarily used for tracking and analyzing KPIs, identifying trends, and making informed decisions based on real-time data.

Types of Dashboards

By understanding the unique purposes and use cases of these dashboard types, designers can create more targeted and effective dashboards that cater to specific user needs.

Analytical Dashboards

Analytical dashboards are used to identify trends, patterns, and insights over time. They support strategic decision-making by presenting complex datasets through detailed visualizations like line graphs, scatter plots, and histograms. Typically used by data analysts or business intelligence teams, these dashboards help answer questions like, “What are the factors driving sales trends over the last quarter?”

Example: A sales performance dashboard that analyzes historical sales data, identifies top-performing products, and reveals seasonal trends. This dashboard could include charts that compare monthly sales figures year-over-year, helping stakeholders make strategic decisions about future campaigns.

Operational Dashboards

Operational dashboards are designed for real-time monitoring and quick decision-making. They display data that is frequently updated, such as daily sales figures, website traffic, or production outputs. These dashboards are ideal for managers who need to track day-to-day operations and respond promptly to emerging issues.

Example: A customer support dashboard that monitors the number of open tickets, average response time, and agent availability in real time. This type of dashboard allows managers to allocate resources efficiently and maintain service quality.

Strategic Dashboards

Strategic dashboards offer a high-level overview of the organization’s performance, focusing on long-term goals and outcomes. They are used by executives to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like revenue growth, market share, or customer satisfaction over an extended period. Strategic dashboards prioritize simplicity and clarity, presenting only the most critical data needed for executive decision-making.

Example: An executive KPI dashboard that tracks overall company performance metrics such as quarterly revenue, year-to-date profit margins, and employee engagement scores. This dashboard allows executives to assess whether the company is on track to meet its strategic objectives.

Tactical Dashboards

Tactical dashboards bridge the gap between operational and strategic dashboards. They focus on short-term goals and provide insights into specific areas of the business, such as project management or marketing campaign performance. Tactical dashboards are used by mid-level managers to implement strategies based on analytical data and operational updates.

Example: A marketing campaign dashboard that tracks campaign performance, including ad spend, conversion rates, and customer acquisition cost. This type of dashboard helps marketers adjust their tactics in response to real-time performance data.

Why Dashboard Design Matters

Dashboards have become a crucial tool in modern business environments, serving as a central hub for data-driven decision-making. A well-designed dashboard is more than just a data visualization tool; it provides a structured and intuitive way to track KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), monitor business processes, and gain actionable insights at a glance.

The role of dashboards in decision-making extends beyond data presentation. They act as decision-support systems, helping stakeholders identify opportunities, pinpoint issues, and respond quickly to changes.

For example, a sales dashboard might track sales revenue, pipeline metrics, and individual performance to give managers a clear view of team performance and areas for improvement. By presenting this data visually, dashboards enable faster comprehension and a deeper understanding of complex information, facilitating data-driven decisions.

The Impact of Well-Designed Dashboards

When designed effectively, dashboards can significantly enhance business intelligence (BI) by transforming raw data into meaningful insights. Here’s how:

• Improved Data Accessibility and Usability: Well-designed dashboards simplify complex data, making it accessible to non-technical stakeholders. With a focus on usability and intuitive layout, they reduce the cognitive load and help users find the information they need quickly.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: By providing real-time data and key metrics, dashboards empower stakeholders to make timely decisions. This immediacy is crucial in fast-paced business environments where quick reactions to changes in performance can give companies a competitive edge.
• Performance Tracking and Goal Setting: Dashboards allow businesses to monitor performance against set targets and KPIs. For instance, a marketing dashboard might show campaign performance in terms of reach, engagement, and conversion rates, helping teams align their efforts with strategic goals.

Research shows that organizations leveraging dashboards for BI see a higher return on data analytics investments, as they can turn insights into action more efficiently. For instance, a study by Dresner Advisory Services revealed that organizations with effective BI tools, such as dashboards, were twice as likely to experience improved decision-making capabilities and a 24% increase in revenue growth.

Common Issues with Poorly Designed Dashboards

Despite their potential, many dashboards fall short due to poor design practices, leading to low usability and ineffective decision-making. Common issues include:

Clutter and Overwhelming Layouts

Many dashboards suffer from information overload. When too many metrics and visualizations are crammed into one screen, users struggle to identify what’s most important. This cluttered layout can lead to confusion, making it harder to extract valuable insights.

Lack of Hierarchical Structure

Without a clear visual hierarchy, dashboards can fail to communicate the relative importance of information. Users might overlook critical data or spend too much time searching for relevant insights.

Inconsistent Design and Misleading Visuals

Inconsistent use of colors, fonts, or chart types can cause misinterpretation of data. For example, using the same color for positive and negative metrics can lead to incorrect conclusions. Read about design consistency and how to achieve it.

Neglecting User Context and Needs

A one-size-fits-all dashboard rarely works. Effective dashboards should be tailored to the specific needs and context of the user, whether they are a sales manager looking for revenue trends or a product manager tracking feature usage.

Key Characteristics of Successful Dashboards

Regardless of the type, successful dashboards share certain characteristics that make them effective tools for data visualization and decision-making. These characteristics ensure that dashboards are not only visually appealing but also functionally robust and user-centric.

Clarity: Ensuring Users Can Interpret Data Quickly

Clarity is paramount when it comes to dashboard design. A cluttered or confusing layout can obscure the most critical information and hinder decision-making. To ensure clarity:

• Use a clear visual hierarchy to prioritize information.
• Choose appropriate visualizations, such as bar charts for comparisons and line charts for trends, to present data effectively.
• Limit the number of visual elements to avoid overwhelming users with too much information at once.

Flexibility: Allowing Customization and Interactivity

Dashboards should cater to diverse user needs by offering flexibility in how data is displayed and interacted with. Features like filters, drill-down capabilities, and custom views allow users to explore the data at their own pace and adjust the dashboard to suit their specific needs. Incorporating interactive elements can transform a static dashboard into a dynamic tool that provides deeper insights.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s interactive components to prototype dashboards that include these features, enabling users to see how different configurations and interactions will work in the final product.

Responsiveness: Adapting to Different Devices and Screen Sizes

With the increasing use of mobile devices and varying screen sizes, responsiveness is a critical characteristic of any dashboard. A responsive dashboard adjusts its layout and visualizations based on the device, ensuring that users have a consistent experience whether they’re on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Key elements like font size, spacing, and the arrangement of visualizations should be fluid and adaptable.

Tip for Designers: Create responsive prototypes in UXPin to test how your dashboard design behaves across different devices. Use breakpoints and scalable design techniques to optimize the layout for various screen sizes.

Essential Dashboard Design Principles

Designing effective dashboards requires a deep understanding of visual hierarchy, consistency, cognitive psychology, and accessibility. A well-structured dashboard not only presents data but also guides users in interpreting it, making complex information more approachable and actionable. This section outlines the key design principles to consider when creating dashboards that prioritize usability, functionality, and inclusivity.

1. Establish a Clear Visual Hierarchy

In dashboard design, visual hierarchy is crucial for guiding users’ attention to the most critical information first. By using layout, color, and typography strategically, you can emphasize high-priority data and minimize distractions.

• Layout: Organize information logically by placing the most critical data at the top or left-hand side of the dashboard, as these areas are naturally where users look first. Group related data points together and use white space to separate sections, making it easier for users to scan and locate key insights.
• Color: Use color to differentiate categories and indicate relationships between data points. For example, use contrasting colors for KPIs that represent positive vs. negative trends or different departments. Reserve bright colors for highlighting anomalies or urgent information that requires immediate attention.
• Typography: Utilize font size and weight to establish hierarchy. Larger, bolder fonts can be used for titles and main metrics, while smaller fonts work well for labels or less critical information. Keep font styles consistent across the dashboard to maintain a cohesive look and feel.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s typography and color styling options to set up a style guide that ensures visual consistency across different dashboards and components.

2. Maintain Consistency

Consistency is a cornerstone of good design. When dashboards lack consistency, users can become confused and overwhelmed, reducing the dashboard’s effectiveness. Establishing consistent patterns for navigation, data labels, and interaction states creates a more intuitive user experience and improves the dashboard’s usability.

• Consistent Visual Elements: Use the same color scheme, font styles, and chart types across different dashboards within a product. This practice helps users build a mental model of your dashboards and reduces the learning curve.
• Uniform Interaction Patterns: Whether users are filtering data, drilling down into specific information, or switching between different views, ensure that these interactions behave consistently throughout the dashboard. This reduces confusion and builds user confidence when navigating complex dashboards.

Tip for Designers: Utilize UXPin’s design systems capabilities to create reusable components, such as buttons, menus, and charts, that ensure visual and functional consistency across multiple dashboards.

3. Minimize Cognitive Load

Dashboards are often used to display large amounts of data, making it essential to minimize cognitive load by simplifying the design and focusing on the essentials. Avoid unnecessary details and distractions that can overwhelm users.

• Remove Non-Essential Elements: Reduce the number of visual elements on the screen by eliminating duplicate or redundant information. Use whitespace effectively to separate different sections and prevent overcrowding.
• Focus on Actionable Insights: Highlight the most important insights and KPIs, and use interactive elements like tooltips or drill-downs to provide additional information on demand, rather than displaying everything upfront.
• Simplify Navigation: Keep navigation straightforward, allowing users to quickly switch between different views or apply filters without getting lost.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s conditional interactions and states to hide or reveal information based on user actions, ensuring a clutter-free interface that only displays data when relevant.

4. Make Data Accessible and Usable

The primary goal of dashboards is to make data accessible and easy to understand. This involves choosing the right visualizations and ensuring that all design elements support readability and clarity.

• Use Appropriate Data Visualizations: Select chart types that align with the data you’re presenting. For instance, use bar charts for comparisons, line charts for trends, and pie charts for proportions. Avoid complex visualizations like 3D graphs that can distort data interpretation.
• Contrast and Readability: Ensure adequate contrast between text and background colors. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background works best. Avoid using overly saturated colors or color combinations that can strain the eyes.

Tip for Designers: UXPin allows you to create prototypes with different data visualization options. Test your designs with users to identify which visualizations are most effective for your audience.

5. Incorporate Accessibility Standards

Accessible design is not just a nice-to-have but a necessity for inclusive dashboards. Designing for accessibility means ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, can interact with and understand your dashboards effectively.

• Color Blindness Considerations: Avoid using color alone to convey information. Use patterns, labels, or icons in conjunction with color to differentiate data points. Utilize tools like color blindness simulators to check your design’s accessibility.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: Design your dashboard so that screen readers can easily navigate and interpret it. Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels and ensure that all interactive elements have appropriate descriptors.
• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard navigation. This is particularly important for users who rely on keyboards or other assistive technologies.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s accessibility features, such as ARIA attributes and interactive states, to create dashboards that are compatible with screen readers and other assistive devices.

Best Practices for Creating Dashboards

Designing an effective dashboard involves more than just presenting data visually—it requires a strategic approach that aligns with the needs of its users and the goals of the organization. By following best practices, designers can create dashboards that not only look good but also facilitate data-driven decisions. Here are some essential best practices for creating dashboards:

1. Define the Purpose and User Needs

Every successful dashboard starts with a clear understanding of its purpose and the needs of its users. The design process should begin by identifying what the dashboard aims to achieve and who will be using it. This foundational step ensures that the dashboard presents relevant data in a way that resonates with its target audience.

• Conduct Stakeholder Interviews: Start by interviewing stakeholders, such as managers, analysts, and end-users, to understand their expectations and requirements. Ask questions like: “What key decisions will this dashboard inform?” or “What specific metrics are important to track?” Gathering this information helps define the core purpose of the dashboard and aligns it with organizational goals.
• Identify Key Metrics and KPIs: Based on these discussions, outline the key performance indicators (KPIs) that the dashboard should monitor. Prioritize metrics that provide actionable insights and drive decision-making. For example, a sales dashboard might focus on metrics like revenue growth, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs.
• Create User Personas: Define user personas that represent different types of dashboard users. Consider their technical proficiency, data needs, and how they will interact with the dashboard. This helps in tailoring the design and functionality to suit diverse user groups, from C-suite executives to department managers.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s collaboration tools to share early wireframes and prototypes with stakeholders, ensuring alignment on the dashboard’s purpose and key metrics before moving into high-fidelity design.

2. Organize Data for Clarity

The way you structure and present data on a dashboard significantly impacts its usability and effectiveness. A clear, logical flow of information helps users find what they need quickly and reduces cognitive load.

• Logical Grouping: Group related data points together to create a coherent narrative. For example, in a marketing dashboard, metrics like campaign performance, budget allocation, and ROI can be grouped under a “Campaign Performance” section. Use visual elements like borders, spacing, and background colors to separate these groups and create distinct sections.
• Progressive Disclosure: Use techniques like progressive disclosure to show information gradually, allowing users to access more details as needed without cluttering the interface. For example, start with high-level summaries and provide options to view detailed data through drill-downs or interactive filters.
• Use Hierarchical Design: Place the most critical data points, such as KPIs or summary statistics, at the top of the dashboard. Secondary metrics and supporting information should be positioned below or within interactive panels that users can expand as needed.

Tip for Designers: Leverage UXPin’s data binding feature to connect your prototypes to real or sample data, ensuring that the layout and flow work effectively with actual content.

3. Use Drill-Downs and Filters

To avoid overwhelming users with too much information on a single screen, incorporate drill-downs and filters. These advanced techniques allow users to explore data at their own pace, accessing more granular information only when necessary.

• Drill-Down Capabilities: Use drill-down features to let users click on high-level metrics and access more detailed views or historical data. For example, clicking on a sales revenue chart could reveal a breakdown by product category or sales region.
• Interactive Filters: Include filters that allow users to refine data by date range, category, or other relevant parameters. This helps users focus on specific subsets of data without cluttering the dashboard with multiple static charts.
• Responsive Visualizations: Make sure that the visualizations respond to user interactions. When users apply filters or drill down into data, ensure that charts update dynamically to reflect these changes, maintaining a seamless experience.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s interactive states and variables to create prototypes with working filters and drill-downs, making it easy to test and demonstrate these features to stakeholders.

4. Highlight Key Metrics

Effective dashboards should emphasize the most critical data points, making it easy for users to grasp essential insights at a glance. This involves carefully selecting which metrics to highlight and using visual cues to draw attention to them.

• Select High-Impact KPIs: Choose KPIs that reflect the organization’s goals and provide actionable insights. Avoid overwhelming users with too many metrics—stick to the most meaningful ones that inform decision-making.
• Use Visual Emphasis: Employ visual elements like size, color, and position to highlight key metrics. For example, use larger fonts and bolder colors for primary KPIs, while using lighter shades or smaller text for supporting metrics.
• Contextualize Data: Provide context by showing trends, benchmarks, or targets alongside the data. For example, display a target line on a bar chart to indicate whether a particular KPI is on track.

Tip for Designers: Use color psychology and contrast effectively in your designs. UXPin’s color palettes and text styling options can help you experiment with different visual treatments to find the best way to emphasize key metrics.

5. Iterate and Refine

Creating an effective dashboard is an iterative process that involves continuous refinement based on user feedback and evolving requirements. Regular testing and iteration ensure that your dashboard remains relevant and usable over time.

• Conduct User Testing: Share your dashboard prototypes with a sample of actual users. Observe how they interact with the interface and gather feedback on usability, navigation, and content relevance. Identify any points of confusion or frustration.
• Incorporate Feedback: Use insights from user testing to refine the dashboard’s layout, interactions, and visual design. Make adjustments to improve clarity, usability, and user satisfaction.
• Continuous Improvement: Dashboards are not static—data needs and user preferences change over time. Regularly review the dashboard’s performance and effectiveness, and be open to making updates or redesigns as necessary.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s collaborative feedback features to collect comments and suggestions directly on the prototype. This streamlines the feedback process and ensures all stakeholders have visibility into the changes being made.

Common Mistakes in Dashboard Design

Even the most visually appealing dashboards can fail if they don’t support effective decision-making or overwhelm users with irrelevant data. Avoiding common design pitfalls is crucial to creating dashboards that are not only visually compelling but also provide real value to users. Here’s a look at some of the most common mistakes in dashboard design and strategies for avoiding them.

1. Overloading Users with Information

The Mistake:
One of the most common mistakes in dashboard design is overwhelming users with too much information. When every piece of data seems equally important, the dashboard becomes cluttered, making it difficult for users to find and interpret key insights. This often happens when designers try to fit too many metrics, charts, or filters onto a single dashboard screen, resulting in visual and cognitive overload.

How to Avoid It:

• Prioritize Key Metrics: Focus on the most critical metrics that align with the dashboard’s goals. Remove any data that doesn’t directly support decision-making or provide additional context. Start with high-level summaries and allow users to access more detailed information through drill-downs or secondary screens.
• Use Visual Hierarchy: Establish a visual hierarchy by organizing data logically and using visual cues such as font size, color, and spacing to differentiate between primary and secondary information. For example, place the most critical metrics in prominent areas like the top-left corner of the dashboard, where users’ eyes are naturally drawn.
• Implement Progressive Disclosure: Use techniques like progressive disclosure, which involves revealing information gradually, so users see only the most relevant details first. This helps prevent information overload while allowing users to dig deeper when necessary.

Example Strategy: Use a simplified dashboard that shows only a few core KPIs at first glance. Include interactive elements like dropdown menus or hover actions to reveal more detailed information without cluttering the main view.

2. Using Inappropriate Visuals

The Mistake:
Choosing the wrong type of visualization is a frequent mistake that can lead to misinterpretation of data. For example, using pie charts to represent changes over time or displaying too much data in a single line chart can make it difficult for users to derive meaningful insights. The misuse of 3D charts or overly complex graphics can also distort information and confuse users.

How to Avoid It:

• Match Visuals to Data Types: Select chart types based on the nature of the data and the insights you want to communicate. For instance, use line charts to show trends over time, bar charts for comparisons, and scatter plots to highlight relationships between variables. Avoid using 3D charts or decorative visuals that don’t add value.
• Leverage Visual Cues for Clarity: Use color, size, and shape to indicate relationships and emphasize important points. For example, using different shades of the same color to show different categories or applying color saturation to indicate magnitude can help users interpret the data more intuitively.
• Simplify Visuals: Stick to simple and straightforward visualizations. Remove any unnecessary chart elements like excessive gridlines, borders, or decorative icons. Use annotations or tooltips to provide additional context without overcrowding the visualization.

Example Strategy: If you need to show revenue trends over multiple years, use a line chart with distinct colors for each year, along with a secondary axis or tooltip to show percentage changes. This keeps the visualization clean and interpretable.

3. Ignoring Context and User Workflow

The Mistake:
Designing dashboards without considering the context in which they will be used or the workflow of the end-users is another common mistake. Dashboards that don’t integrate smoothly into a user’s daily activities or fail to provide the right level of detail at the right time can become a hindrance rather than a help.

How to Avoid It:

• Understand User Needs and Context: Conduct user research and create user personas to understand how different users will interact with the dashboard. Identify their primary goals, the context in which they’ll use the dashboard, and the typical decisions they need to make. This ensures the design supports their workflow and provides information that is immediately actionable.
• Design for User Roles: Tailor dashboards for different user roles. For example, a dashboard for a C-suite executive might focus on high-level KPIs like overall revenue and market share, while a dashboard for a marketing manager might include detailed campaign performance metrics.
• Create a Logical Flow: Organize the dashboard content in a logical flow that aligns with user expectations and workflows. For example, start with a high-level overview and then provide more detailed views or filters that users can interact with to gain deeper insights.

Example Strategy: If you’re designing a dashboard for a sales team, include filters that allow users to switch between different time periods (e.g., quarterly or yearly), view sales data by region or product, and see individual performance metrics. This contextual information helps the sales team make decisions more effectively without having to navigate multiple screens or systems.

How to Evaluate and Optimize Existing Dashboard Design

Creating a dashboard is only the first step. Once it’s live, it’s essential to evaluate its performance and usability to ensure that it continues to meet user needs and provide value. Regular optimization and iterative improvements can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your dashboards.

Performance Optimization

Dashboard performance is a critical factor in user satisfaction. A dashboard that takes too long to load or responds slowly to user interactions can lead to frustration and decreased productivity. Here are some key techniques for optimizing dashboard performance:

• Optimize Data Queries: One of the most common causes of slow dashboards is inefficient data queries. Optimize your SQL queries or API calls by using indexed fields, avoiding nested subqueries, and fetching only the necessary data. Consider implementing query caching for frequently accessed datasets to reduce load times.
• Reduce Data Points and Visual Complexity: Displaying too many data points or overly complex visualizations can slow down the dashboard. Limit the number of data points displayed in charts, and use simplified visualizations wherever possible. Aggregating data at a higher level can also reduce the amount of processing needed.
• Leverage Asynchronous Data Loading: Implement asynchronous data loading for charts and widgets that don’t need to load simultaneously. This allows users to interact with parts of the dashboard while other elements continue to load in the background, providing a smoother experience.
• Optimize Image and Asset Sizes: Reduce the size of images, icons, and other assets used in the dashboard. Use vector graphics or compressed image formats (e.g., SVG, WebP) to minimize loading times.
• Implement Lazy Loading: Use lazy loading techniques for components that are not immediately visible or necessary on the initial screen. This approach ensures that only the critical elements load first, while others are rendered as needed, reducing the initial load time.

Tip for Designers: Test your dashboard’s performance regularly by using browser developer tools to measure load times, network requests, and rendering performance. This helps identify bottlenecks and optimize the overall user experience.

User Testing and Feedback Loops

User testing is a crucial step in ensuring that your dashboard is not only functional but also intuitive and effective. By observing how users interact with the dashboard and gathering their feedback, you can uncover usability issues and identify areas for improvement.

• Conduct Usability Testing: Perform usability testing with real users who represent your target audience. Set up scenarios where users complete specific tasks, such as finding a particular metric or applying a filter. Observe how they navigate the dashboard, and note any points of confusion or difficulty.
• Use A/B Testing: If you’re considering design changes, use A/B testing to evaluate different versions of the dashboard. Compare metrics such as task completion time, error rates, and user satisfaction to determine which version performs better.
• Collect User Feedback: Encourage users to provide feedback on their experience with the dashboard. Use built-in feedback forms, surveys, or direct interviews to gather qualitative insights. Pay attention to recurring themes in feedback, such as unclear visualizations or missing data.
• Iterate Based on Insights: Use the insights gained from testing and feedback to iterate on the dashboard design. Implement changes in small increments, and test each iteration to ensure it addresses the identified issues without introducing new problems.

Tip for Designers: Use UXPin’s interactive prototypes to create realistic dashboard simulations for user testing. This allows users to interact with the dashboard as if it were a live environment, providing more accurate feedback.

Tools for Dashboard Design Evaluation

Choosing the right tools can make evaluating and optimizing dashboards more efficient. Here are some recommended tools for different aspects of dashboard evaluation:

• Usability Testing:
  • Lookback.io: Record user sessions and observe how users navigate your dashboard in real time. You can also conduct live interviews and collect qualitative feedback.
  • UserTesting: Create and distribute user tests to a large pool of testers, and receive video feedback along with quantitative data on user interactions.
  • UXPin Prototyping: Use UXPin to create interactive prototypes of your dashboards, enabling you to test functionality and gather feedback before development.
• Heatmaps:
  • Hotjar: Use heatmaps to see where users click, scroll, and interact most on your dashboard. This helps identify which areas attract the most attention and where users might be experiencing difficulties.
  • Crazy Egg: Offers click maps, scroll maps, and confetti reports that show how users are interacting with the dashboard. Use this tool to refine layouts and improve engagement.
• Performance Monitoring:
  • Google Lighthouse: An open-source tool for auditing the performance of web pages, including dashboards. It provides insights on load times, accessibility, and best practices.
  • New Relic: Monitor the performance of your dashboards and identify backend issues such as slow API responses or database queries. It provides detailed performance metrics and alerts for real-time monitoring.

Tip for Designers: Use these tools in combination to get a comprehensive view of how your dashboard is performing. For example, start with usability testing to identify major pain points, then use heatmaps to verify user behavior, and finally, employ performance monitoring tools to optimize loading times.

Future Trends in Dashboard Design

The field of dashboard design is evolving rapidly as new technologies and methodologies reshape how businesses interact with data. Emerging trends like AI-powered dashboards, augmented analytics, and heightened focus on data privacy are setting new standards for usability and functionality. Staying ahead of these trends will enable designers to create dashboards that not only meet today’s needs but are also future-proof. Let’s explore these key trends and their implications for dashboard design.

1. AI-Powered Dashboards: Automating Insights and Personalization

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming how dashboards operate and deliver value. AI-powered dashboards go beyond static data presentation by leveraging algorithms to analyze data, detect patterns, and generate automated insights. These dashboards can identify trends, anomalies, and correlations that might be difficult for users to spot manually, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making.

• Automated Insights: AI can scan through massive datasets and automatically surface key insights, saving users time and reducing the cognitive load. For instance, an AI-powered sales dashboard might highlight regions with declining performance or suggest potential causes for a sudden drop in revenue based on historical data.
• Personalization: AI can tailor the dashboard experience to individual users by learning their preferences and usage patterns. Personalized dashboards can prioritize metrics and visualizations based on what’s most relevant to each user. For example, an operations manager might see real-time production data, while a finance executive views high-level financial KPIs, all within the same dashboard environment.
• Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics: AI enables predictive analytics by forecasting future trends based on historical data, and prescriptive analytics by recommending actions to optimize outcomes. For example, in a product management dashboard, AI might predict product demand for the upcoming quarter and suggest changes to the supply chain to meet that demand efficiently.

Design Consideration: To incorporate AI-powered elements, ensure your dashboard design includes space for dynamic insights, recommendations, and alert systems that can update in real-time as new data comes in. Use UXPin’s interactive components to simulate how these AI-driven features would behave in a live environment.

2. Augmented Analytics: Making Dashboards More Actionable

Augmented analytics is a growing trend that enhances traditional dashboards by integrating advanced analytics features like natural language processing (NLP), conversational analytics, and automated data preparation. This trend is making dashboards more accessible to non-technical users and enabling more sophisticated data analysis without requiring advanced data science skills.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP allows users to interact with dashboards using simple language queries, such as “What were our top-selling products last quarter?” or “Show me sales trends over the past year.” This capability democratizes data access, allowing users to ask complex questions without needing to know SQL or other programming languages.
• Conversational Analytics: Integrating chatbots and voice-enabled assistants within dashboards provides an intuitive way for users to explore data. For example, a user can ask the chatbot to “Show me the highest performing campaigns in the last month,” and receive an instant, visual response.
• Automated Data Preparation: Augmented analytics tools can automate time-consuming tasks like data cleansing, normalization, and aggregation. This ensures that the data displayed on dashboards is always up-to-date and ready for analysis, reducing the chances of errors and inconsistencies.

Design Consideration: Designers can support augmented analytics by incorporating search bars, chatbot interfaces, or dedicated panels for conversational queries. UXPin’s prototyping tools can help visualize these interactive elements, enabling designers to test and refine these features.

3. Data Privacy and Security Considerations

As dashboards become more sophisticated and data-driven, ensuring data privacy and security is paramount. With increasing regulatory scrutiny and data breaches making headlines, it’s essential to incorporate best practices for data security and compliance in dashboard design.

• Data Encryption and Secure Access: All data presented on the dashboard should be encrypted, both in transit and at rest, to protect against unauthorized access. Implement secure authentication methods, such as single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that users only have access to the data they’re authorized to view.
• Compliance with Regulations: Ensure that dashboards comply with relevant data privacy laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S. This includes providing users with options to view, export, or delete their personal data as required by law.
• Data Anonymization: For dashboards that handle sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII), use data anonymization techniques to mask identities and prevent data breaches. This can include aggregating data at a higher level or using pseudonyms to replace sensitive fields.
• Audit Trails and Monitoring: Implement audit trails to track who accesses the dashboard and what changes are made. This helps ensure accountability and provides a clear record of data usage. Use monitoring tools to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real time.

Design Consideration: To address security and compliance concerns, design dashboards with clear user permissions and access levels. Include visual indicators to show which data is sensitive and consider implementing features like secure data download or export options with additional authentication layers.

Recommended Resources for Dashboard Design

Here’s a list of resources that offer a well-rounded approach to mastering dashboard design—from foundational concepts and practical guides to community engagement and hands-on tools.

• Books:
  • Practical Reporting: A guide covering practical strategies, visualization techniques, and design principles for creating effective dashboards.
  • The Big Book of Dashboards by Steve Wexler, Jeffrey Shaffer, and Andy Cotgreave: Features real-world scenarios and practical advice for designing dashboards across industries.
  • Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few: Explores best practices and visual design principles to create at-a-glance monitoring dashboards.
• Blogs & Websites:
  • Practical Reporting Blog: Offers insights, tutorials, and industry trends in dashboard design.
  • Data Viz Project: Provides examples and guidelines for different types of visualizations, ideal for dashboard designers.
• Courses:
  • LinkedIn Learning: Learning Data Visualization: Covers foundational concepts and visualization techniques applicable to dashboard design.
• Tools:
  • UXPin: Create fully interactive dashboard prototypes using real components, enabling designers to test complex interactions.
  • Tableau Public: Experiment with different dashboard layouts and visualizations in a free and open platform.
• Communities:
  • Reddit: r/DataIsBeautiful: Share your work, get feedback, and discover inspiring dashboards from the community.
  • Tableau Community Forums: Engage with other Tableau users to learn advanced techniques and get support for dashboard projects.

Create Stunning Dashboard Designs with UXPin Merge

The article outlines the key elements required for designing effective dashboards that are visually compelling, user-centric, and impactful for business decision-making. It provides an in-depth look at different types of dashboards (analytical, operational, strategic, and tactical) and their specific use cases. By exploring essential design principles such as visual hierarchy, consistency, minimizing cognitive load, and ensuring accessibility, the article helps designers create dashboards that present data clearly and effectively.

Additionally, the article identifies common pitfalls in dashboard design and offers actionable strategies to avoid them, ensuring a seamless user experience. The future trends section highlights AI-powered dashboards, augmented analytics, and data privacy considerations, positioning the article as a comprehensive resource for both current best practices and forward-looking strategies.

Why UXPin Merge is Effective for Dashboard Design

UXPin Merge bridges the gap between design and development, making it an ideal solution for creating highly interactive and data-driven dashboards. With UXPin Merge, design teams can sync live components directly from a code repository like Git or Storybook, ensuring that the design uses real, production-ready elements. This alignment between design and development enhances collaboration and consistency, reducing the risk of discrepancies between prototypes and final products.

Benefits of UXPin Merge:

1. Interactive Prototyping with Real Components: UXPin Merge enables designers to create fully interactive prototypes that mirror the final product’s behavior, making it easier to test interactions like drill-downs, filters, and dynamic data updates.
2. Faster Iteration and Feedback Cycles: Since the prototypes are built with real components, changes and iterations are reflected in the design immediately, allowing teams to gather more accurate feedback and streamline the development process.
3. Enhanced Collaboration: Merge fosters better collaboration between designers, developers, and product managers, as everyone works with the same components, ensuring consistency and reducing miscommunication.
4. Production-Ready Prototypes: Designers can hand off prototypes that are practically ready for production, shortening the development cycle and minimizing the need for extensive rework.

By integrating real UI components into the design process, UXPin Merge allows designers to build complex, data-driven dashboards that are not only visually appealing but also behave exactly like the final product, making it an invaluable tool for efficient dashboard design. Request access to UXPin Merge.

The post Effective Dashboard Design Principles for 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Filters are powerful user interface patterns, streamlining user journeys and driving engagement by increasing efficiency and content discovery. We explore UI filter design, providing insights and best practices to help you design user-friendly patterns, including examples from leading tech companies and how they simplify the user experience through filters.

Key takeaways:

• UI filters are design elements that aid search within an app or a website.
• They directly influence user navigation, ensuring efficient and tailored content discovery.
• Prioritizing simplicity, responsiveness, and user control is paramount for effective filter design.
• Cross-platform filter design requires a harmonious blend of platform-specific patterns and consistent core functionalities.
• Incorporating natural language, progressive disclosure, and accessibility ensures filters cater to all users and their diverse needs.
• Advanced design tools like UXPin enable designers to prototype and test interactive filter components, maximizing their impact on the final product.

Design intuitive filters and other interactive components with the world’s most advanced UX design tool. Sign up for a free trial to build your first interactive prototype with UXPin today.

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What is UI Filter in UX Design?

A UI filter is a design element that allows users to narrow down a data set or options based on specific criteria. For example, we use filters for eCommerce stores to find products by size, color, price, etc. A filter UI lets users find what they want quickly, saving time and reducing frustration.

Designers design filters based on user needs to help them navigate content or offerings efficiently. When implemented correctly, filters streamline navigation, making interfaces user-friendly and intuitive.

How Do Filters Affect User Experience?

Filters empower users by controlling how they find and experience content, speeding up tasks, and enhancing engagement with digital products.

Here’s how filters enhance the user experience:

1. Navigation efficiency: Users don’t waste time scrolling through irrelevant data. For example, instead of browsing through hundreds of shoes on an eCommerce site, users can filter for their size, preferred color, or brand to find the most relevant results.
2. Personalized content delivery: Filters cater to individual preferences. Consider a news app; by selecting specific categories like ‘Technology’ or ‘Health,’ users receive news tailored to their interests.
3. Decision-making support: Overwhelming users with options can paralyze decision-making. Filters limit choices, making it easier for users to decide. In a streaming app, rather than sifting through thousands of movies, filters can display only “Top-rated” or “New releases.”
4. Reduction in cognitive load: Users don’t need to process excessive information. Filters help display only what’s necessary, ensuring users aren’t overwhelmed or fatigued.
5. Improved Satisfaction and Retention: When users find what they’re looking for quickly and efficiently, they’re more likely to be satisfied and continue using the platform.

What are the Principles of User-Friendly Filter Design?

Simplicity and clarity

The filter interface should be straightforward to understand. Avoid overwhelming users with too many options or using ambiguous names. For example, an online clothing store should have clear categories like size, color, fit, brand, price, etc., rather than intricate sub-filters that confuse shoppers.

Responsiveness and feedback

Filters should apply changes quickly and give users feedback about their actions. For example, displaying a result count of the applied filters tells users how many options they must scroll through, setting expectations and preventing frustration.

Prioritization of filters

Not all filters hold the same importance. By understanding user needs, prioritize the most commonly used filters and hide the rest. For example, an accommodation filter might display the dates, guests, and location in the primary UI with a “View all filters” button or icon to access the rest.

Flexibility and control

Users should feel in command. If they make a mistake, it should be easy to rectify. For example, a “reset filters” button lets users revert to default quickly.

Visibility and accessibility

Filters must be conveniently located and accessed on a page. For example, users are used to seeing filters above results near the search field.

Designing filter user interfaces for cross-platform applications

Building filters for cross-platform applications demands awareness of varying platform-specific UI patterns and best practices. Ensuring consistent user experience across different operating systems while adhering to platform-specific guidelines is vital.

Here are some design decisions to consider when designing cross-platform filter patterns:

• iOS Platform-Specific Patterns: iOS design often uses segmented controls for filters. For instance, in a shopping app, ‘Men,’ ‘Women,’ and ‘Kids’ might be segmented controls at the top of the browsing screen.
• Android Platform-Specific Patterns: Android UIs frequently employ tabs for primary filtering options. Dropdowns are also standard for secondary filtering or sorting options.
• Consistency Across Platforms: While it’s essential to respect platform-specific patterns to maintain a native experience, ensure that the core functionality remains consistent across all platforms and mobile apps. If a filter option exists on iOS, the same should be accessible on Android, even if represented differently.
• Adaptive UI Components: Utilize components that adapt to the user’s device and operating system, providing a seamless experience regardless of device.

How to Design Effective UI Filters

Use natural language for filter options

Use words and phrases users naturally use or expect to ensure users understand filter options without ambiguity. 

For example, instead of using “Canine” and “Feline” as filter options on a pet eCommerce store, use “Dogs” and “Cats”. The latter terms align more with common user language.

Provide search within filters for extensive lists

When dealing with long lists of filter options, a search function aids users in finding their choice without scrolling endlessly.

For example, an online bookstore with multiple genres provides a search bar within the filter instead of listing every genre. Users can type “thriller” and directly access that genre without navigating a lengthy list.

Utilize progressive disclosure

First, display the most commonly used filters and provide an option to see more if users need further granularity.

For example, a real estate site might show Price, City, and Price Range filters upfront with a “Show More” filtering option for users who want specifics like Bedrooms, Suburbs, and other property features.

Employ visual cues

Visual elements, like colors, icons, and typography, effectively guide users, clarify options, and enhance filter understanding.

For example, color swatches beside filter options give users a visual cue to scan results faster.

Design filters for accessibility

Filters should be usable by everyone, including those with disabilities, considering contrast, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard navigation.

For example, if your app uses color for filter categories, consider adding icons to help color-blind users navigate and scan results.

What are Some Use Cases of Good Filter UI Design?

Airbnb

Airbnb redesigned its filter UI in 2023 to be more accessible and user-friendly. Users can access the search filter overlay via a universally recognizable icon next to the search filter.

Recognizing that price is most important to users, Airbnb offers two UI design patterns for price filtering. Users can scroll to get more granular using large buttons, icons, checkboxes, sliders, and switches to apply preferences.

Booking.com

Like Airbnb, Booking.com must display millions of properties to travelers and uses filters to help narrow options. Booking.com uses a slightly different pattern with the filter icon and label to help with accessibility.

Booking.com also displays a price filter at the top and a list of popular filters below, enabling users to apply choices without too much scrolling. Beside each filter is a number displaying the amount of results per filter, providing users with helpful feedback and managing expectations.

For example, you don’t want to apply a filter and discover no properties, forcing you to return and try again–possibly several times, causing immense frustration.

Spotify

Filter doesn’t always apply to search. It can also help users decide what content they want to access. Spotify has three primary categories:

• Music
• Podcasts & Shows
• Audiobooks

The streaming service uses a button for each category on the home screen for users to filter what content they want to consume. These filters make Spotify’s home screen user-friendly and efficient because users can apply a preference in one click, eliminating the need to search or access navigation.

Amazon

Amazon’s desktop interface displays a search field at the top of the page and filters in a neatly organized left sidebar. Users can apply filters using icons, checkboxes, buttons, or form fields for custom pricing. Selecting an item automatically loads the filter results, eliminating the need for an “Apply Button,” reducing clicks and interactions.

This highly granular filtering is crucial for large databases like Amazon’s product inventory. In the example above, we apply two options in the filtering sidebar to get shoe results from over 50,000 to 202, streamlining the browsing experience to checkout faster.

Google Maps

Google Maps uses a horizontal scroll navigation pattern to display a list of common search categories. Once users apply a broad term like “Coffee,” they can use the secondary filters to apply more granularity and narrow results.

Google Maps’ filtering interface is an excellent example of how designers can help users find what they want with minimal clicks and typing, even when diverse, seemingly endless options are available.

6 Filter UI Design Patterns to Use

On-Screen Filter

• Description: This pattern displays filter options directly on the screen without additional interactions. It’s ideal for contexts where users need to quickly toggle or adjust filters, such as eCommerce sites that allow sorting by price, popularity, or category.
• Best Use Cases: Suitable for interfaces with few filter options and where users want immediate control without navigating away.
• Example: Amazon’s product filters, which show categories and price ranges directly on the results page.
• Enhancements: Combine with sticky headers or floating filter bars to keep filters accessible as users scroll.

Filter Drawer

• Description: A filter drawer reveals options upon interaction, typically through a tap or swipe. This pattern is useful for mobile devices where screen real estate is limited.
• Best Use Cases: Ideal for apps or websites with a large number of filter options that need to be hidden by default.
• Example: Airbnb uses a filter drawer that slides in from the side, allowing users to refine search criteria without leaving the results page.
• Considerations: Ensure the drawer is easily dismissible and accessible, especially on small screens​(Smashing Magazine).

Filter Dialog

• Description: A modal or pop-up dialog that presents filters as a separate overlay. This design pattern forces users to focus solely on filtering before returning to the main content.
• Best Use Cases: Best for complex filters that require multiple inputs or selections, such as finding specific product attributes or searching flights by multiple criteria.
• Example: Expedia uses a filter dialog that allows users to specify flight durations, number of stops, and preferred airlines​(Smashing Magazine).
• Accessibility Tip: Make sure the dialog is keyboard-navigable and supports screen readers.

Filter Tabs or Scrolling Bar

• Description: A horizontal scrollable bar with filter options presented as tabs. Users can switch between tabs to filter content based on specific categories or attributes.
• Best Use Cases: Effective for media-rich content like news articles or image galleries, where users need to filter by type (e.g., “All,” “Videos,” “Images”).
• Example: Google uses a scrolling filter bar in its search results to switch between different types of content, such as “Images” or “News.”
• Key Consideration: Ensure the filter tabs are visible and intuitive to use, with clear labels for each category.

Scoped Search or Pre-Filters

• Description: This pattern allows users to define their search criteria before viewing results. Commonly seen as part of a search form, scoped search helps users narrow down the number of results early on.
• Best Use Cases: Useful for large databases or eCommerce sites where users might know exactly what they are looking for (e.g., searching for hotels with specific amenities).
• Example: TripAdvisor’s search form uses pre-filters to refine the search criteria before displaying results​(Smashing Magazine).
• Implementation Tip: Use placeholders and tooltips to guide users on how to define search criteria effectively.

Combination Filter (Multi-Select)

• Description: This pattern combines multiple filter types, such as checkboxes, dropdowns, and sliders, within one interface. It’s useful when users need to apply a combination of filters, like selecting multiple categories, price ranges, or product attributes.
• Best Use Cases: Suitable for complex datasets where users need to refine results based on many criteria.
• Example: Zappos uses a multi-select filter interface to refine product options by size, color, brand, and price.
• Interaction Design Tip: Allow users to see how each filter affects the results dynamically without reloading the page.

Design Better Filter UI and UX with UXPin

Designing and prototyping filters is challenging in image-based tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch. While you can achieve excellent visual design results, these design tools lack the features to create interactive prototypes–a big problem for testing an interactive filter component.

UXPin is a code-based design tool. Instead of generating vector graphics, UXPin renders HTML, CSS, and Javascript behind the scenes, giving designers the power of code without writing a single line.

Advanced prototyping features

Designers can use UXPin’s code-based features to build functioning filters that look and feel like the final product without plugins or external tools:

• States: create multiple states for a single UI element and design complex interactive components like dropdown menus, tab menus, navigational drawers, and more.
• Variables: capture data from user inputs and create personalized, dynamic user experiences–like displaying a user’s selected filters with results.
• Expressions: Javascript-like functions to create complex components and advanced functionality–no code required!
• Conditional Interactions: create if-then and if-else conditions based on user interactions to create dynamic prototypes with multiple outcomes to accurately replicate the final product experience.

Enhanced testing

With UXPin’s advanced features, design teams can test ideas and get accurate, actionable feedback from end-users and stakeholders. This meaningful feedback allows designers to solve more usability issues and identify better business opportunities during the design process, maximizing their impact within the organization.

Design better interactive components like UI filters with the world’s most advanced digital product design tool. Sign up for a free trial to explore UXPin’s features and create your first interactive prototype.

The post Filter UI and UX 101 – An In-Depth Guide appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Mobile-first design is an approach to designing UIs that prioritizes small-screen experience. Given that different devices need different layouts based on their screen size and orientation, it makes sense to design multiple arrangements for your users. This article will show you how to create a mobile-first prototype of a product and transform it into tablet and desktop screens.

Make your own responsive variations right in UXPin. Create a mobile-first design and scale it up for tablet and desktop views in UXPin – an advanced prototyping tool. Go ahead and create a free trial and follow along below.

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What is Mobile-First Approach?

The mobile-first approach is designing for the smallest screen and working your way up. It is one of the best strategies to create either a responsive or adaptive design.

• The mobile-first approach is a tenet of progressive enhancement. It is the ideology that mobile design, as the hardest, should be done first. Once the mobile design questions are answered, designing for other devices will be easier. What it boils down to is that, the smallest of the designs will have only the essential features, so right away you have designed the heart of your UX.
• The opposite approach is graceful degradation. This incorporates all of the complexities right from the start, then strips them away later for smaller devices. The problem with graceful degradation is that when you build the all-inclusive design right from the start, the core and supplementary elements merge and become harder to distinguish and separate. The entire philosophy runs the risk of treating mobile design as more of an afterthought since you’re “cutting down” the experience.

We, along with others, strongly recommend progressive enhancement with a mobile-first approach. In this post, we’ll explain tips & techniques, then finish off with a hands-on lesson in which we build a hypothetical website with the mobile-first workflow.

Mobile-first design is also a response to the realities of modern user behavior and technological advancements, such as increasing mobile usage, future-proofing the design, and more. By prioritizing mobile, designers can ensure a more effective and efficient design process that meets the needs of the majority of users.

Who uses Mobile-First Design?

Mobile-first design has been adopted by numerous organizations across various industries. Here are some notable examples and case studies of companies that successfully implemented mobile-first design.

1. Google

• Context: As a leading technology company, Google recognized the shift toward mobile usage early on.
• Implementation: Google began encouraging a mobile-first approach through initiatives like AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) and mobile-first indexing.
• Outcome: Websites adopting Google’s mobile-first guidelines generally experienced improved mobile performance and search rankings. Google’s emphasis on mobile-friendly designs helped shape industry standards and practices.

2. Dropbox

• Context: Dropbox transitioned from a desktop-centric service to a mobile-friendly platform to meet user demands for accessibility on-the-go.
• Implementation: They adopted a mobile-first approach in redesigning their app, focusing on a simplified, intuitive interface for mobile users first and then scaling up for desktop users.
• Outcome: The redesign led to a more consistent user experience across devices and contributed to increased mobile engagement and user satisfaction.

3. BBC

• Context: The BBC needed to reach a global audience on various devices, particularly mobile phones, given the increasing consumption of news on the go.
• Implementation: They adopted a mobile-first strategy for their website and apps, ensuring content was accessible and optimized for mobile devices.
• Outcome: The BBC saw a significant improvement in mobile traffic and user engagement. Their responsive design approach also made it easier to manage content across multiple platforms.

4. Flipkart

• Context: Flipkart, a major e-commerce company in India, recognized the growing trend of mobile commerce in the region.
• Implementation: They adopted a mobile-first approach to design their app and website, focusing on fast load times, simplified navigation, and a user-friendly interface.
• Outcome: This approach contributed to a surge in mobile transactions, with Flipkart reporting that a large majority of their sales came from mobile devices.

5. Airbnb

• Context: Airbnb aimed to create a seamless experience for travelers and hosts who increasingly relied on mobile devices.
• Implementation: They redesigned their platform with a mobile-first mindset, prioritizing mobile usability and a responsive design that adapted to various screen sizes.
• Outcome: The mobile-first design contributed to higher user satisfaction, increased mobile bookings, and a more consistent user experience across devices .

6. Spotify

• Context: Spotify needed a mobile-friendly design to cater to users who accessed music primarily through mobile devices.
• Implementation: Spotify embraced mobile-first design principles to ensure a seamless, intuitive user interface on mobile devices before adapting it for desktop users.
• Outcome: This approach enhanced user engagement and satisfaction, with the majority of Spotify’s user base accessing the service via mobile devices.

Mobile-First means Content-First

If your site is good on a mobile device, it translates better to the rest of devices, be it tablet, desktop computer or laptop. More important, though, is that a mobile-first approach is also a content-first approach. Mobile has the most limitations, screen size, and bandwidth to name a few, and so designing within these parameters forces you to prioritize content ruthlessly.

The mobile-first approach organically leads to a design that’s more content-focused, and therefore user-focused. The heart of the site is content — that’s what the users are there for.

One caveat, though, is that mobile users sometimes require different content than desktop users. Device-specific content can be gauged by considering context — what, in a given situation and a given environment, will your user appreciate more. The best way to plan ahead for these is by creating user scenarios.

Another advantage to the mobile-first approach is that the small-screen breakpoints can better fit around the content. Again, the alternative is worse: having to squeeze an already plump design into a tiny framework. But with the mobile-first approach, the breakpoints develop naturally around content, so you don’t need any awkward edits.

What is mobile-first design framework?

We’ll describe a process that helps our designers at UXPin.

As usual, wireframing is a recommended early step to most efficiently structure your layout. When wireframing or prototyping, we use the responsive breakpoint menu to streamline the process of moving to different screen sizes, starting with the smallest.

These presets layout the proper screen size for you, so you can wireframe keeping only the content in mind.

Our procedure follows these steps:
1. Content Inventory — This is a spreadsheet or equivalent document containing all the elements you want to include. Learn more about doing an inventory of content.

Source: Maadmob

2. Visual Hierarchy — Prioritize the elements in the content inventory and determine how to display the most important elements prominently. Learn more about visual hierarchy.

3. Design with the smallest breakpoints and then scale up — Build the mobile wireframe first, then use that as the model for larger breakpoints. Expand the screen until there’s too much negative space.

4. Enlarge touch targets — Fingers are much wider than pixel-precise mouse cursors, and so need larger elements on which to tap. At the time of this writing, Apple recommends 44 pixels square for touch targets (read about mobile design for iOS and Android). Give hyperlinks plenty of space, and slightly enlarge buttons, and make sure that there’s enough space around all the interactive elements.

5. Don’t count on hovers — It almost goes without saying, but designers often rely on hover and mouseover effects in their interactive work. If you’re thinking mobile-friendly, don’t do that.

6. Think “app” — Mobile users are accustomed to the motion and a modicum of control in their experience. Think about off-canvas navigation, expandible widgets, AJAX calls, or other elements on the screen with which users can interact without refreshing the page.

7. Avoid large graphics — Landscape photos and complex graphics don’t display well when your screen is only a few inches across. Cater to mobile users with images that are readable on handheld screens.

8. Test it in a real device — Nothing beats discovering for yourself how usable a website is (or isn’t). Step away from your desktop or laptop computer and load up your product on a real phone or tablet. Tap through pages. Is the site easy to navigate? Does it load in a timely fashion? Are the text and graphics easy to read?

This is just a basic outline. For the complete guide to our process, download the free Content Wireframing for Responsive Design.

How to Create Mobile-First Design

We prepared for you a tutorial that will explain how to create a mobile-first design. Our mobile-first design tutorial has four steps.

• Step 1: Set your content priorities.
• Step 2: Design smartphone view.
• Step 3: Work on tablet view.
• Step 4: Create desktop view.

Step 1: Set your content priorities

A “mobile-first approach” differs from “desktop-first” in that we add information to each progressively larger layout rather than cut away as we design smaller. Thinking mobile doesn’t mean eliminating information. It means sorting information into primary, secondary, and tertiary content.

In this example, we know that the home page should have certain elements, like the company’s name and links to products. A blog post wouldn’t hurt either. But like we said, not everything will fit into a smartphone view, so we set priorities based on what will achieve the site’s goal: selling bikes.

1. The newest model bike

2. The best-selling bike

3. “Find your perfect ride” CTA

4. Company name and hero image

5. Navigation

6. Search

7. The second-best-selling bike

8. Gift certificates

9. A testimonial

10. The latest blog post

Based on that ordered list, we can create with the confidence that our work will solve a design problem of getting sales.

Step 2: Design smartphone view

How much do users need?

Thinking mobile-first forces us to think about what’s really important. In this smartphone view, the top-selling bike and newest model will lead directly to sales, so can we leave other items — such as gift certificates, a less-popular model, the latest news — for inside pages. The final call to action is especially prominent and easy to hit with a single tap of the finger.

Step 3: Work on tablet view

As we design for a tablet-sized view, we’re better able to add secondary information like additional products (e.g. “The Capacitor”). We can also expand the navigation at the top of the page and add content that encourages sales without actually leading to them — namely, the testimonial.

Because more options are available, this can be surprisingly more difficult than deciding what to include in a smartphone UI. The difference between secondary and tertiary elements is a blurry line, and temptation is strong to include everything.

Resist the urge. Use the ordered content list. Like smartphones, space is still limited.

Step 4: Create desktop view

Finally, the desktop view can support as much information as you decide is important. This is where the home page can accommodate all of the information you see fit, whether or not it fits. Notice some of the additional content we’ve included:

• Gift certificates
• Customer testimonials
• Blog post exploring the newest Lightning Bolt bike

Design device-appropriate layouts yourself

#1: UI Design with regular UXPin

If you’re using UXPin, it’s fairly easy to create different layouts for these views.

1. Open a UXPin prototype.
2. Tap “Add new adaptive version” at the bottom right of the UXPin editor.
3. Choose a preset size or enter your own dimensions.
   
4. You don’t have to recreate everything from scratch. Choose a size from which to copy your design’s elements.
   

And that’s it. Switch between breakpoints by tapping the different sizes above your canvas, and adjust each to suit your needs. If you’d like to try prototyping mobile-first yourself, go ahead. Start a free trial in UXPin.

#2: Code-backed design with UXPin Merge

Those of you who use UXPin Merge can use Frames to build fully responsive prototypes.

1. Open a UXPin prototype.
2. Select the Frame tool from the Quick Tools Bar.
3. Click anywhere on the canvas to create a default frame (300 x 100 px), or click and drag on the canvas to create a frame with custom dimensions.
4. Put code-backed components inside of Frame and manage their properties.

You can preview just a frame of full design in the Spec Mode. Frames in UXPin work similarly to iFrames but offer more flexibility for responsive design. They support dynamic resizing and styling which allows components to automatically adapt their appearance and behavior for different screen sizes, making it easy to ensure a responsive design across all devices. To see how it works exactly, request access to UXPin Merge.

The post A Hands-On Guide to Mobile-First Responsive Design appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

AI tools are software applications powered by machine learning algorithms that automate tasks, analyze data, and simulate human-like thinking. For designers and developers, AI tools have become essential for streamlining workflows, enhancing creativity, and delivering personalized user experiences.

From design automation and code generation to user research and content creation, AI enables professionals to work more efficiently and make data-informed decisions. By integrating AI into your workflow, you can amplify your capabilities and create better, more innovative products—faster and with fewer resources.

Looking for a tool that combines the power of AI with the speed of building functional user interfaces? Try UXPin Merge. It enables designers and developers to work seamlessly together by integrating live, code-based components directly into your design environment. With the addition of the AI Component Creator, UXPin takes your interface-building capabilities to the next level, allowing you to create and iterate faster than ever. Request access to UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

What Are AI Tools?

AI tools are software applications powered by advanced machine learning algorithms. These tools can analyze vast amounts of data, automate repetitive tasks, and even simulate human-like thinking processes. For designers and developers, AI tools have become indispensable for boosting creativity, speeding up workflows, and enhancing user experiences.

In the context of UX design and development, AI tools can assist in various ways.

Design Automation

Tools powered by Artificial Intelligence can automate mundane design tasks, such as layout adjustments or color recommendations, allowing designers to focus on more strategic aspects of their work.

Code Generation

Developers can leverage AI-powered coding assistants (like GitHub Copilot) to suggest code snippets, auto-complete complex functions, or even generate boilerplate code based on natural language descriptions. This can be useful when building a code-backed design system.

User Research & Analytics

Artificial Intelligence tools can analyze user interactions to identify patterns, predict user behavior, and provide insights into usability issues. These insights can drive data-informed design decisions.

Content Generation

AI-driven content tools can create compelling copy, generate blog ideas, or assist with technical documentation—saving time and resources.

Personalization

AI can personalize user experiences based on behavioral data. For instance, recommendation engines (think of those used by Amazon or Netflix) can be integrated into websites to offer personalized content or product suggestions.

Why AI Tools Matter for Designers

The integration of AI into design and development workflows isn’t just about automation—it’s about amplification. AI tools allow designers to explore more possibilities faster and help developers write cleaner code by automating tedious debugging processes. Ultimately, these tools enable teams to create better products in less time.

In the fast-evolving landscape of technology, staying ahead means embracing tools that enhance your capabilities. AI is not here to replace designers or developers but to empower them, making it easier to deliver innovative, user-centered products.

How to Measure the Usefulness of an AI Tool as a Designer

To determine whether an AI tool is beneficial in your design workflow, consider evaluating it based on the following criteria:

1. Time Saved: Measure how much time the tool saves compared to manual processes. Does it automate repetitive tasks like resizing elements, adjusting layouts, or generating variations faster than you would do it yourself? Use time-tracking tools to quantify these savings.
2. Quality of Output: Assess the quality of the AI-generated designs or suggestions. Are the results consistent with your design standards, or do you often need to make additional tweaks? The best AI tools should minimize rework and help you achieve high-quality outcomes faster.
3. Ease of Integration: Evaluate how easily the AI tool integrates into your existing design workflow. Does it seamlessly fit with your preferred prototyping tool or require cumbersome adjustments? The more frictionless the integration, the more useful the tool.
4. User Experience Improvements: Measure how the AI tool impacts the final user experience. Tools like heatmap analyzers or AI-powered user testing platforms can reveal if the tool’s insights lead to better usability, increased engagement, or reduced friction for end-users.
5. Feedback from Team Members: Gather feedback from your team members (other designers, developers, or project managers) on how the AI tool affects collaboration and productivity. A useful AI tool should enhance team collaboration rather than create bottlenecks or confusion.
6. ROI and Cost-Benefit Analysis: Consider the financial impact of the AI tool. Compare the cost of the tool with the value it provides in terms of time saved, higher quality designs, or reduced need for additional tools or resources. Tools that offer a high return on investment are more likely to be valuable additions to your toolkit.
7. Creativity Enhancement: Finally, evaluate whether the tool enhances or restricts your creativity. Useful AI tools should free up cognitive space by handling mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on strategic ideation and experimentation.

By systematically evaluating an AI tool against these criteria, you can determine its effectiveness and suitability for your design needs.

15 Best AI Tools for Designers

AI Component Creator by UXPin

The AI Component Creator is a built-in feature of UXPin Merge. It leverages artificial intelligence to automate the creation of UI components, significantly accelerating the design and development process.

This feature enables designers and developers to generate fully functional components with just a few inputs. Here’s how it works and why it’s useful:

1. Speeds Up Design Work: It automates creating buttons, forms, and other elements by generating components that match your design system and code, saving you a lot of time.
2. Ready for Developers: The components it makes aren’t just for show—they’re functional and ready for developers to use immediately. This means less back-and-forth between designers and developers.
3. Easier Collaboration: With real-time updates and changes, everyone on the team can see the latest designs without needing to manually share files.

The tool has received positive reviews on Product Hunt, with users appreciating its ability to generate real UI components. Many designers find it to be a valuable addition to their toolkit, enhancing both productivity and the overall quality of the design process.

Read this article that outlines the process of using AI Component Creator.

Lummi AI

Lummi AI is a design assistant that generates design concepts, provides layout suggestions, and offers creative prompts to kickstart the design process. It uses AI to analyze your inputs and produce multiple iterations based on design principles.

Lummi AI helps overcome creative blocks and allows designers to quickly visualize various design directions without starting from scratch, making the ideation process faster and more efficient.

According to reviews on Product Hunt, users highlight the tool’s efficient filters and wide variety of categories that make it easy to find the perfect image for different needs. Patrizia Slongo, a UI/UX designer, mentions that Lummi is an “exceptional resource for web design” with its professional-grade images, while another user, Gilbert Anka, notes that it’s a “must-have for small businesses” due to its usability and variety of images available​ (Source).

If you’re a designer looking for an AI-powered solution to quickly access high-quality images without the typical hassle of searching through traditional stock photo libraries, Lummi AI could be an excellent tool to explore.

PNG Maker AI

PNG Maker AI specializes in removing backgrounds from images, creating transparent PNGs with a high degree of accuracy. It uses AI to differentiate between foreground and background elements, providing clean extractions.

Many users appreciate the accessibility and free core features, which make PNG Maker AI a go-to option for basic image creation needs. Some have pointed out that while the tool is highly functional, advanced features are gated behind a premium subscription​ (Source).

Background removal is a time-consuming task. PNG Maker AI’s precision and speed can save hours, making it ideal for creating assets for UI designs, marketing materials, or any context requiring isolated image elements.

Color Magic App

Color Magic uses AI to generate harmonious color palettes based on specific themes or emotions. You can upload images or enter keywords, and the app will suggest color combinations that align with your brand or design goals.

Users can view real-time previews of their palettes and receive suggestions based on different themes like “Winter” or “Sunset,” ensuring the tool provides highly relevant and visually appealing results for diverse design needs ​(Source).

Overall, Color Magic is a well-regarded tool for generating unique and thematic color palettes, but it might not meet the needs of those requiring extensive editing capabilities or offline use.

Octopus AI

Octopus AI is a research assistant that automates user research by analyzing large sets of qualitative and quantitative data, generating insights, and creating visual reports.

If user research feels overwhelming, this tool can help by organizing and analyzing feedback quickly, allowing you to make data-driven design decisions without the usual time investment.

Board of Innovation AI

This AI tool generates innovative ideas and concepts by using prompts related to business challenges, design thinking principles, and industry trends. It’s built to support strategic brainstorming sessions.

This tool is great when you need inspiration for out-of-the-box solutions or want to explore new design and business opportunities within your projects.

Chart AI

Chart AI generates data visualizations based on raw data or even natural language descriptions. It offers a wide range of charts, from basic bar graphs to complex scatter plots.

Chart AI supports a wide range of chart types, such as flowcharts, Gantt charts, pie charts, sequence diagrams, ER diagrams, mind maps, and class diagrams. This variety makes it versatile for different use cases, whether you’re mapping out complex systems or creating simple visual summaries.

Users can customize the appearance of charts with different styling options, helping them create visuals that align with their branding or specific design preferences.

Data visualization is crucial in UX design, especially for user research and presentations. Chart AI simplifies the process, making it easy to communicate insights visually. Its ability to interpret natural language inputs, support for a wide array of chart types, and real-time data integration make it a powerful tool for creating visually appealing and informative diagrams.

Miro Assist

Are you using Miro for brainstorming and design sprints? Great! Here’s something for you. Miro Assist is an AI-powered feature within Miro’s collaborative whiteboard platform. It automates the organization of sticky notes, mind maps, and project plans, suggesting logical groupings and connections.

Miro Assist enhances real-time collaboration by reducing time spent on structuring information, so your team can focus on generating and refining ideas.

Descript

Descript is an audio and video editing tool that uses AI for transcribing, editing, and producing multimedia content. It can convert spoken words into text, making editing as simple as revising a text document.

If your design process includes creating video tutorials, presentations, or voiceovers, Descript’s powerful AI tools make content editing faster and more accessible. The same goes for those of you who include videos in your web design. Descript can help you make the videos more engaging and user-friendly.

Prompt Board

Prompt Board is an AI-powered brainstorming tool that generates creative prompts for design projects. It’s built to stimulate creative thinking and encourage exploration of unconventional ideas.

The tool offers access to over 2,000 curated AI prompts, making it easy for designers to get inspired and generate creative ideas quickly. The prompts cover a wide range of topics and can be customized for different creative projects.

Prompts can be shared across multiple AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, enabling designers to use the same prompts for various generative tasks, from image generation to brainstorming content ideas.

Designers often need inspiration to get started. Prompt Board’s diverse prompts can help you explore new directions and keep the creative juices flowing.

Headlime

Headlime is an AI copywriting tool that generates headlines, descriptions, and microcopy tailored for various design contexts. It offers templates for landing pages, ads, and more.

The AI tool excels at understanding context, tone, and audience preferences, making it ideal for creating user-focused copy that aligns with the brand voice. This is useful for UX designers who need to craft messages that resonate with users and enhance the overall experience.

This AI copywriting tool supports multiple languages, making it a good choice for UX teams targeting a global audience. Designers can generate and test copy in different languages to ensure consistency and effectiveness across regions​.

Good copy is integral to effective design. Headlime can help you craft compelling text that complements your visuals, saving time and ensuring a cohesive message.

Vance AI

Vance AI is a suite of image enhancement tools that use AI to upscale images, reduce noise, and sharpen visuals without losing quality.

Use Vance AI to improve the quality of low-resolution assets and maintain high standards in your designs.

Fontjoy

Fontjoy is an AI-powered tool that helps designers find balanced font pairings. It suggests typeface combinations based on contrast, similarity, or user preference.

Users can adjust the contrast between fonts—ranging from very similar to highly contrasting—allowing for flexibility in how the fonts are paired based on project requirements. Designers can lock specific fonts they like and let Fontjoy generate complementary fonts for a cohesive design.

Designers can replace sample text with their own copy to see how the font combinations work in real-world scenarios, such as for headings, subheadings, or body text. This feature is particularly useful for UI projects where consistency and legibility are critical.

Font selection can be challenging. Fontjoy simplifies this process, ensuring that your typography choices are visually appealing and complement each other.

Designs.AI

Designs.AI is an all-in-one creative suite that offers tools for logo design, video creation, banner generation, and more. It uses AI to automate creative processes, making it easier to produce high-quality designs quickly.

While Designs.ai provides a good range of features and tools for its price point, it may not be the best option for users seeking high-level customization or complex design projects. It’s better suited for those looking to quickly create content with minimal manual input, making it a practical tool for early-stage branding or content creation.

Adobe Sensei and Firefly

Adobe has introduced two powerful AI tools fully integrated into its Creative Cloud applications: Adobe Sensei and Adobe Firefly. Each tool serves a distinct purpose, making them indispensable assets for creative professionals.

Adobe Sensei focuses on productivity by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks. It handles actions like background removal, content-aware fills, and smart tagging in Photoshop and Lightroom. These features streamline workflows, allowing users to spend less time on technical manipulations and more on the creative aspects of their projects.

Adobe Firefly, on the other hand, is Adobe’s generative AI tool designed for content creation. It specializes in generating new content such as images, illustrations, and text effects based on detailed text prompts.

Firefly’s capabilities extend to generating realistic or abstract visuals, recoloring vectors, and even creating 3D graphics, all through simple text commands. This tool is integrated across Adobe’s applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express, making it easy to create and edit graphics in real-time.

Both Sensei and Firefly work in harmony to enhance creativity and productivity, offering a balanced approach for both automation and innovation. While Sensei simplifies complex processes, Firefly pushes creative boundaries by enabling unique, AI-driven content generation. Together, they provide substantial benefits for Adobe Creative Cloud users looking to streamline their workflows and elevate their creative projects to new levels.

Use the Power of AI Tools in Design

AI tools are transforming the way designers and developers work by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing creativity, and enabling data-driven decisions. From design automation and code generation to user research and content creation, these tools allow professionals to streamline their workflows and produce high-quality results with greater efficiency.

Whether you’re a designer looking to explore new creative possibilities or a developer wanting to optimize your code, integrating AI into your process amplifies your capabilities. The key is to find the right tools that fit your workflow and enhance your productivity without compromising quality.

AI isn’t here to replace creativity—it’s here to amplify it. Embrace these tools, and you’ll find yourself delivering better, more innovative products in less time, making a lasting impact on your projects and your team. Keep experimenting, keep creating, and let AI help you take your work to the next level!

UXPin Merge combines the power of AI and code-based components to help designers and developers build user interfaces more efficiently. The AI Component Creator automates the creation of functional UI elements, allowing teams to create production-ready components with just a few inputs. Request access to UXPin Merge.

The post 15 AI Tools for Designers in 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

One of the best things about being a part of the design community is that most designers love to exchange ideas, spread knowledge, and share their experiences regardless of their seniority level. You can be a starting designer or an established thought leader, and it’s almost a given that you find a design conference that may teach you something new.

What’s also great about UX conferences is that not all of them target the UX/UI community, but the people who work with them on a daily basis. Product managers, developers and other professionals who work closely with design can find an event for themselves.

Increase design maturity with UXPin Merge. Build a more collaborative design process and bridge the gap between designers and devs by using a single source of truth in your prototypes: interactive components. Discover more about UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

January 2024 Conferences

 QRCA 2024 Annual Conference

QRCA stands for Qualitative Research Consultants Association. The conference covers research methods, tools, and lessons that will prepare designers for the next era of qualitative research.

• Date: Jan 22-25, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual & Denver
• Audience: UX researchers, marketing researchers
• Common topics: qualitative research, research methods, research tools

UX360 Research Summit 2024

We will welcome the third edition of a conference dedicated entirely to research. The line up includes UX researchers from top companies: Google, Meta, Dropbox, Delivery Hero, and more.

• Date: Jan 30-31, 2023
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual
• Audience: UX researchers, UI designers, UX designers
• Common topics: research, design strategy, human-centered design

Design Matters Mexico

Join Design Matters and listen to Mexican designers telling you about local design and the intersection between technology and humanity.

• Date: Jan 31-Feb 1, 2023
• Free: No
• Where: Mexico City
• Audience: UX researchers, UI designers, UX designers
• Common topics: inclusivity, design future, technology

February 2024 Conferences

What about the second month of the year? We’ve found a couple of conferences that may catch your eye. Let’s see them.

AXE CON 2024

Sign up to attend a virtual accessibility conference focused on building, testing, and maintaining accessible digital experiences.

• Date: Feb 20-22, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual
• Audience: designers
• Common topics: accessibility, UX

Product World [Hybrid]

Product conference that concerns itself with sharing the product success stories from tech product professionals at Silicon Valley’s top tech companies.

• Date: Feb 21-29, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual and San Francisco Bay Area
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: collaboration, leadership, growth

ConveyUX 2024 [Hybrid]

Learn about what is going on in the world of user experience in this AI-driven era. 

• Date: Feb 27-29, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual and Seattle, US
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: design process, design future, AI

HUCCAP 2024 [Hybrid]

At the same time as ConveyUX, there’s a Human-Computer Interaction Conference hosted in Rome, Italy. Join to discuss HCI matters in an interdisciplinary environment.

• Date: Feb 27-29, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual and Seattle, US
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: human-computer interaction.

March 2024 Conferences

DDX Dubai

A great meeting place for people interested in discussing the impact technology has on our daily lives and UX meaning.

• Date: March 2, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Dubai
• Audience: UX designers and product managers
• Common topics: artificial innovation, innovation, design process

Leading Design New York

One of the design conferences by Clearleft will be hosted in New York.

• Date: Mar 20-21, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: New York, US
• Audience: UX designers
• Common topics: career, leadership, future of design

UX Copenhagen [Hybrid]

It’s the 10th edition of annual “Human Experience” conference. This year it will examine overconsumption and tackle de-growth.

• Date: Mar 20-21, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual & Copenhagen, Denmark
• Audience: UX designers, UX researchers
• Common topics: UX design, leadership, future

ACM IUI 2024

Interested in AI for design? If so, you can’t miss out on this conference! It focuses on the advances at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

• Date: Mar 18-21, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Sydney, Australia 
• Audience: product designers, researchers
• Common topics: information architecture, artificial intelligence

April 2024 Conferences

AI in Web Design Conference’24

Join other professionals who design websites and web apps and learn about weaving artificial intelligence into the process beyond using ChatGPT in UI design.

• Date: Apr 2-3, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual 
• Audience: product designers, researchers, product managers
• Common topics: design process, artificial intelligence

Web Con

Who said university conferences are for students only? Join an online 2-day event organized by University of Illinois.

• Date: Apr 4-5, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual 
• Audience: UX designers, UI designers, product managers
• Common topics: design process, artificial intelligence

Information Architecture Conference

It’s one of the leading conferences for information architects, designers, and others who create and manage UI and information environments. This year theme is to examine the impact of AI on information architecture.

• Date: Apr 9-13, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual 
• Audience: product designers, researchers, product managers
• Common topics: information architecture, artificial intelligence

UX Research Festival [Hybrid]

Being a brainchild of UXInsights, the largest UX research communities in Europe, UX Research Festival invites you to Breda (in the Netherlands) to hear out amazing talks about UX research.

• Date: Apr 15-17, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual and Breda, Netherlands
• Audience: researchers, designers
• Common topics: UX research, artificial intelligence

Prompt UX

April is full of AI conferences and Prompt UX is one of it! Travel to Berlin and discuss the impact of artifical intelligence yet again this month.

• Date: Apr 17-18, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Berlin, Germany
• Audience: UX designers
• Common topics: design process, artificial intelligence

May 2024 Conferences

DDX Conference Munich

If you’re interested in subjects such as sustainability, future-oriented design, ethical design, this conference will be your cup of tea. Discuss innovative ideas and solutions during 1-day stay in Munich.

• Date: May 11, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Munich
• Audience: UX designers and product managers
• Common topics: artificial innovation, innovation, design process

CHI 2024 [Hybrid]

This year’s annual ACM Computer Human Interaction conference is hosted in beautiful Hawaii. It embraces the theme of Surfing the World – which means reflecting the focus on pushing forth the wave of cutting-edge technology and riding the tide of new developments in human-computer interaction. 

• Date: May 11-16, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual & Honolulu, Hawaii
• Audience: researchers
• Common topics: research tools, research methods

UXDX Community USA [Hybrid]

UXDX is a popular conference for UX designers, developers and product people around the world, sharing with them collaboration ideas.

• Date: May 15-17, 2024
• Free: Yes
• Where: Virtual and on site
• Audience: UX designers, UX researchers, developers and product managers
• Common topics: leadership, collaboration, design system

UXLx

Join fellow designers in sunny Lisbon. Soak up UX knowledge, network with like-minded individual, and hone your design skills.

• Date: May 21-24, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Lisbon, Portugal
• Audience: designers
• Common topics: UX, design process

UXistanbul

Organized by UXServices, this conference is a place for gathering Web3 enthusiasts and designers interested in the field. Come and join them online on Discord.

• Date: May 21-23, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual 
• Audience: product designers, researchers, product managers
• Common topics: NFT, metaverse

From Business to Buttons 2024

Spend one day in Stockholm to discuss user experience and customer expaerience. Great conference for business-savvy designers.

• Date: May 24, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Stockholm, Sweden
• Audience: designers, product managers
• Common topics: design process, design impact, leadership

WebExpo

Travel to Prague, an extraordinary European city, to join fellow web designers, developers, marketers, and more discussing innovations in web design and development.

• Date: May 29-31, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Prague, Czechia
• Audience: designers, developers, product managers
• Common topics: web design, front-end design, UX

June 2024 Conferences

UX Sofia

Travel to sunny Bulgaria to discuss topics connected to strategy, career growth and more.

• Date: Jun 5-7, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Sofia, Bulgaria
• Audience: product designers, researchers
• Common topics: strategy, UX design, UX research

ACE!

This Polish conference has two tracks: Agile Software Development and Product Design & Management. Yet, there will be a lot of content for product designers, too.

• Date: Jun 13-14, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Kraków, Poland
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: leadership, product strategy, product growth

Pixel Pioneers

It may be just a day-long, but the Pixel Pioneers is fully-packed with inspirational presentations from leading UX/UI designers and front-end developers.

• Date: Jun 14, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Bristol, UK
• Audience: product designers, developers, researchers
• Common topics: human-centered design, inclusive design, future of design

DRS 2024 BOSTON

Hosted by Design Research Society, this conference is about 4 Rs: resistance, recovery, reflection, and reimagination, which we’re sure are relevant to the state of design in 2024.

• Date: Jun 24-28, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Boston, US
• Audience: design research
• Common topics: research, leadership, future of design

UXPA 2024

At the same time, visit sunny San Diego and join the UXPA conference may be your cup of tea. It is a design conference in the USA.

• Date: Jun 24-27, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: San Diego, US
• Audience: product designers, researchers
• Common topics: human-centered design, leadership, research

HCI INTERNATIONAL 2024

That international conference on human-computer interaction that is usually held in Gothenburg, Sweden, but this year it will be hosted in the USA. We highly recommend to attend. It’s a great treat for the interaction designers.

• Date: Jun 29-July 4, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Washington, DC, USA
• Audience: product designers, researchers
• Common topics: human-centered design, research, leadership

August 2024 Conferences

UXDX APAC 2024

It’s yet another UXDX event, but this one is an Audio-Pacific version. It’s dedicated to Product, UX, Design and Development teams that want to find a way of working together.

• Date: Aug 13-15, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: San Diego, USA
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: product direction, scaling design, validation, product growth

UX Nordic [Hybrid]

Sharpen your skills and nurture your growth as a UX researcher, designer or writer. Meet other design professionals and explore your interests.

• Date: Aug 28-29, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual & Aarhus, Norway
• Audience: UX researchers, UX designers, UX writers
• Common topics: design process, leadership

UX Australia [Hybrid]

It’s the 16th edition of UX Australia. The conference focuses on UX, product and service design, and the surrounding disciplines of research, content, operations, management, and more.

• Date: Aug 27-30, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Virtual & Melbourne, Australia
• Audience: UX researchers, product managers, product designers
• Common topics: research operations, leadership, research methods, research tools

September 2024 Conferences

SmashingConf Freiburg 2024

Are you a UX Architect, UI Developer, or a Product Designer that needs to work a lot with engineers? You can’t miss this UX design conference that oh-so-smoothly merges development and design.

• Date: Sep 9-11, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Freiburg, Germany
• Audience: product designers, developers
• Common topics: accessibility, web development, design process

October 2024 Conferences

SmashingConf Freiburg 2024

Smashing Magazine stops in New York to network with designers and front-end developers, and guess what? UXPin will have a booth there! We can’t wait to meet you.

• Date: Oct 7-10, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: New York, US
• Audience: product designers, developers
• Common topics: accessibility, web development, design process

UXDX EMEA [Hybrid]

Break down the barriers between Product, UX, Design and Dev and build better products, faster, together.

• Date: Oct 9-11, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Dublin, Ireland and Virtual
• Audience: product designers, developers, product
• Common topics: accessibility, web development, design process

World Usability Conference

Let’s meet in Austria and discuss usability with other UX professionals and participate in talks and masterclasses where handpicked speakers share meaningful hands-on insights.

• Date: Oct 15-17, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Graz, Austria
• Audience: product designers, UX researchers
• Common topics: design process, usability, sustainability

Design Matters Copenhagen [Hybrid]

This well-known design conference advertises itself as, “Made for designers, by designers.” And it truly is so! We highly recommend you attend it.

• Date: Oct 23-25, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Audience: product designers, UX researchers
• Common topics: tutorials, design process, leadership

November 2024 Conferences

Leading Design London

Let’s meet in London to discuss design.

• Date: Nov 6-7, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: London, UK
• Audience: UX designers
• Common topics: career, leadership, future of design

Push UX 2024

From Lisbon travel to a lovely Munich to meet like-minded UX professionals that will discuss design research, presentation, and other aspects of daily UX designer’s activities.

• Date: Nov 7-8, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Munich, Germany
• Audience: product designers, UX researchers
• Common topics: design process, design leadership, product growth

Web Summit Lisbon

Come to a sunny Lisbon to participate in lively discussions on web design and development.

• Date: Nov 11-14, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Lisbon, Portugal
• Audience: product managers, developers, product designers
• Common topics: web design, web development

Wey Wey Web

Creating UI for the web? Then, you must show up at this conference. Located in a beatiful Spanish city of Malaga, the conference blends the topics of accessibility, UI, UX, and front-end development.

• Date: Nov 27-29, 2024
• Free: No
• Where: Malaga, Spain
• Audience: developers, product designers
• Common topics: web design, web development

December 2024 Conferences

TBD

Which Design Conferences Are You Attending in 2024?

It seems as if 2024 is going to be full of inspiring and educational content coming from the best speakers in design and product management. Have you found a conference for you? We will definitely keep you posted if any new event comes our way.

Use the knowledge that you acquired from design conferences in practice. Instead of working in siloed environment, unite your team with a single source of truth: interactive components that can be used across design and product. Discover more about it. Check out UXPin Merge.

The post Best Design Conferences in 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Designing an effective product page is essential for any eCommerce site or online store. It’s where customers make their purchasing decisions, so every element needs to be thoughtfully crafted to ensure a seamless user experience. A well-designed product page can significantly impact conversion rates, helping turn casual browsers into loyal buyers.

In this quick tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of designing a compelling product page using UXPin’s built-in MUIv5 library components. With the power of UXPin and the versatility of MUIv5, you can create intuitive and visually appealing product pages that provide all the necessary information while maintaining a clean, user-friendly layout. Discover UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

What is a Product Page?

A product page is a specific webpage on an eCommerce or company website dedicated to a single product. Its primary purpose is to provide detailed information about the product to help potential customers make an informed purchasing decision. Product pages are a crucial step in the online shopping customer journey, as they aim to convert visitors into buyers by highlighting the benefits and features of the product.

Key Elements of a Product Page

1. Product Title: Clearly states the name of the product, often including key attributes like brand, model, or size.
2. Product Images and Videos: High-quality images from various angles, sometimes accompanied by videos, to give a clear visual representation of the product.
3. Product Description: Detailed text that provides information about the product’s features, specifications, usage, benefits, and any other relevant details.
4. Pricing Information: Displays the price of the product, including any discounts, sales, or promotional offers.
5. Call to Action: A prominent button or link, such as “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now,” that encourages the customer to take the next step towards purchasing the product.
6. Customer Reviews and Ratings: User-generated reviews and ratings that provide social proof and help potential buyers understand others’ experiences with the product.
7. Availability and Stock Information: Indicates whether the product is in stock or if there are any shipping delays or limitations.
8. Additional Details: This may include information about shipping, returns, warranties, and customer support.
9. Related Products or Recommendations: Suggests other products that might be of interest to the customer based on the product they are viewing.

What is the Purpose of a Product Page?

The main goal of a product page is to provide all the necessary information a customer might need to decide whether or not to purchase the product.

It serves as a virtual salesperson, guiding the customer through the features, benefits, and purchasing process. Effective product pages are designed to be user-friendly, informative, and persuasive, aiming to convert site visitors into paying customers.

How to Design a Product Page in UXPin

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of designing a product page using UXPin’s built-in MUIv5 library components. With these powerful design elements, you’ll be able to create a professional and conversion-focused product page in under 15 minutes.

Step 1: Start a New Project in UXPin

Begin by logging into your UXPin account and starting a new project. Once you’re in the editor, select a Page 1 and name it “Product Page.”

Step 2: Set Up Your Layout

To establish a strong visual hierarchy and ensure your product page is user-friendly, start by setting up a grid layout. You can easily do this by selecting the “Layout” tool from the top menu and choosing a grid that suits your design needs—typically, a 12-column grid is ideal for most eCommerce layouts.

Step 3: Add a Product Image Component

A high-quality product image is essential for any product page. To add an image component:

1. Go to the MUIv5 library in UXPin.
2. Drag and drop the ImageList component onto your canvas.
3. Adjust the size and placement to make the image a prominent feature of the page.

Make sure to use high-resolution images and include multiple angles or variations if available. You can customize the ImageList component to display a gallery of product images, allowing users to swipe through different views.

Step 4: Insert Product Details

Next, you’ll want to add the product title, description, and price. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Product Title: Drag a Typography component from the MUIv5 library. Set the variant to “h5” for a prominent headline, and type in your product name.
2. Product Description: Below the title, drag another Typography component and set the variant to “body1.” Here, you can provide a detailed description of the product, highlighting its features, benefits, and specifications.
3. Price: Finally, use another Typography component for the price. Set it to a slightly larger variant like “h6” to make it stand out. You can also use a different color to draw attention.

Step 5: Add a Call to Action

Your product page needs a clear and compelling call to action. For most e-commerce sites, this is the “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now” button. To add this:

1. Drag the Button component from the MUIv5 library onto the canvas.
2. Place it below the product details and adjust its size and position.
3. Set the button’s variant to “contained” for a solid, noticeable look. You can customize the color to match your brand’s theme.

Make sure your CTA is prominent and easy to find—this is key to driving conversions.

Step 6: Include Customer Reviews and Ratings

Customer reviews and ratings build trust and provide social proof. To add a review section:

1. Use the Grid component from MUIv5 to create a structured layout.
2. Inside the grid, use the Rating component for displaying stars and Typography components for review text.
3. You can also add an IconButton with a “thumbs up” icon to allow users to like reviews, enhancing engagement.

Step 7: Add Related Products or Recommendations

To encourage cross-selling, add a section for related products or recommendations:

1. Use a Card component from the MUIv5 library.
2. Add an image, title, and price to each card, mimicking your primary product layout but on a smaller scale.
3. Arrange these cards horizontally or in a grid layout below the main product information.

Step 8: Finalize and Preview

Once all components are in place, fine-tune the alignment, spacing, and visual hierarchy to ensure a cohesive and polished design. Use UXPin’s Preview Mode to test your design and make any necessary adjustments.

Check out UXPin’s example page to see how Preview mode works at UXPin.

Step 9: Share and Collaborate

After finalizing your product page design, share it with your team or stakeholders for feedback. UXPin allows for easy collaboration, so you can quickly iterate on the design based on their input.

Create Your Own Product Page Design in UXPin

And there you have it—a fully functional and visually appealing product page designed in under 15 minutes using MUI components. With these steps, you’ve created a user-friendly product page that not only looks great but is also optimized for conversions.

Give it a try and see how quickly you can design a product page that will impress your customers and drive sales. Discover UXPin Merge.

The post How to Design a Product Page – A Quick Tutorial appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Lists are fundamental components of user interfaces, helping to organize information in a way that’s easy to scan and digest. Whether it’s a simple to-do list or a complex product display, well-designed lists enhance usability and improve the overall user experience. By understanding the principles of list design, designers can create intuitive layouts that streamline navigation and engagement. In this guide, we’ll explore best practices, key principles, and hands-on tips to create visually appealing, functional lists for any UI project.

Optimize your list design process with UXPin Merge. Bring code-backed components to a design editor and create interfaces that are production-ready from the start. Design prototypes that feel like a real product with UI elements that can be shared between design and development. Request access today.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

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What is a List in UI Design?

In UI design, a list is a method of organizing information vertically, allowing users to scan and process data quickly. Lists can display a variety of content, from simple text items to more complex layouts that include images, descriptions, and interactive elements.

They improve usability by breaking down information into manageable chunks, ensuring users can navigate effortlessly. Lists are versatile and appear in many forms—such as single-line lists, multi-line lists, and image lists—each tailored to specific content types and design needs.

What is the Difference Between a List and a Data Table?

Designers use data tables to display a dataset to users. Tables have a specific structure, including a header, rows, and columns with sorting and filters to find and manipulate data.

Read this: How to Design a Table UX

Lists don’t have a fixed structure. Each list item is independent rather than part of a structured dataset with rows and columns. The list item could feature a single line of text in a menu dropdown or a complex card component with lots of data.

In summary, the most significant difference between lists and tables is the data structure. Tables have a specific design, while lists can exist in many formats.

Types of List Designs

There are three types of list designs:

• Text lists
• Image lists
• Card lists

Text List Design

There are three types of text lists. These lists typically include text and an image, icon, and other UI elements like a checkbox or radio. 

• Single-line lists: These are the simplest form of lists, displaying only one line of content per item. They work best for short, easily digestible information, like settings or contact lists.
• Two-line lists: These lists include a second line, often used for supplementary information, like subtitles or descriptions. They balance brevity and context, making them ideal for emails or notifications.
• Three-line lists: These lists display more detailed information, such as titles, descriptions, and additional metadata. They’re useful for content-heavy items, like product listings or media files.

Image Lists

Designers use image lists when visuals are the primary content–like an image or video gallery. Sometimes a single line of text will accompany the image to provide detail or context.

Where image lists don’t include text, designers must ensure to use descriptive alt attributes so screen readers can navigate the content accordingly.

Card Lists

Card lists typically include visual content and text and may also include a CTA. We often see these card lists in eCommerce store product lists that feature an image, title, short description, category tags, price, and “Add to cart” button.

How to Design a List UI

Step 1: Think Content First

Designers must decide on the best list item design based on the content they want to display. 

UX designers have three primary ways to structure content lists: horizontally, vertically, and grid layouts.

List Example: Instagram

An excellent example of these lists in action is Instagram:

• Main feed – vertical list
• Story feed – horizontal list
• Search feed – masonry grid list

UX designers have seemingly endless options and variations within these three list structures.

Step 2: Follow Atomic Design Principles

There are three components to a list design:

• The list: All list items together
• List item: An individual item in the list
• List content: The content that makes a list item–image, text, metadata, title, subtitles, and other user interface elements

It’s helpful to use an atomic design approach when deciding how to put these pieces together. 

• Atoms: The content within each list item–individual images and text
• Molecules: The components within each item–a profile image component
• Organisms: Each list item
• Templates: The entire list with a search field, filters, etc.

Step 3: Design with Consistency in Mind

Consistency is key in list UI design. Ensure that list items follow the same layout, including the placement of text, icons, and actions. This not only enhances the visual flow but also improves usability, as users learn to anticipate where to find the information they need. A consistent structure reduces cognitive load, making the interface more intuitive.

Step 4: Optimize for Responsiveness

Always consider how your list will appear across different screen sizes. On mobile devices, a vertical list may work best, while on desktops, a grid layout could be more effective. Adjust font sizes, spacing, and layout to maintain readability and usability regardless of device.

Step 5: Test for Accessibility

Lists must be accessible to all users, including those relying on screen readers. Use proper HTML elements like ordered or unordered lists, and avoid nested lists when possible. Additionally, ensure proper color contrast for readability and include alternative text for images.

Best Practices of List UI Design

1. Prioritize User Needs

Good list UI design follows design thinking and user-centered design principles. The list design must match user needs while providing appropriate fields for the content. UX designers must pay attention to responsiveness and how the list will look across multiple devices and screen sizes.

2. Follow Material Design Principles

Google’s Material Design UI defines three principles for designing lists – lists must be logical, actionable, and consistent. This means that:

• Logical: Organize lists in meaningful ways (alphabetical, numerical, etc.).
• Actionable: Ensure items are easy to identify and act upon.
• Consistent: Use uniform layouts for icons, text, and actions.

3. Make Lists Scannable

One of the keys to designing a great list UI is making it easy for users to scan content to find what they need. The quicker someone can find what they need, the better the user experience and the more likely they are to use and recommend your product.

4. Leverage Visual Hierarchy

Hierarchy plays a vital role in making lists scannable and easier to read. UX designers have several ways to create this visual hierarchy, including typography, color, spacing, images, etc.

List UI Example: eCommerce

For example, this eCommerce list uses color, size, and typography to separate content and create a visual hierarchy:

• Product name: bold black and white typography top center
• Product description: smaller grey text
• Price: Large dark text
• Reviews: Small text with bright star icons
• Image: Large circular product image

This product list is an excellent example of a visual hierarchy that makes it easy for customers to scan products by the content that matters most to them–i.e., by product name, description, price, etc.

List UI Example: Spotify

In a more simplified example, Spotify uses font size and color to create a visual hierarchy between the song title and the artist. The different size and color make it easy for users to scan a playlist accordingly.

5. Ensure Accessibility

Lists can cause problems for screen readers, creating a poor user experience for visually impaired users. For example, screen readers can’t decipher nested lists correctly. So, designers should use a heading with an unordered or ordered list instead.

Further reading on list accessibility:

• Lists in HTML from Penn State
• Lists from NC State
• Lists Accessibility from Oregon State University

List UI Design Patterns and Interactions

Here are some common list design patterns and interactions that you can apply to website and mobile app design projects.

Checkboxes & Radiobuttons

Checkboxes and radiobuttons are essential UI elements to allow users to make selections and actions on list items. As a general rule, designers use checkboxes for selecting multiple list items and radios for a single selection.

Scrolling & Swiping

Scrolling and swiping allow users to perform multiple actions. For example, many apps allow users to swipe list items left or right–one way to delete the other to archive.

Designers must also create scrolling interactions and lazy loading to optimize performance.

Select Lists

Select lists or dropdown menus allow users to select from several options–like choosing which shipping method they want at checkout. UX designers might also include a search feature for long dropdown menus, a feature we often see for state/province or country lists.

Collapsing & Expanding

Designers can use collapsable lists to hide and show details. Reducing the amount of content that’s always visible is crucial for usability and minimizing cognitive load. Collapsable interactions are also useful for nested lists or submenus.

Reordering & Sorting

Reordering list items gives users control over how they prioritize and experience data. Depending on their preference, they can move items manually up or down the list, usually by dragging and dropping. This customization creates a positive user experience because users can arrange content to suit their needs. 

Sorting works similar to reordering, except users choose from predefined categories rather than reorder list items manually. For example, Spotify allows users to sort a playlist by title, artist, album, or recently added.

Filtering

Filtering helps users find what they need much faster. Accommodation booking platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com allow users to apply multiple filters to list properties that suit their needs and preferences.

Dividers

Dividers help create separation between content; however, they can add unnecessary “visual noise.” If your lists get too busy, try testing white space as an alternative content separator. 

List UI Design in UXPin

With UXPin’s code-based design tool, UX designers can build list prototypes that accurately resemble the final product. Our Multilevel Dropdown Navigation example demonstrates how designers can use States and Interactions to build a functioning dropdown list–using only a single frame.

Designing a List with MUI Components in UXPin Merge

With UXPin Merge, you can sync code components like MUI (Material-UI) into UXPin for fully interactive prototyping. Follow this tutorial to create a list using MUI components.

Step 1: Import MUI Components

Ensure you have your MUI components integrated into UXPin using Merge. This will allow you to drag and drop pre-coded components directly into your design.

Step 2: Add a List Component

1. In UXPin, navigate to your MUI component library.
2. Drag the MUI List component into your canvas. This is the container for your list items.

Step 3: Configure List Items

1. Next, drag in ListItem components within the list container. These components will represent individual list items.
2. Use ListItemText to add the main content, such as the title or description for each list item.

Step 4: Customize with MUI Properties

With Merge, you can modify component properties like styling, layout, and behavior. For example:

• Typography: Adjust fonts, colors, and sizes within the ListItemText to create a visual hierarchy.
• Icons: Use ListItemIcon to include interactive icons, such as checkmarks or navigation arrows.

Step 5: Add Interactions

Use UXPin’s interaction panel to add click actions, hover states, or dynamic behaviors. For example, configure the list item to navigate to another page or trigger a modal when clicked.

Step 6: Preview and Test

Use UXPin’s Preview mode to test the list in a fully functional prototype. Check responsiveness and usability across different devices to ensure an optimal experience.

Step 7: Hand-off to Developers

With UXPin Merge, your list UI is code-ready. Developers can directly access the code, ensuring a seamless design-to-development process without discrepancies.

Increase Fidelity and Functionality with UXPin Merge

Take your prototypes to the next level using UXPin’s proprietary Merge technology. Sync your product’s design system or an open-source component library from a repository to UXPin’s editor so designers can build prototypes using fully functioning code components.

You can see Merge in action with our MUI library integration. Using MUI’s React library, designers can build fully functioning list prototypes. MUI’s React components come complete with states and interactions, so designers only have to focus on product design rather than building everything from scratch. Everything you see in MUI’s documentation, designers can replicate in UXPin without writing a single line of code. Request access to UXPin Merge.

The post List Design 101 – A Short Guide for Beginners appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

User interface design plays a crucial role in shaping how users interact with digital products. A well-designed UI not only enhances usability but also creates a seamless experience that keeps users engaged. Whether you’re working on a SaaS platform, an eCommerce site, or a mobile app, understanding the best UI practices can elevate your design process.

In this article, we’ll explore UI examples from top brands like Slack, Airbnb, and Spotify. These examples will highlight key design elements, interactive features, and responsive layouts to inspire your next project.

With UXPin Merge, you can design using real, code-based components to ensure that your UI matches development from the start, creating a consistent, production-ready user experience across your projects. Request access to UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

UI Examples by Industry

Different industries have unique challenges and requirements when it comes to UI design. A well-executed user interface must not only look good but also align with the specific needs of users in that sector.

In this section, we’ll explore UI examples from key industries like SaaS platforms, eCommerce, and marketplaces. By analyzing successful interfaces from each, we can uncover design principles that can be applied across projects, helping designers create more intuitive, engaging experiences tailored to each industry’s unique demands.

SaaS UI Examples

Slack: Excellent Navigation and Intuitive Messaging System

Slack is a great example of UI design in the SaaS industry, particularly for its clear navigation and intuitive messaging interface. The platform excels at organizing a large amount of content into manageable, easy-to-access sections. Its left-hand navigation provides quick access to channels, direct messages, and threads, allowing users to efficiently manage their communications.

Icons in Slack are clear and minimalistic, reducing cognitive load while enhancing navigation. The use of subtle animations and microinteractions, such as hover states and status indicators, improve usability without overwhelming the user. Slack’s messaging system integrates clean, responsive layouts that adapt smoothly across devices, offering a consistent experience.

Slack’s emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and visual clarity makes it a strong UI example for SaaS platforms, especially when dealing with complex communication systems.

Notion: A Flexible Workspace with Customizable UI Components

Notion stands out in the SaaS industry for its flexible, modular workspace design that adapts to different user needs. Its clean and minimalistic UI ensures a clutter-free experience while allowing users to organize information in various ways. With drag-and-drop functionality, users can easily customize pages by adding blocks for text, images, databases, and more.

The UI is designed to be highly adaptable, offering a customizable structure that makes it easy for users to create dashboards, wikis, or task managers based on their preferences. This flexibility makes Notion a versatile tool for individuals and teams, offering a streamlined interface without sacrificing functionality.

Dropbox: Easy-to-Use File Management with Minimalistic UI

Dropbox exemplifies simplicity in its file management system, offering a clean, minimalistic UI that prioritizes ease of use. The interface is intuitively designed, allowing users to quickly navigate through folders, upload files, and manage documents with minimal distractions. The straightforward navigation, combined with recognizable icons and well-structured menus, creates a frictionless experience for users managing files across devices.

The UI’s minimalism, combined with responsive design, ensures that Dropbox delivers a consistent, user-friendly experience across web, mobile, and desktop platforms.

eCommerce UI Examples

Amazon: Well-Organized Product Pages and Seamless Checkout Flow

Amazon’s UI exemplifies efficiency and clarity in the eCommerce world. Its product pages are highly structured, with key information—like pricing, reviews, and delivery options—presented upfront, making decision-making easy for users. The use of clear calls to action, such as “Add to Cart” and “Buy Now,” simplifies the purchasing process.

The checkout flow is designed to be frictionless, guiding users through a quick, intuitive sequence that reduces cart abandonment. Amazon’s seamless UI ensures that users can move from product discovery to purchase with minimal effort, enhancing user experience and increasing conversion rates.

Apple: A Visually Stunning Product Showcase with Responsive, Interactive Elements

Apple’s UI is a masterclass in visual storytelling, offering users an immersive product showcase. Each product page features high-quality images and videos that respond to user interactions, allowing users to explore every detail of the product. With its signature clean, minimalist design, Apple’s interface focuses on elevating the product by keeping distractions to a minimum.

Additionally, the UI is fully responsive, ensuring a seamless experience across devices. Interactive elements like smooth scrolling and animations further engage users, creating an intuitive and visually striking journey from product discovery to purchase.

Marketplace UI Examples

Airbnb: User-Friendly Navigation and Intuitive Search Filters

Airbnb offers one of the most intuitive UIs in the marketplace industry, making it easy for users to browse and book accommodations. The clean navigation allows users to search and filter results with minimal effort, thanks to visually prominent filters and well-organized layouts.

Each listing is presented with high-quality images, clear pricing, and reviews, helping users make informed decisions. The UI remains responsive and easy to navigate, whether users are browsing on desktop or mobile, enhancing the overall booking experience.

Booking.com: Data-Driven Design for Optimized User Choices

Booking.com’s UI stands out because of its data-driven design approach. Unlike many other marketplaces, Booking.com prioritizes visual clarity, but the UI is heavily optimized to influence user behavior. The use of urgency cues, such as “Only 2 rooms left” or “Booked 5 times today,” creates a sense of immediacy, driving users to make decisions quickly.

The interface is clean and functional but focuses on leveraging data to increase conversions, from its prominent filters to its organized listing layouts, designed to help users compare options efficiently.

UI Examples by Platform

Different platforms present unique challenges and opportunities for UI design. Whether you’re designing for the web, mobile, or creating cross-platform experiences, it’s essential to adapt to the specific needs of each medium.

In this section, we’ll explore web-based UI examples from websites that prioritize innovation and usability, highlight mobile UIs that excel in user engagement, and showcase cross-platform UIs that maintain consistency across web and mobile interfaces, providing a seamless experience for users on any device.

Mobile UI Examples

Google Maps: Intuitive Interaction and Real-Time Feedback

Google Maps is a prime example of a mobile UI that excels in user engagement and ease of use. The app’s clean and minimalistic interface ensures users can focus on navigating and finding locations without unnecessary distractions. Its responsive map UI allows for smooth zooming and panning, and real-time updates enhance usability.

Google Maps integrates intuitive gestures for mobile, such as pinch-to-zoom and swipe actions, while offering detailed information layers (e.g., traffic, terrain). Its combination of real-time data and smooth interactions ensures a highly engaging, user-friendly experience across devices.

Duolingo: Clean and Engaging UI for Gamified Learning

Duolingo’s mobile UI is designed to provide a fun and visually appealing learning experience. The interface leverages a clean layout with simple, colorful icons and minimal text, ensuring that users can navigate through lessons easily. The progress indicators are clear and visually engaging, with bars and icons that motivate users to keep advancing.

The use of whitespace and clear sections ensures that users aren’t overwhelmed by too much information at once, creating a structured and easy-to-follow experience.

Desktop UI Examples

BBC: An Accessibility-First UI Approach

BBC’s desktop UI exemplifies an accessibility-first approach, ensuring a wide range of users can easily navigate and interact with the website. The UI includes a high-contrast mode for users with visual impairments, enhancing readability and reducing strain.

Additionally, the interface supports full keyboard navigation, making it accessible to users who cannot use a mouse, and is screen reader compatible, ensuring visually impaired users can navigate content effectively.

Asana: Clear Hierarchical Layout for Efficient Task Management

Asana’s desktop UI is designed for efficiency and clarity, offering a clean, hierarchical layout that allows users to easily navigate between projects, tasks, and subtasks. The interface uses clear, visually distinct sections to help users prioritize their tasks and stay organized.

The minimalist design avoids clutter, while icons and color coding are strategically used to highlight important actions and deadlines.

Cross-Platform UI Examples

Gmail: Consistent and Intuitive UI Across Platforms

Gmail provides a consistent user interface across web, mobile, and desktop platforms, offering users a seamless experience when managing emails. The design maintains familiar navigation with its sidebar, action buttons, and labels, ensuring users can switch between devices without any disruption.

The responsive layout adapts efficiently to various screen sizes, ensuring email management remains intuitive on both mobile and desktop devices. Gmail’s clear use of icons, colors, and spacing keeps the interface simple yet powerful for both personal and professional use.

Trello: Unified UI for Task Management

Trello’s UI is designed for simplicity and consistency across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. The drag-and-drop interface allows users to easily organize tasks, cards, and boards with intuitive controls, making task management effortless. Trello’s UI uses a clean, visual structure, with boards and lists that are flexible and easy to customize.

Whether on a desktop or mobile device, Trello ensures a seamless user experience, maintaining the same functionality, layout, and interaction model, enabling users to work fluidly across multiple devices.

UI Design Best Practices from the UI Examples Above

• Use clear, intuitive navigation UI to enhance usability.
• Offer flexible, customizable UI components for personalized experiences.
• Prioritize minimalism and easy navigation across platforms.
• Structure product pages for fast decision-making with clear CTAs.
• Utilize responsive, interactive elements to create engaging visual experiences.
• Implement intuitive filtering systems for better user journeys.
• Use urgency cues to influence user decisions.
• Integrate real-time feedback for interactive elements.
• Keep layouts clean and progress indicators prominent.
• Ensure accessibility with features like high-contrast modes and keyboard navigation.
• Organize content with clear hierarchies and visual cues.
• Maintain consistent design across platforms for seamless user experience.

Tools for UI Design

Creating impactful UIs requires the right tools that support design, prototyping, and development workflows. Here are some essential UI design tools:

• UXPin: A powerful tool for designing with real, code-based components, ensuring seamless collaboration between designers and developers.
• Figma: A collaborative design platform for real-time interface design, wireframing, and prototyping, perfect for team collaboration.
• Sketch: A popular vector-based design tool used for UI design, offering a wide array of plugins for enhanced functionality.
• Framer: A prototyping tool that blends design and code to create highly interactive UIs and animations.

These tools enhance efficiency and collaboration, helping teams create polished, user-friendly interfaces.

Summary

Effective UI design is crucial for usability and engagement across digital products. Whether for SaaS platforms, eCommerce, or marketplaces, understanding industry-specific UI principles can elevate your design process.

This article explores UI examples from top brands like Slack, Notion, Airbnb, and Trello, highlighting how clear navigation, customization, and responsiveness improve user experience across web, mobile, and desktop platforms. With UXPin Merge, designers can create consistent, production-ready UIs using real, code-based components. Request access to UXPin Merge.

The post 13 UI Examples to Get Inspired by in 2024 appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

npm is a package manager for JavaScript that helps developers install, share, and manage libraries or pieces of code that are commonly used in applications. These packages can range from small utility functions to full-fledged UI components like buttons, form elements, or even complex layouts.

npm is also a key enabler of the design-development collaboration that UXPin Merge facilitates. By packaging React components through npm, developers can hand off real, functioning UI components to designers, who can then integrate them into their designs effortlessly. This results in a more consistent and efficient workflow, ensuring that your design system and the final product are perfectly aligned.. Discover UXPin Merge.

Design UI with code-backed components.

Use the same components in design as in development. Keep UI consistency at scale.

Try UXPin Merge

What is NPM (Node Package Manager)?

npm or Node Package Manager is an open-source repository of tools engineers use to develop applications and websites.

npm is two things:

1. A repository for publishing open-source projects.
   Simplified version: a digital storage and retrieval facility.
2. A command-line interface (CLI) for interacting with the repository.
   Simplified version: a tool to communicate with the storage facility.

What is a Package Manager?

Before we can explain what npm package is, it’s essential to understand the idea of a package manager. Think of a package manager as a toolkit for developers.

Let’s say you’re building an application that uses Stripe for payments. A package manager installs all the code your product will need to communicate with Stripe and process payments.

Instead of writing all that code or copy/pasting it from Stripe’s docs, engineers simply enter a command, and the package manager installs the code dependencies they need from Stripe.

There are millions of these packages for everything you can think of to develop an application–like different types of search functionality, APIs, payments, authentication tools, maps, icons, hosting, and more.

You get public open-source repositories (like npm) where anyone can upload and install packages, as well as private package repositories with restricted access.

What is a Command Line Interface?

A command-line interface (CLI) is a text interface developers use to interact with computer programs. This CLI allows you to execute commands to run background operations necessary for software development.

In the case of npm, the CLI allows you to interact with the package registry. For example, engineers can use commands like npm install followed by the package name to install a specific package.

The npm Registry

The npm website is where engineers can search and learn about packages. This website is just a registry and doesn’t host the packages. Instead, engineers use platforms like GitHub, Packagecloud, AWS CodeArtifact, and others to host and distribute packages.

For example, if we look at the UXPin Merge CLI on NPM, it has displays GitHub as the repository and relevant link. Above that is the command to install the UXPin Merge CLI and its dependencies: npm i @uxpin/merge-cli. The “i” after npm is an abbreviation for “install.” So, typing npm install @uxpin/merge-cli would render the same result.

What are Dependencies?

Packages consist of other packages that engineers call dependencies–we know, confusing, right! These dependencies are packages of code that perform different tasks within the project.

For example, the UXPin Merge CLI uses Typescript and therefore requires the typescript package as a dependency. Typescript is just one of the 41 dependencies UXPin Merge CLI requires. 

What are Devdependencies?

Looking at the UXPin Merge CLI’s dependencies, you’ll notice 41 Dependencies and 41 Dev Dependencies (also referred to as devDependencies–one word).

• Dependencies: The packages required to run a piece of software
• Dev Dependencies: The packages needed during the development phase only

Dependencies and devDependencies reside in a separate folder called node_modules, so your packages.json file and project code know where to find them.

What is the package.json File?

There’s a package.json file that provides its metadata and dependencies. When installing the project on your computer, npm will reference the package.json file to install the dependencies and devDependencies.

Instead of installing each dependency individually, you simply type npm install in the command line.

Hosting providers also use the package.json file to install the dependencies (excluding devDependencies) needed to run the project on its servers.

What is package-lock.json?

The package-lock.json specifies the exact version of the package used to build the project. This file locks the dependencies so that when the project is installed, it references the versions used during development rather than the latest release.

Engineers update packages regularly, often changing the way the package works. So, locking your dependencies ensures the project operates as intended.

How to use npm

Here are some common npm commands and what they do:

• npm init: Creates a package.json file for your project. If you’re building an application from scratch, npm init will be one of the first commands you use to include key project information. NPM will automatically update your package.json file whenever you install or remove packages.
• npm install: Installs all of the project dependencies in a package.json file.
• npm install <package-name>: Installs a specific package from the NPM registry and saves it to your node_modules folder. For example, npm install @uxpin/merge-cli will install the Merge CLI.
• npm install <package-name> –save: Installs an NPM package and adds it to the dependencies in your package.json file.
• npm install <package-name> –save-dev: installs an NPM package and adds it to the devDependencies 
• npm uninstall <package-name>: Uninstalls a specific package from your project.
• npm doctor: Runs diagnostics on your npm installation to check if it has everything it needs to manage your packages.
• npm update <package-name>: Updates a specific package to the latest version.

These are just a few of the most common npm commands. You can find the complete list in the npm documentation.

Understanding npm as a Designer

npm is simply a toolkit comparable to plugins or app extensions for design tools. You don’t need to know the ins-and-outs of how packages are created, but it may be useful to know a thing or two about it.

First of all, some of code component libraries are shared as npm packages, such as MUI, Ant Design, etc.

How to find component libraries that are distributed as npm packages? Let’s say you search through Adele, UXPin’s library of publicly available Design Systems, for a component library that you can bring in to UXPin. You pick Shopify’s Polaris and notice that it is distributed via npm.

So, you go to the NPM site, look for Shopify’s Polaris, and find it.

UXPin with Merge technology allows you to import UI elements from component libraries via NPM packages. Then, you can use those elements to put together fully-functional prototypes.

UXPin Merge is usually being set up by a developer. But if you lack the development support, you can use our new tool – Merge Component Manager and manage UI components by yourself.

However, if you want to enhance your programming knowledge to collaborate with devs better, then learning about basic code principles (HTML, CSS, Javascript) and component libraries is far more valuable for designers.

What Can You Do with npm Integration?

Even though npm is typically a tool developers use, it plays a crucial role in enabling powerful design workflows—like bringing React components into UXPin for seamless drag-and-drop UI building.

Here’s why npm is important for technical designers working with tools like UXPin Merge:

1. Access to React Components: If your design system is built using React, npm allows you to package these components and make them accessible for use in other applications or tools—like UXPin Merge. React components that are available as npm packages can be directly imported into UXPin, giving designers the ability to drag and drop real code components into their designs without writing code.
2. Easily Manage Updates: npm simplifies version control. When a developer updates a package (such as a new version of a button component), npm can automatically manage this update in UXPin Merge, ensuring that designers always work with the latest components from the development team. This ensures consistency between design and development without the need for manual updates.
3. Collaborate Seamlessly with Developers: npm helps technical designers and developers work from the same source of truth. Developers use npm to publish the components they create, while designers can easily import those components into UXPin using Merge. This ensures that the components designers use for prototyping are exactly the same as the ones developers will implement in the final product.

Improve Collaboration With UXPin Merge

Merge enhances collaboration between design and development because designers and engineers work with the same component library. 

Instead of having a UI kit for designers and code for devs, Merge syncs a repository to UXPin’s editor so design teams can build fully functioning prototypes using code components.

You can sync your company’s design system or a component library like MUI so that you only have to drag and drop UI elements to build interfaces. Request access to Merge.

The post What is npm? appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Interactions are vital for prototyping because they provide usability participants and stakeholders with a realistic user experience. The problem many designers have is building interactive components is time-consuming, and the results are underwhelming in most design tools.

Discover component-driven prototyping with UXPin Merge and how you can use interactive components to create fully functional prototypes to enhance cross-functional collaboration and user testing. Visit our Merge page for more details and how to request access to this revolutionary UX design technology.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team’s design system.

Discover UXPin Merge

What are Interactive Components?

Interactive components (or interactive elements) are reusable UI elements from a design system and include interactivity by default. This interactivity is a game-changer for designers who usually work with UI kits and have to add interactions for every project.

Design teams can set interactions, states, and other animations to create immersive prototypes that accurately represent the final product.

Interactive Components Benefits

Here are several benefits of interactive components.

1. Fewer Artboards

Traditionally, creating interactions using a design tool required multiple artboards to achieve basic functionality. Designers can achieve the same results with a single artboard using interactive components.

2. Faster Time to Market

Creating fewer artboards means less design work for designers, and interactive components are reusable, so designers only have to set interactions once–saving significant time during the design process.

Once engineers are familiar with the approved components, the design handoff process is much easier, saving further time on project delivery.

The result of all these time savings?–faster time to market.

3. Increased Consistency

UI kits increase design consistency, but they still leave some ambiguity regarding interactions. Designers must set these interactions themselves, leading to errors and inconsistencies–especially if the project doesn’t specify interactivity guidelines!

Interactive components have interactivity “baked in,” so everyone has the same states, microinteractions, and animations. These baked-in interactions increase consistency while enhancing efficiency because designers have fewer setup tasks and errors to fix.

4. Better Testing and Feedback

User and stakeholder feedback is crucial for design projects. This feedback drives decision-making to deliver user-centered products that align with business goals.

Most design tools lack the fidelity and functionality to perform simple interactions engineers achieve with a few lines of code. Interactive components make it easier to replicate code functionality, resulting in immersive, realistic prototypes for usability testing and stakeholders.

5. Increase Design System Adoption

One of the DS team’s jobs is evangelizing the design system to increase adoption. Interactive components are a powerful tool in design system evangelism because they create efficient workflows for product development teams, thus increasing the likelihood of adoption.

6. Scaling Design

At UXPin, we’ve seen how component-driven prototyping and interactive components help scale design. Our favorite example is how PayPal used UXPin Merge to scale its design process without hiring new staff.

Connecting Merge to interactive components hosted in a repository allowed PayPal’s product teams (with little or no UX/design tool experience) to complete 90% of design projects 8X faster than skilled UX designers previously could.

Interactive components made the design process more accessible to non-designers because they reduced the learning curve significantly.

PayPal’s UX team built an interactive component library, including layouts and templates, and used React props to set design system constraints. Product teams simply drag and drop to build prototypes for usability testing and design handoffs.

Interactive components allow orgs to give more UX responsibilities to non-designers, like product teams (or engineers in the case of another UXPin Merge user, TeamPassword), thus scaling design with growing the UX team.

You can create interactions depending on the conditions like click, hover etc. on the ready components!

How to Incorporate Interactive Components in UXPin Prototypes?

To incorporate interactive components into your product prototypes, there are many steps you can take. Make sure that forms can actually be filled out; boxes can be checked; and links can be clicked on.

Make as many components of your design actually workable as you can; this allows users to have the experience of trying to use the product, and it can give you some insight into how your product works and how people will (or want to) use it.

Using Interactive Components in UXPin

Since the first release of UXPin more than a decade ago, interactive components have been core to our design tool, providing designers with a solution to build prototypes that accurately replicate the final product experience.

UXPin has four powerful features to create interactive components:

• States: Create multiple state variants, each with different properties and interactions for a single component.
• Variables: Capture user input data and use it to create personalized, dynamic user experiences.
• Expressions: Javascript-like functions to create complex components and advanced functionality–no code required!
• Conditional Interactions: Set if-then and if-else conditions based on user interactions to create dynamic prototypes with multiple outcomes to accurately replicate the final product experience.

One helpful strategy is including pre-built components (called “forms” at UXPin)  that you can easily drag and drop in our platform. (No need to design these from scratch!) 

Advanced Component Customization with UXPin

In UXPin, components are not just static design elements; they offer advanced customization capabilities that enable designers to create dynamic, interactive prototypes.

Unlike traditional static components, UXPin components can be enhanced with multiple states, conditional logic, and even real data integration. This flexibility allows designers to create high-fidelity prototypes that closely mimic the functionality of the final product.

• Multiple States: Each component in UXPin can have multiple states (e.g., default, hover, active), which can be easily switched within the prototype. This feature allows designers to showcase different interactions and user flows without needing to create separate screens for each variation.
• Conditional Logic: UXPin allows components to change dynamically based on user actions or predefined conditions. For example, a form component can display error messages or success notifications based on the user’s input, providing a realistic preview of the user experience.
• Data Integration: Components in UXPin can integrate with live data, making them highly functional for testing and development. By connecting components to real data sources, designers can create prototypes that behave like real applications, enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of usability testing.

4 Examples of Interactive Components in UXPin

Here are some interactive component examples from our examples page to see how you can start. For now, let’s see what you can do with states, variables, expressions, and conditional logic.

Example 1: Button

Example 2: Input and text area 

Example 3: Radio button 

Example 4: An interactive sign-up form

→ Download a ready .uxp file to import into your UXPin account. 

Want to create one by yourself? Here’s a tutorial. 

Interactive Components in UXPin Merge

Merge takes component-driven prototyping and interactive components to another level. Instead of designers building components in UXPin, Merge imports a design system library from a repository.

These Merge UI elements are truly interactive components because behind them is code from a front-end framework like React, Vue, Angular, etc. You can import your organization’s design system or use an open-source library.

Designers don’t ever have to see or write code to use Merge components; they only work with the visual elements to build fully functioning prototypes. They also have access to component properties via UXPin’s Properties Panel to make changes within the design system’s constraints.

Learn more about Merge and how to request access.

Designing with Merge Interactive Components

Step 1: Grab Components From the Design System

There are three ways to import interactive components into UXPin using Merge:

• Git Integration: Connect a React component library directly to UXPin
• Storybook: Sync front-end frameworks like Vue, Angular, HTML, Ember, Web Components, and more (see the complete list here)
• npm Integration: Import open-source libraries from the Node Package Manager (npm)–a fantastic DIY option for designers. Read more about the npm Integration and how it works.

Imported Merge components appear in UXPin’s Design System Libraries in the left sidebar. Designers click or drag the UI elements they need from the sidebar to appear on the canvas. They can also use multiple design systems and UXPin elements and even combine them to create new components which they can save as Patterns.

Step 2: Make Changes

When designers click on a Merge component, its properties appear in the righthand Properties Panel. Those with technical skills can switch to JSX and adjust the code directly–a flexible workspace to match your preferred workflow.

Step 3: Share and Test

Designers can use Preview and Share for usability testing or when sharing prototypes with stakeholders. UXPin’s Comments feature allows teams and stakeholders to collaborate on prototypes and assign comments for team members to action.

Step 4: Design Handoff

Preview and Share also features Spec Mode, where engineers can inspect elements and click on Merge components to view and copy JSX changes. Designers can also include prototype documentation with annotations explaining each element and user interface.

Check out Design Handoff: What it Looks Like with UXPin Merge for a short tutorial.

Interactive Components UXPin Merge vs. Figma

Here’s a quick overview of how Figma’s interactive components feature compares to UXPin Merge components.

Single Source of Truth

Figma’s interactive components allow designers to replicate some fundamental interactions. However, organizations must still manage two design systems–one UI kit for designers in Figma and a separate component library hosted in a repository.

The problem with this workflow is it requires additional resources to manage and update two systems while increasing the likelihood of errors.

With Merge, design teams and engineers pull components from the same repository. Designers see visual elements, and engineers use the code behind them. Any changes to the repository automatically sync to UXPin and notify all teams of the update. Designers can also use Version Control to switch between different design system versions.

Fully Interactive

Figma’s interactive components aim to mimic code, whereas code powers Merge, giving design teams fully interactive UI elements.

With Figma’s interactive components, you’re essentially creating states. With Merge, you get complex functionality like real date pickers, data tables, graphs, inputs, responsive design, and much more!

Smoother Design Handoffs and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Design handoffs are seamless, almost non-existent when using Merge because designers and engineers use the same component library. Design teams can’t make changes outside of properties set by the design system, so there are no surprises for engineers.

Merge significantly reduces development time because engineers can copy/paste production-ready code from the repository and grab component props from UXPin to begin front-end development.

Figma’s components are vector-based artboards. Although many plugins convert Figma design files to code, it’s rarely usable, and engineers must still re-program it to meet their product’s format and structure.

In summary, Merge is a code-based technology that syncs design and development to form a single source of truth. Figma’s interactive components offer basic functionality (mostly state variants) that reduces the number of artboards designers use to create interactions.

Use our Figma plugin to copy Figma designs into UXPin. Reach higher interactivity of prototyping.

Bridging Design and Development with UXPin Merge

One of the standout features of UXPin is its Merge technology, which bridges the gap between design and development by allowing designers to use actual code components within their prototypes. This feature ensures that the components in UXPin are the same as those in production, maintaining consistency and reducing the risk of discrepancies between the design and the final product.

• Code-Based Components: With UXPin Merge, designers can import coded components from a repository (like GitHub) and use them directly in their design projects. These components are not just visual representations; they are the actual components that will be used in the final product, complete with all the functionality and interactivity defined by the development team.
• Single Source of Truth: By using code-based components, UXPin ensures that there is a single source of truth for both designers and developers. This approach eliminates the need for redundant handoffs and rework, as any changes made in the design are immediately reflected in the code, and vice versa. This seamless integration fosters better collaboration and streamlines the product development process.

How to Get Started Prototyping With UXPin Merge

Ready to get started with component-driven prototyping in UXPin using Merge? You have two options:

• Open-source libraries: Open-source libraries are best for teams who lack an active dev support or they just want to get some basic understanding of how they can work with components before comitting to them.
• Private design systems: If you’d like to sync your product’s private design system to UXPin, visit our Merge page to request access, and one of UXPin’s technical staff will contact you to help with onboarding.

The post What are Interactive Components? Bring your Prototypes to Life in UXPin appeared first on Studio by UXPin.

Figma is a powerful web-based design tool that has become designer’s favorite as it allows to create, collaborate on, and share user interface designs in real-time. Founded in 2012 by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, Figma has grown to become one of the leading tools in the design industry due to its unique features and capabilities.

Although it offers a great collaborative design experience, Figma is not the best when it comes to interactive prototyping, design handoff, and code-based design. Let’s analyze Figma competitors and analyze what makes this design tool so popular.

Design fully functional prototypes with UXPin Merge. Use the same components in design as you do in development, and create prototypes that can be interacted with and tested with real users. See how. Try UXPin Merge for free.

Design UI with code-backed components.

Use the same components in design as in development. Keep UI consistency at scale.

Try UXPin Merge

What is Figma?

Figma is a web-based design tool that simplifies teamwork and UI design.

Figma’s focus on accessibility, powerful features, and collaborative capabilities has made it a preferred choice for designers and teams worldwide, transforming how digital products are designed and developed.

What is Figma used for?

Figma is best suited for designers with UI and UX design projects that require detailed, UI designs and robust collaboration features.

It is used for:

• Brainstorming — Figma is a great tool for idea generation; it released a complimentary tool FigJam, where team members can create artboards and flowcharts during brainstorming sessions. An alternative to Figma for brainstorming is Miro.
• Prototyping — Figma Figma enables designers to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes with various transitions and animations​. Figma’s alternative for prototyping are UXPin or Axure.
• UI design — Figma is praised for its design capabilities and it’s used to design the graphical user interfaces of websites, mobile apps, and other digital products. It provides design functionalities to create detailed, high-fidelity mockups. An alternative to Figma in UI design was InVision or Adobe XD. Now, it’s the tools that we will cover in this article.
• Design system — Figma supports the creation and management of design systems, which are collections of design elements and guidelines that ensure consistency across a UI design. It also helps with version control. Figma’s alternative for design systems is Sketch or UXPin.
• Graphic design — Figma provides robust vector editing tools that allow designers to create intricate illustrations and detailed vector graphics. Figma’s alternative for graphic design is Canva.
• Wireframing — Figma is also used for creating wireframes, which are low-fidelity representations of a design’s structure and layout. Wireframes help designers plan the basic structure and flow of a user interface. An alternative for Figma for wireframing is UXPin, Balsamiq, and Axure.

How Figma came to be?

Figma’s backstory is rooted in the vision of its founders, Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, who sought to transform the design industry by creating a more collaborative and accessible tool. Founded in 2012, the idea for Figma emerged from their desire to overcome the limitations of traditional design software, which was often platform-specific and lacked real-time collaboration features. Field’s Thiel Fellowship provided the initial funding and mentorship necessary to bring their idea to life.

The official launch of Figma in 2016 marked a significant shift in the design landscape. As a browser-based tool, it allowed designers to work on any device with internet access, facilitating seamless collaboration akin to Google Docs. This innovation quickly garnered attention, leading to substantial venture capital investments and a growing user base. By 2021, Figma had reached a valuation of $10 billion, reflecting its widespread adoption and impact on the design community.

Figma’s success is also attributed to its focus on community and extensibility. The platform introduced features like plugins, FigJam for whiteboarding, and a vibrant community for sharing resources and ideas. Despite an attempted acquisition by Adobe in 2023, which was ultimately abandoned, Figma has remained independent and continues to innovate, aiming to democratize design and make powerful tools accessible to all designers​.

Figma in numbers

Here are the key numbers associated with Figma.

• User Base: As of March 2024, Figma has over 4 million users, including designers from major companies like Microsoft, Google, and Uber.
• Market Share: The number of designers using Figma as their primary tool rose from 20% in 2018 to 77% in 2021, highlighting its rapid adoption and popularity in the design community​.
• Valuation: Figma’s valuation grew significantly over the years. It reached $2 billion by April 2020 and $10 billion by mid-2021. Despite an acquisition attempt by Adobe that valued Figma at $20 billion falling through, the company remains highly valued at approximately $8.3-9 billion as of late 2023.
• Funding: Figma has raised substantial funding across several rounds, including $25 million in Series B (2018), $40 million in Series C (2019), $50 million in Series D (2020), and $200 million in Series E (2021)​.
• Collaborative Files: Over 3 million Figma files are shared within teams every month, underscoring its collaborative nature and widespread use among design teams​.

Why is Figma so popular?

Figma is a user-friendly design platforms that designers love because of at least 5 features.

• Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users can work on a single design file simultaneously, providing live feedback and making collaborative design seamless​. All it requires to work is an internet connection, as Figma is a web app.
• Design Systems and Reusable Components: It supports the creation and management of design systems, ensuring consistency and efficiency in large-scale projects​​.
• Comprehensive Toolset: Figma offers a wide array of design tools, from vector graphics and typography to layout and composition, all within an intuitive interface.
• Community: Figma boasts a vibrant community where users can share templates, tips and plugins for streamlining the design process and reducing the learning curve.
• Plugin Ecosystem: Figma has an extensive plugin ecosystem for integrating Figma with other tools, simplifying workflow and enhancing its functionality.

Top Figma competitors

1. UXPin
2. Moqups
3. Framer
4. Sketch
5. Marvel
6. Axure

UXPin

UXPin is a Figma alternative for advanced prototyping. While Figma is a vector-based design tool, UXPin is code-based, meaning that you can set up the most advanced interactions on the components level and then copy the code behind it to use in development. With UXPin, you can create clickable menus, data-rich tables, interactive forms, dynamic content, and more.

It’s an end-to-end design tool, so you don’t need plugins or extra seats to test or hand over the final prototype to development. The specs are available without extra seats. UXPin also helps teams set up code-based design system, keep version control, and collaborate by sharing the design with others for commenting or annotating.

UXPin is also known for its Merge technology. It’s a drag-and-drop technology for using fully coded React or Storybook components to design an interface. It’s perfect for teams with matured design systems (like Porsche) or engineer-driven companies who don’t have enough designers on their team.

Check out other articles that compare UXPin and Figma:

• Figma vs UXPin – Storybook integration
• Figma vs UXPin – Prototyping
• Figma vs UXPin – Design System
• Figma vs UXPin – Components
• Figma vs UXPin – React code export

Moqups

Moqups is a wireframing tool for designing basic wireframes that look like paper prototypes, user flows and basic mockups – three essential steps in the design process. This is a well-loved alternative to Figma’s FigJam, their whiteboarding solution with amazing integrations with Jira and Confluence.

It’s a great collaboration tool that makes project management easy. With enterprise clients on board, such as Microsoft, Sony, Amazon, Moqups seem to be a perfect choice for teams who need a common workspace for brainstorming sessions. The tool is also great for working with freelancers on app or web design.

The tool also allows you to create templates for reuse and share across the team. It has an affordable pricing and works offline.

Framer

Framer is a compelling Figma competitor for web design. It helps create and publish websites without having to write code. It works in a drag-and-drop for creating a layout of blogs, landing pages, forms, and more.

It’s a great Figma alternative if you want to create a website that needs to be live fast. Framer is more than just a design tool. It helps you with SEO, performance, localization, and any other thing that’s in a web master’s scope of expertise.

It’s recently added AI feature that works like this — write a prompt, telling AI what kind of a website you’re building, and in return, get a ready-to-go site. It works like magic!

Framer isn’t great at prototyping because it’s main job is creating websites. It makes collaboration between designers, engineers, and product managers easy, yet if you need to create a high-fidelity prototype for user testing, try a tool like UXPin, Axure or Marvel.

Sketch

Sketch is a Figma competitor for teams that work on Macs — it’s a Mac app. It’s recently revamped it’s product to support interactions, design token export, and more things that make designer-developer handoff frictionless.

Sketch has been around since 2010 when designers used Photoshop to create mockups or wireframes. It’s a real dinosaur but it doesn’t seem like it. It’s a user-friendly prototyping tool that speeds up product development and a great Figma alternative. It has a version control, design system management and history that makes design process easier.

Marvel

Marvel advertises itself as a design tool that even non-designers can use. This might be appealing to small startups who look for a wireframing and mockup solution that everyone on the team can use. It’s used in finance and consulting markets as well as by companies such as BlaBlaCar or Stripe.

The prototyping tool doesn’t compare itself to Figma, but from its Marvel vs Invision landing page, we can learn that it’s a tool for advanced prototyping and design handoff that allows teams to build and handover their designs to the engineering team.

Marvel is praised for having a small learning curve and easy user interface, but the users complain that it is too basic to create advanced prototypes.

Like Figma, it works in artboard mode and it has vector editing tools that help you mimic user interactions to an extent. We recommend you to try Marvel as it has a free version that you may enjoy for creating basic screens.

Axure

Axure is an old-school prototyping tool that’s a great competitor to Figma when it comes to advanced prototyping. It supports interactions, such as conditions, triggers, and actions for creating a prototype that tests user experience. Those interactions can be tricky to set up as the learing curve is rather steep, but it’s all worth it.

Axure works in the cloud now, but it also has a MacOS and Windows apps for those of you who prefer work offline. It’s well loved by user experience designers, product managers, and business analysts at enterprise corporations, and design teams who require robust user feedback before implementing the design.

Which Figma competitor do you want to try?

There are many more Figma competitors on the market, but we decided to outline six of them that you may consider when looking for a Figma alternative or another tool to speed up your design process.

Some of well-loved tools have been sunsetted or they stopped getting new clients, such as Adobe XD (which was a part of Creative Cloud) or InVision that was great for design systems.

Framer is best for web design, Sketch is great for Mac users, Moqups and Marvel come in handy for smaller teams, while Axure and UXPin are great for robust prototyping when you need to use live data. Pick the one that fits your purpose.

If you want to use a prototyping tool that connects design and development, try UXPin Merge. Design production-ready prototypes that don’t need translation from design to code, because you work with coded components from the start. Try UXPin Merge.

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