15 front-end design principles to help you create better websites

 Do not be afraid that adhering to generally accepted design rules will limit your creativity; on the contrary, it will help you do better work. Often, designers start a task intuitively, which is not always the right decision. Using rules, structuredness, can pleasantly surprise you with the final result. An impressive design isn't just about inspiration; it takes practice and adherence to standard rules.

Interfaces are becoming more sophisticated, captivating with their brevity and practicality. Many years of experience allows us today to use all the best and most advanced design tools. In this article, we'll take a look at 15 design principles that have evolved over a long period of time. This is a great beginner's guide to the field.

Usability basics

1. Do not overload the user with unnecessary thought processes.

Websites should be intuitive and concise for all people. No need to make an overly intricate interface or function. It is highly likely that no one will stay for a long time at such a site due to its impracticality. People don't like wasting time when you can get similar information on another resource without any hassle.

2. Aesthetics come first

One of the mistakes developers make is to prioritize design over usability. Such a mistake is common, the designer tries to demonstrate as much of his design skills as possible at the same time, with a secondary emphasis on functionality. Site functionality and content should always come first.

3. User control

When interacting with the site, the user should have a sense of control, and the interaction process should be logical and understandable, without much effort to perform a specific action. If the user has to search for a desired item in the menu for too long, or the buttons are lined up in an illogical sequence, then most likely such a design will fail. The user must have control over automatic video playback and animation interactions. Such opportunities increase visitor's receptivity and trust.

4. Interaction 

All your projects should take into account that the Internet is an interactive environment. Interaction with links and buttons should be logical. Calculate beforehand how the buttons and the overall design will look, depending on the change of gadget. The graphic and functional parts must retain their original, harmonious appearance, regardless of the type of device.

5. Focus on action

A user can quickly get tired of numerous actions and clicking on links in an attempt to find the information he needs. Pay attention to the call-to-action buttons, they should not be too intrusive, leveling the main action.

6. Take the content apart

The structuredness of the text into blocks makes it easier to understand. It is much easier to find information in logical paragraphs that are clearly arranged in the appropriate table of contents. Break up the text into blocks, making the navigation clear. Visually, such information will be much more comfortable for perception than a single block.

7. Cohesion of elements

Group related elements visually, it will be easier for the user to interact with them. Navigation will save time by simplifying the search process.

8. Visual hierarchy

Hierarchy is achieved through the application of a single style in design, colors and shapes. Visual grouping of elements will make usability harmonious and comfortable to interact with.

9. Predictability

Do not reinvent the wheel, often the desire to "stand out from the crowd" turns out to be a failure in the field of design. People can get confused and confused about how to interact with an overly complex interface. Creativity is highly commendable, but don't forget about rules in the design process.

10. Creating the right mood

The overall design of the site should be functional first of all, and only then evoke certain moods through visual design. The visual design of a slot machine is a good example of aesthetics in shaping the user experience.

11. Use images purposefully

On various sites, you can often come across a beautiful picture that does not belong to the general context and does not make sense. Any visual element should carry a specific semantic load (push the user to action, serve as a hint).

12. Inclusiveness

When using images in your designs, keep in mind that some devices may not display them. Pay attention to the availability for different gadgets, this is important for users.

13. The mental model

When creating the information architecture of the site, consider what model the users will build in their heads. It is unlikely that the designer model will be exactly the same as the users' vision, since they are experts in posting content published by them. Model awareness eliminates error in the design and presentation of the final product.

14. Iterate

An important aspect is the final testing of the application before publication. In this way, we can confirm or deny our assumptions about users. Ideal design doesn't immediately pop into a developer's mind; it can be achieved through trial and error.

15. Correctly prioritized

Functionality is the most important aspect for good design(Personal Website Design Company in California), visual aspects should be secondary. This has an impact on conversion and page traffic.