What are Design Principles?

Designers use principles such as visibility, findability and learnability to address basic human behaviors. We use some design principles to guide actions. Perceived affordances such as buttons are an example. That way, we put users in control in seamless experiences.

Usability “commandments”:

• Keep users informed of system status with constant feedback.
• Set information in a logical, natural order.
• Ensure users can easily undo/redo actions.
• Maintain consistent standards so users know what to do next without having to learn new toolsets.
• Prevent errors if possible; wherever you can’t do this, warn users before they commit to actions.
• Don’t make users remember information – keep options, etc. visible.
• Make systems flexible so novices and experts can choose to do more or less on them.
• Design with aesthetics and minimalism in mind – don’t clutter with unnecessary items.
• Provide plain-language error messages to pinpoint problems and likely solutions.
• Offer easy-to-search troubleshooting resources, if needed.

The Principles

1. Don’t interrupt or give users obstacles – make obvious pathways which offer an easy ride.

2. Offer few options – don’t hinder users with nice-to-haves; give them needed alternatives instead.

3. Reduce distractions – let users perform tasks consecutively, not simultaneously.

4. Cluster related objects together.

5. Have an easy-to-scan visual hierarchy that reflects users’ needs, with commonly used items handily available.

6. Make things easy to find.

7. Show users where they’ve come from and where they’re headed with signposts/cues.

8. Provide context – show how everything interconnects.

9. Avoid jargon.

10. Make designs efficient and streamlined.

11. Use defaults wisely – when you offer predetermined, well-considered options, you help minimize users’ decisions and increase efficiency.

12. Don’t delay users – ensure quick interface responses.

13. Focus on emotion – pleasure of use is as vital as ease of use; arouse users’ passion to increase engagement.

14. Use “less is more” – make everything count in the design. If functional and aesthetic elements don’t add to the user experience, forget them.

15. Be consistent with navigational mechanisms, organizational structure, etc., to make a stable, reliable and predictable design.

16. Create a good first impression.

17. Be trustworthy and credible – identify yourself through your design to assure users and eliminate uncertainty.