UI/UX Design Principles: A Guide to User-Friendly Websites

A website's success depends not just on how it looks, but on how users interact with it. UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) are the design disciplines that cover these two dimensions.

UI vs UX: What's the Difference?

• UI (User Interface) = How does it look? Colors, fonts, buttons, layouts
• UX (User Experience) = How does it feel? Ease of use, flow, satisfaction

Analogy: In a restaurant, UI = the food presentation and plate design. UX = ease of ordering, wait time, overall experience.

10 Core UI/UX Principles

1. Consistency

The same elements should look and work the same everywhere:

• Same button style
• Same color coding
• Same font hierarchy
• Same icons mean the same thing

2. Visual Hierarchy

Users should see the most important information first:

• Headlines large, details small
• Draw attention with color contrast
• Breathing room with white space
• CTA buttons should stand out

3. Simplicity

"Perfection is achieved not when there's nothing more to add, but when there's nothing left to take away."

• Remove unnecessary elements
• Each page should have one purpose
• Limit choices (Hick's Law)
• Apply progressive disclosure

4. Feedback

Users should see the result of every action:

• Visual change on button click
• Success message on form submit
• Clear error messages
• Spinner/skeleton during loading

5. Accessibility

Everyone should be able to use your site:

• Sufficient color contrast (WCAG AA)
• Alt tags on images
• Keyboard navigation
• Screen reader compatibility
• Font size at least 16px

6. Affordance

Elements should signal what they can do:

• Clickable elements should look clickable
• Links should be colored and underlined
• Buttons should look like buttons
• Input fields should signal they expect input

7. User Control

Users should always feel in control:

• Undo capability
• Cancel button
• Easy navigation
• Search function
• Breadcrumb navigation

8. Error Prevention

Prevent errors before they happen:

• Real-time form validation
• Confirmation before deletion
• Auto-save
• Smart default values

9. Recognition Over Recall

Users should recognize rather than remember:

• Clear labels and menus
• Recent searches
• Recently viewed items
• Hints and suggestions

10. Aesthetic and Minimalism

Beauty and function together:

• Clean, organized design
• Purpose-appropriate color palette
• White space usage
• Consistent typography

Common UX Mistakes

| Mistake | Result | Solution | |---------|--------|----------| | Slow loading | User leaves | Performance optimization | | Complex navigation | Getting lost | Simple menu structure | | Small buttons | Can't tap on mobile | Min 44x44px | | Excessive pop-ups | Annoyance | Minimal and timed | | Hidden CTA | Lost conversions | Prominent CTA | | Weak contrast | Can't read | WCAG compliance | | Long forms | Abandonment | Minimum fields |

UI/UX Design Tools

| Tool | Use | Price | |------|-----|-------| | Figma | UI design + prototype | Freemium | | Adobe XD | UI design | Adobe subscription | | Sketch | UI design (Mac) | Paid | | Maze | UX testing | Freemium | | Hotjar | Heatmap + user testing | Freemium |

UX Checklist

• Does the page load within 3 seconds?
• Is the main CTA visible above the fold?
• Can users reach their goals within 3 clicks?
• Do forms contain minimum fields?
• Is it comfortable on mobile?
• Are error messages clear and helpful?
• Does color contrast meet WCAG AA?

Conclusion

Good UI/UX design creates websites that make users happy and drive conversions. Good looks (UI) attract users, good experience (UX) keeps them. Together, they form the foundation of a successful website.

If you'd like a user-focused, professional website built, get in touch: info@cagribilgehan.com. Check out my projects: cagribilgehan.com