The Importance of UI in Web Design

As a modern business, you’ll want to make sure your website is well-designed, clean, and user-friendly to attract and retain as many visitors as possible. However, there is much more that goes into drawing and converting customers than appealing custom web design. You’ll also have to consider its user interface or UI, which is integral to a successful website.

You may have heard about UI and user experience or UX, which go hand in hand in optimising a website and ensuring it’s the perfect combination of form and function. Here’s what you need to know about UI and what you can do to improve this factor on your website:

What is UI?

UI is the arrangement and design of a website’s features and controls affecting a user’s interaction. Elements like icons, buttons, drop-down menus, scroll bars, or even sliders are some of the many tools that allow users to interact with the website. High-quality UI is intuitive and helps users effortlessly navigate a website. It is also closely linked to a top-notch user experience.

What is UI Design?

UI design covers the process of developing practical, attractive interfaces for a website, a program, or an application. Websites typically have a graphical user interface or GUI that includes different interface elements classified into four types: input controls, informational components, containers, and navigational components. All these elements help users complete a task by toggling or interacting with them. Examples include users clicking on an action button to go to the next step and using the search field to input their query.

Modern web design has seen UI design evolve rapidly, using animations, fluid screen transitions, and other motion elements to improve the overall user experience. Loading animations assure users that the page will load soon enough, holding their attention while preventing them from exiting your website while waiting for the page to load.

Who Takes Care of UI?

Custom web design, along with UI design, is a complicated process that involves a lot of research, planning, web development, user testing, and more. For this reason, this task goes to web designers, who will oversee your website’s aesthetic and ensure its elements are all functional and cohesive. However, as the business owner, you’ll need to make sure your UI design fulfils its intended function while aligning with your brand personality.

What Makes a Good UI?

Consistency and intuitiveness are vital parts that make an exemplary user interface. Humans inherently recognise patterns, and deploying similar patterns throughout your site will vastly lessen your user’s risk of confusion while improving their user experience. Users are generally more drawn to websites with familiar designs and elements, which means they won’t gravitate as much to your website if it is full of unfamiliar elements.

It is crucial to be strategic when adding UI elements to your website. Your customer data can help you determine the elements that meet your target customers’ needs and preferences regarding task completion. Adding these throughout your website will establish consistency and familiarity, encouraging your users to return to your website.

How Do You Improve Your Website’s UI?

For starters, keep your user interface clean and straightforward. Use only the most appropriate and valuable elements to your target users, eliminating any clutter, vague labels, or messages that can backfire.

As mentioned earlier, you’ll also want to be consistent throughout your website. Use the same typography, theme, language, icons, image style, and colour palette to remove any confusion a user may experience when going through your website. Keep the location of features like your menu or icon shapes the same on every single page. That way, your users will recognise these instantly and have an easier time moving through your website.

Each page layout must have a clear purpose and structure the content of your pages according to their importance. Putting interface elements in specific places will direct your users’ attention towards the most vital parts of your site, like headlines and call-to-action buttons. Lastly, use colours with intention and use typography to improve readability and legibility.

Conclusion

UI plays a vital role in your website, so it is a worthy investment to provide your users with an optimal browsing experience. By prioritising UI in your web design, you’ll enjoy a customer base that loves returning to your website, boosting your search engine optimisation performance and revenue.

Apex Designs specialises in affordable web design in Melbourne for start-ups. Our websites are proven to work in over 14 different industries across Australia, featuring two options to create your dream website: custom web design or affordable website design. Contact us today to get started!