Glossary of UI Design Principles

Accessibility

The design principle that ensures digital products or services are usable by people with disabilities, providing equal access to information and functionality.

Affordance

A visual or physical attribute of a user interface element that suggests its functionality or how it should be used.

Alignment

The arrangement of elements in a user interface to create a sense of order and visual harmony.

Balance

The distribution of visual weight within a user interface, achieved through careful placement of elements and use of white space.

Clarity

The quality of a user interface that ensures information is presented in a clear and understandable manner.

Color Contrast

The difference in color between foreground elements and their background, ensuring readability and accessibility.

Consistency

The principle of maintaining uniformity throughout a user interface using consistent patterns and styles.

Depth

The visual perception of depth in a user interface, achieved through techniques like shadows and gradients.

Feedback

The visual or auditory response from the user interface that informs users about the outcome of their actions.

Fitts's Law

A mathematical model used in UI design to predict the time required to reach a target, considering size and distance.

Flexibility

The design principle that allows a user interface to adapt to different screen sizes and user preferences.

Grid System

A framework of vertical and horizontal lines used to align and organize elements within a UI.

Hierarchy

The organization and prioritization of content and functionality within a user interface.

Human Interface Guidelines (HIG)

Design guidelines provided by platforms that offer recommendations for creating intuitive UIs.

Information Architecture

The structural design of information within a user interface ensuring content is organized logically.

Microinteractions

Small, single-purpose interactions within a UI that provide feedback or perform a specific task.

Minimalism

The design approach that advocates simplicity, removing unnecessary elements to create focused UIs.

Mobile First Design

The design strategy that prioritizes the mobile user experience when creating digital products.

Proximity

The design principle that groups related elements together by placing them close in a user interface.

Readability

The ease with which text and content can be read and understood within a user interface.

Responsiveness

The design principle that ensures a UI can adapt to different user actions and device capabilities.

Skeuomorphism

The design approach that uses realistic visual metaphors to mimic physical objects in a UI.

Typography

The selection, arrangement, and styling of fonts within a user interface to enhance visual appeal.

Usability

The measure of how easy and enjoyable it is for users to interact with a user interface.

Visual Hierarchy

The use of visual attributes like size and color to create order and emphasis in a user interface.