Visual Design Articles & Videos

  • The IL1 Typography Test

    Using typefaces with distinct characters can help users easily differentiate alphanumeric data. Choose typefaces that pass the I-L-1 test for data tables and information seen at-a-glance.

  • The Anatomy of a Good Design: An Analysis of 4 Sites

    Visually pleasing designs use consistent type styles and spacing, create a visual hierarchy, and utilize an underlying grid structure.

  • Common Region: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    Items within a boundary are perceived as a group and assumed to share some common characteristic or functionality.

  • Figure/Ground: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    Users perceive interface design elements that differentiate the foreground (figure) from the background (ground) as something to focus on or interact with.

  • Continuation: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    The eye automatically follows lines and curves, continuing them. Employ continuation to guide users along desired paths in the UI.

  • Common Fate: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    Things that move in synch are perceived as belonging to the same group and being different than other screen elements that stay put or move differently.

  • Connectedness: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    Visual design elements that are connected (for example, by a line) are seen as belonging together. This principle is strong enough to overrule small differences between the items.

  • Closure: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    People often fill in the gaps between visual elements, using closure to perceive them as a whole instead of being separate UI items.

  • UX Mapping Methods: Visual-Design Guide

    Visual-design principles can be applied consistently throughout the process of creating a polished UX map. Start by choosing a tool, then create a visual system, establish the basic layout, and finally add content and make adjustments.

  • Proximity: Gestalt Principle for User Interface Design

    UI elements that are close together are perceived as belonging together, whereas users think that things that are apart play different roles in the interaction.

  • Visual Design in UX: Study Guide

    Unsure where to start? Use this collection of links to our articles and videos to learn about visual design in UX.

  • Similarity: Gestalt Principle 1 for UI Design

    User interface elements that share one or more traits (such as shape, color, size, etc.) will be seen by users as being similar and belonging together.

  • 5 Visual Treatments that Improve Accessibility

    To design accessible visuals, account for color contrast, don’t rely on color alone, make interactive elements easy to identify, provide useful alternative text for images, and test your visuals with real users.

  • The Gestalt Principles for User Interface Design

    The gestalt principles for visual perception make users see some graphical user interface design elements as parts of a whole, and others as being separate, and thus different.

  • 3 Strategies for Managing Visual Complexity in Applications and Websites

    In application design, prevent users from being overwhelmed by putting things in predictable places, using a clear visual hierarchy, and taking advantage of progressive disclosure.

  • Visual Hierarchy

    Visual hierarchy can help users decide where to look in a user interface: what's most important can be shown by color and size, and what things belong together can be shown by proximity and common regions.

  • Fitts's Law and Its Applications in UX

    The movement time to a target depends on the size of the target and the distance to the target.

  • Using Grids in Interface Designs

    Grids help designers create cohesive layouts, allowing end users to easily scan and use interfaces. A good grid adapts to various screen sizes and orientations, ensuring consistency across platforms.

  • Using Color to Enhance Your Design

    Color is an influential tool in user interface design. Here are 3 guidelines for applying color in your design.

  • The Dos and Don’ts of Pairing Typefaces

    When choosing typography to use in designs, narrow down your options by understanding the most common classifications, looking for typefaces with multiple variations and distinct characters, and pairing typefaces together with consistency and readability in mind.