Best Practices for Visual Design
Establish a visual hierarchy
Visual hierarchy refers to the way elements are arranged on a screen to signal their relative importance. Its purpose is to guide the user’s eye, attention, and actions by making clear what should be noticed first, second, and so on. Designers create hierarchy through factors such as size, color, weight, and placement. Without it, when all elements look identical—same size, same color—the information competes equally for attention, leaving users unsure where to focus.
Clarity through balanced design
A clear interface enables users to immediately understand how to interact with it, without hesitation or frustration. When clarity is missing, users often struggle to complete tasks or grasp the purpose of certain elements, which quickly leads to disengagement. Clarity in design can be compromised when interfaces swing too far in either direction—becoming so simple that they lose meaningful value, or so complex that users feel confused and uncertain about how to proceed.
Use consistent design patterns
Repeat familiar UI elements like buttons, icons, cards, and inputs so users learn once and recognize patterns. Consistency builds trust, reduces learning effort, and prevents disorientation.
Design for readability and legibility
Choose readable typefaces, maintain strong color contrast, and avoid overly dense text. Keep lines at readable lengths and ensure font sizes are appropriate for both mobile and desktop. Stick to a controlled palette and no more than 2–3 typefaces to maintain visual coherence. Overuse of styles creates noise and weakens the brand’s voice and tone.
Design with simplicity and space in mind
Prioritize essential content and remove distractions that don’t support key tasks. Use ample white space to separate elements and prevent cognitive overload during scanning or decision-making.
Align elements to a grid system
Use a modular grid to align UI elements with precision and balance. Grids create rhythm, harmony, and visual order—especially important in responsive layouts.
Make interactive elements visually distinct
Differentiate buttons, links, toggles, and controls from static content using clear affordances like color, depth, icons, or hover states. This helps users understand what actions they can take.
Design with accessibility in mind
Meet WCAG standards for contrast, size, and keyboard navigation. Ensure content isn’t conveyed by color alone and that the interface works for all users, including those with disabilities.
Use imagery with purpose
Select images, icons, and illustrations that clarify content, support communication, or evoke emotion. Avoid decorative visuals that don’t add meaning or distract from primary content.
Design for responsiveness and flexibility
Ensure layouts and components adapt to various screen sizes and orientations. Responsive design preserves usability, readability, and structure across mobile, tablet, and desktop views.