Buttons are an essential element of interaction design. They have a primary role in the conversation between a user and the system.
In this article, I’ll review seven basic principles you need to know to create effective buttons.
1. Make buttons look like buttons
When it comes to interacting with user interface, users need to know instantly what is ‘clickable’ and what’s not. Every item in a design requires effort by the user to decode. Generally, the more time needed for users to decode the UI the less usable it becomes for them.
But how do users understand whether a certain element is interactive or not?
They use previous experience and visual signifiers to clarify the meaning of the UI object. That’s why it so important to use appropriate visual signifiers (such as size, shape, color, shadow, etc.) to make the element look like a button. Visual signifiers hold an essential information value — they help to create affordances in the interface.
Unfortunately, in many interfaces the signifiers of interactivity are weak and require interaction effort; as a result, they effectively reduce discoverability. If clear affordances of interaction are missing and users struggle with what is “clickable” and what is not, it won’t matter how cool we make the design.
If they find it hard to use, they will find it frustrating and ultimately not very usable.Weak signifiers is an even more significant problem for mobile users. In the attempt to understand whether an individual element is interactive or not, desktop users can move the cursor on the element and check whether the cursor changes its state.
Mobile users don’t have such opportunity. To understand whether an element is interactive or not users have to tap on it — there’s no other way to check the interactivity. Don’t assume that something in your UI is obvious for your users.
In many cases, designers intentionally don’t identify buttons as interactive elements because they assume the interactive elements are obvious for users.
When designing an interface, you should always keep in mind following rule:Your ability to interpret clickability signifiers aren’t the same as your users’ because you know what each element in your own design is intended to do.
Use familiar designs for your buttons..
2. Put buttons where users expect to find them
Buttons should be located in places where users can easily find them or expect to see. Don’t make users hunt for buttons. If users can’t find a button, they won’t know that it exists.
Use traditional layouts and standard UI patterns as much as possible
Conventional placement for buttons improves discoverability. With a standard layout, users will easily understand the purpose of each element — even it’s a button without strong signifiers. Combining a standard layout with clean visual design and ample whitespace makes the layout more understandable.
Don’t play hunt-the-button game with your users
Tip: Test your design on discoverability. When users first navigate to a page that contains some actions that you want them to take, it should be easy to spot an appropriate button for the user.
3. Avoid using too many buttons
This is a common problem for many apps and websites. When you provide too many options, your users end up doing nothing. When designing pages in your app or website, think about the most important actions you want your users to take.
4. Provide visual or audio feedback on interaction
When users click or tap on the button, they expect that the user interface will respond with appropriate feedback. Based on the type of operation, this might be either visual or audio feedback.
When users don’t have any feedback, they might consider that the system didn’t receive their command and will repeat the action. Such behavior often causes multiple unnecessary operations.
Why is this happening? As humans, we expect some feedback after we interact with an object. It might be visual, audio or tactile feedback — anything that acknowledges the fact that interaction was registered.
For some operations, such as downloading, it’s worth not only acknowledging user input but also show a current state of the process.
5. Properly size your buttons
Button size should reflect the priority of this element on the screen. Large button means more important action.
Prioritize buttons
Make the most important button look like it’s the most important one. Always try to make the primary action button more prominent. Increase its size (by making a button bigger you make it look more important for users) and use a contrasting color to capture user attention.
Conclusion :
Despite the fact that buttons are an ordinary element of interaction design, it’s worth putting a lot of attention to make this element as good as possible.
Button UX design should always be about business recognition and clarity on your business goals.
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Hope, this article will be useful for the UI/UX designers and developers too.
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