🔑 1. User-Centric Design
Design for your audience, not yourself. Your layout, color scheme, and functionality should cater to the needs, expectations, and habits of your target users.
Best practices:
- Perform user research before design.
- Use personas to guide layout and features.
- Keep interactions intuitive.
🧭 2. Clear Navigation
Visitors should never feel lost. An intuitive menu structure with clear labels helps users find what they need fast.
Best practices:
- Use a sticky menu for easy access.
- Limit menu items to 5–7 max.
- Include a search bar for content-heavy sites.
🏞️ 3. Visual Hierarchy
Guide your visitors’ eyes. Important elements should be bigger, bolder, or more colorful.
Best practices:
- Use large headlines for section titles.
- Highlight calls to action (CTAs) with contrasting colors.
- Group related content visually with spacing or boxes.
🧱 4. Consistency
A cohesive style reinforces brand identity and reduces cognitive load.
Best practices:
- Stick to a color palette and font pairing.
- Use consistent button styles and icons.
- Maintain spacing and grid systems across pages.
🕶️ 5. Accessibility
Design inclusively so everyone can access your content, including users with disabilities.
Best practices:
- Use alt text for images.
- Ensure color contrast meets WCAG guidelines.
- Make your site keyboard-navigable.
⚡ 6. Speed Optimization
A beautiful site that loads slowly is a dealbreaker. Performance is key to retention and SEO.
Best practices:
- Compress images.
- Minimize JavaScript and CSS files.
- Use a content delivery network (CDN).
📱 7. Mobile-First Design
More users browse on phones than desktops. Mobile responsiveness is non-negotiable.
Best practices:
- Use flexible grids and images.
- Test UI on different devices.
- Prioritize vertical scrolling and tap-friendly elements.
✏️ 8. Compelling Content
Design brings users in; content keeps them there. Make sure your messaging is clear and valuable.
Best practices:
- Use active language and simple copy.
- Include visual content like images, icons, and videos.
- Break up text with headings and bullets.
🧪 9. Continuous Testing
Even the best designs need refinement. Regular testing ensures you’re aligned with user needs.
Best practices:
- Conduct A/B testing on CTAs or layouts.
- Gather feedback via surveys or heatmaps.
- Monitor analytics for drop-off points.
