In addition to the standard design principles of emphasis, hierarchy, and proportion, there are a number of other visual design elements and principles that UX designers can use to enhance the user experience and create more interesting and appealing designs.
Value
Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It is a key element in creating contrast in designs, which can make them easier to see and understand. For example, a light-colored text on a dark background will be more readable than dark-colored text on a light background.
Saturation
Saturation refers to the intensity of a color. Highly saturated colors are bold and bright, while less saturated colors are more muted. UX designers can use saturation to create visual interest in their designs, or to emphasize important elements. For example, a brightly colored button is more likely to grab a user’s attention than a muted button.
Orientation
Orientation refers to the layout of a design. It is important to consider the orientation of the device or platform that users will be using when designing a product. For example, mobile phones and tablets can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations, so UX designers need to make sure that their designs look good and function well in both orientations.
Intrinsic interest
Intrinsic interest refers to how visually appealing an element is. Some elements, such as logos and images, are naturally more eye-catching than others. UX designers can use intrinsic interest to guide users’ attention to important elements in their designs. For example, a UX designer might use a large, bold font for a headline, and a smaller, more readable font for body text.
Perceived physical weight
Perceived physical weight is the illusion of weight and volume that each visual element conveys. UX designers can use perceived physical weight to create a sense of depth in their designs, or to emphasize certain elements. For example, a UX designer might use a thick, drop shadow to make a button appear more physical.
How to use these elements and principles in your UX designs
Here are a few tips for using visual design elements and principles in your UX designs:
- Use value to create contrast in your designs. This will make them easier to see and understand.
- Use saturation to create visual interest and to emphasize important elements.
- Consider the orientation of the device or platform that users will be using when designing your product.
- Use intrinsic interest to guide users’ attention to important elements in your designs.
- Use perceived physical weight to create a sense of depth in your designs, or to emphasize certain elements.
By using these elements and principles effectively, UX designers can create more engaging, usable, and visually appealing designs.