The Dos and Don'ts of UI/UX Design: Best Practices for Exceptional User Experiences

In today’s digital age, crafting an exceptional user experience (UX) and intuitive user interface (UI) is crucial to the success of any website or app. Whether you’re designing an e-commerce platform or a personal blog, understanding what works—and what doesn’t—can make all the difference. Here’s a breakdown of the key dos and don’ts in UI/UX design to help you build a user-friendly experience that delights visitors and keeps them coming back.

DO: Focus on User Needs

At the heart of UI/UX design is the user. Your design should always revolve around making their experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Understand who your users are, what they need, and how they will interact with your product. Conduct user research, create user personas, and constantly ask yourself: “How can I make this easier for them?”

• Tip: Start by mapping out user journeys—every step a person will take when navigating your platform. This will help you uncover pain points and improve their path.

DON’T: Overwhelm with Too Many Features

While it’s tempting to include every cool feature you can think of, this can overwhelm users. Too many choices can lead to confusion and decision paralysis. Instead, focus on the core features that deliver real value.

• Example: Imagine a mobile banking app with dozens of complex tools on the homepage. The user might struggle to find something simple, like their account balance. Keep the design clean, functional, and centred around key tasks.

DO: Prioritise Mobile Responsiveness

With mobile traffic overtaking desktop in many areas, it’s essential that your design looks and works well on smaller screens. A responsive design ensures that users have a consistent experience, no matter which device they’re on.

• Tip: Test your design on a variety of devices. Look at how elements shift and adapt to different screen sizes, and make sure buttons are large enough for mobile users to tap easily.

DON’T: Ignore Accessibility

A truly great design is inclusive. People with disabilities or impairments should be able to navigate your website or app with ease. Ensure your design adheres to accessibility standards, such as making text readable for people with low vision or ensuring screen readers can interpret your content properly.

• Tip: Use high-contrast colour schemes, provide alternative text for images, and allow keyboard navigation wherever possible.

DO: Keep Navigation Simple

One of the biggest reasons users abandon a website is because they can’t find what they’re looking for. Clear, simple navigation is key to creating a positive experience. Organise content logically, use intuitive menus, and ensure that important features are easy to find.

• Tip: Employ familiar conventions. Most users expect navigation bars at the top or side of a page. Resist the urge to reinvent this unless there’s a compelling reason to do so.

DON’T: Sacrifice Function for Aesthetic

It’s easy to get caught up in designing a visually stunning site, but if the design gets in the way of usability, it’s not serving its purpose. Avoid overly complicated animations, hard-to-read fonts, or artistic layouts that confuse users.

• Example: A fashion brand may want to stand out with a bold and creative website, but if users can’t find the checkout button or the page takes too long to load, it will hurt conversions. Always balance beauty with usability.

DO: Use Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Your users should never be left wondering what to do next. Whether you want them to sign up for a newsletter, make a purchase, or contact you, make your call-to-actions obvious and engaging. Use concise, action-oriented language like “Get Started” or “Buy Now.”

• Tip: Make CTAs stand out by using contrasting colours and placing them in strategic locations, such as at the end of a page or after relevant content.

DON’T: Use Too Many Pop-Ups

Pop-ups can be effective for drawing attention to promotions or sign-up forms, but overusing them can frustrate users. Too many interruptions disrupt the flow of browsing and can lead to a poor user experience.

• Tip: If you must use pop-ups, limit their frequency and make sure users can easily dismiss them.

DO: Maintain Consistency

Consistency in your design ensures that users can navigate your platform with confidence. Stick to a cohesive colour palette, typography, and style throughout your website or app. Consistent elements make it easier for users to understand how things work and where to find what they need.

• Tip: Create a style guide that outlines your design principles, ensuring that all future updates or pages align with the established look and feel.

DON’T: Overlook Load Times

Slow-loading websites are a major turn-off for users. In fact, studies show that most visitors will abandon a site if it takes more than a few seconds to load. Optimise images, use efficient coding practices, and consider leveraging content delivery networks (CDNs) to speed up your site.

• Tip: Regularly test your website’s performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. This will give you actionable recommendations to reduce load times.

DO: Continuously Test and Improve

UI/UX design is an ongoing process. It’s crucial to test your design with real users and gather feedback. Conduct usability tests, analyse user behaviour through heatmaps, and make improvements based on what you learn. Design is never ‘finished’—there’s always room to tweak and optimise.

• Tip: A/B testing is a great way to compare two different design choices. Try it with different headlines, layouts, or button placements to see which performs better.

Final Thoughts

Good UI/UX design isn’t about chasing trends or impressing with flashy visuals—it’s about creating an experience that’s both functional and enjoyable. By focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and user-centric design, you’ll create products that people love to use. Keep these dos and don’ts in mind, and your users will thank you for it!