5 Common UI Design Patterns | Part 1

Summary

In this video, the creator shares five essential UI and UX design patterns every designer should be using: the accordion menu, dropdown menu, card design, breadcrumbs, and the hamburger menu. These patterns enhance user navigation, information organization, and content interaction. Accordion menus allow efficient expansion and collapse of content, dropdowns offer easy item selection, cards present versatile content, breadcrumbs help users track their path, and hamburger menus provide a sleek navigation solution. The video emphasizes their importance in creating intuitive and user-friendly designs across web and app interfaces.

Takeaways

• 😀 Accordion menus are classic, dependable UI elements that allow users to expand and collapse content sections for better navigation and information management in limited space.
• 😀 Drop-down menus have been a staple in UI design, enabling users to select from a list of items, but should be used cautiously to avoid overwhelming users with too many options.
• 😀 Cards are highly versatile UI components that can hold a variety of content such as text, images, buttons, and graphs, making them ideal for organizing information.
• 😀 Breadcrumbs are valuable navigation tools that show users their current location within a website or app, making it easier to backtrack and explore previous selections.
• 😀 Hamburger menus are typically used to hide menus and other navigation options off-screen, offering a clean interface and expanding content when clicked or tapped.
• 😀 The accordion menu is especially useful in FAQ sections or category-based content areas, allowing easy expansion and collapse of information.
• 😀 Drop-downs are great for use in search boxes and web applications, providing a simple way to suggest or select options like notifications or profile settings.
• 😀 Cards can be used in many different ways across apps and websites, from displaying product info to highlighting value propositions.
• 😀 Breadcrumbs help users visualize the path they've taken within a website or application, aiding in easier navigation and improving the user experience.
• 😀 The hamburger menu can transform into a close icon upon interaction, offering an animated and intuitive way to manage hidden navigation elements.

Q & A

What is the accordion menu and how is it typically used?

The accordion menu is a UI design pattern that allows users to expand and collapse sections of content. It is useful for displaying large amounts of information in a compact space and helps users quickly navigate through categories. Commonly used in FAQ sections and categorized content areas.

What are the benefits of using an accordion menu in UI design?

Accordion menus are space-efficient, helping to present a large amount of content within a limited area. They also improve navigation by allowing users to easily expand and collapse sections, offering a cleaner and more organized layout.

What should designers be cautious about when using dropdown menus?

Dropdown menus should be used carefully as too few options can feel underwhelming, while too many can overwhelm users. It's important to ensure that dropdowns are clear and functional without causing clutter or confusion.

How does a dropdown menu function and where is it commonly used?

A dropdown menu displays a list of options that users can select from by hovering over or clicking on the menu. It is widely used in navigation bars, search suggestions, and form fields.

What is the card pattern and why is it so versatile in design?

The card pattern is a UI design element that can contain various types of content like text, images, buttons, and graphs. It's versatile because it can be customized to present different types of content in a structured and visually appealing way.

What are some examples of how the card pattern can be used in UI design?

Cards are commonly used to display products in e-commerce sites, blog posts, user profiles, and value propositions on websites. They are interactive, and users can click on them to explore more detailed content.

What are breadcrumbs in UI design and how do they enhance navigation?

Breadcrumbs are a navigation aid that displays the user's current location within a website or application, along with links to previously visited pages. This makes it easier to understand and navigate the website’s structure, especially on complex sites with multiple layers.

What are the key benefits of using breadcrumbs in a web application?

Breadcrumbs improve navigation by showing users where they are within a website or application and providing easy access to previous pages. They are especially beneficial for websites with deep hierarchies, such as e-commerce platforms and large content sites.

What is the hamburger menu and where is it typically used?

The hamburger menu consists of three horizontal lines, which, when clicked, open a menu or drawer containing additional options. It is commonly used in mobile apps and responsive web designs to save space and provide easy access to hidden menus.

Why is the hamburger menu often used in mobile design, and what is its typical interaction?

The hamburger menu is used in mobile design to save screen space by hiding the navigation menu behind an icon. When clicked or tapped, the hamburger icon transforms into a close (X) icon, and a menu or drawer slides into view, revealing additional options.