The 8 UI/UX Cheat Codes for INSTANTLY Better Designs

Summary

This video dives into essential UI/UX design tips that elevate your designs from good to exceptional. It covers topics like adjusting kerning for large text, perfecting rounded corners, and creating effective color palettes using HSB values. The video also highlights the importance of clear, creative layouts, consistent spacing, and avoiding unnecessary lines. It encourages designers to use darker shades for backgrounds instead of pure black or white and incorporates depth into designs using color adjustments. These techniques, backed by practical examples, are meant to help designers create polished, professional user interfaces.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kerning on large text matters: Adjust letter spacing for larger text (above 70-80px) to ensure readability, using a range of -2% to -4%.
• 😀 Rounded corners need consistency: When corners are nested, reduce the inner corner radius to maintain balance and avoid awkward spacing.
• 😀 Color palettes can be made easy: Use HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) adjustments to generate matching color schemes and create harmony.
• 😀 Improve card layouts: Group related information, create a visual hierarchy, and rank elements by importance for cleaner, more intuitive designs.
• 😀 Avoid unnecessary lines: When possible, space items clearly without lines. Use subtle backgrounds for alternating rows instead of harsh lines.
• 😀 Consistent spacing is crucial: Stick to a 4px or 8px base grid for smaller elements and round larger sizes for visual consistency.
• 😀 Darker accent colors for backgrounds: Instead of pure black or white, use darkened versions of your accent colors for a more dynamic design.
• 😀 Depth in dark mode: Add layers of depth by adjusting brightness and saturation of dark colors, using cards with different background colors.
• 😀 Use a tool like Mobin for UI inspiration: Mobin offers a library of UI elements to study top app designs and apply them to your own projects.
• 😀 Avoid blaming fonts: If large text looks disjointed, it may be the kerning or scale, not the font itself. Adjust spacing for better aesthetics.

Q & A

What is kerning, and why is it important for large text sizes?

Kerning is the space between letters in a word. It is important for large text sizes because when text is scaled up (over 70-80 pixels), the automatic kerning that works well for smaller text might not look good, making it necessary to manually adjust the spacing to maintain a cohesive design.

How much kerning adjustment is generally recommended for large text?

A reasonable kerning adjustment for large text is typically between -2% to -4%. This small change helps make the text more visually balanced and cohesive.

What issue can arise when applying rounded corners in design, and how can it be fixed?

When applying rounded corners, the distance between the corners can become uneven, especially if there’s a corner inside another corner. The fix is to adjust the inner corner radius by subtracting the distance between the two corners, ensuring symmetry and visual harmony.

How should you adjust the radius of inner corners when using rounded corners?

To adjust the inner corner radius, subtract the distance between the two corners from the outer corner radius. For example, if the outer corner radius is 30px and the gap is 10px, the inner corner radius should be 20px.

What is the benefit of using iOS corner smoothing on rounded corners?

iOS corner smoothing subtly tapers the corners before hitting the corner itself, creating a smoother and more refined rounded effect, which is difficult to notice but improves the overall appearance of the design.

What is the process for picking matching color palettes for design?

Start with a base color and use the HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) model to modify it. Increase the saturation by 20% and decrease the brightness by 10%. For additional colors, adjust the hue slightly for each to ensure a harmonious palette.

How do you modify color palettes to ensure they are well-matched?

Modify your base color by adjusting its saturation and brightness. Then, adjust the hue for each additional color in the palette. Blues and purples typically have darker hues, while yellows and reds are lighter. This creates a cohesive, visually appealing color scheme.

What design principle should be followed when creating card layouts for UI?

When creating card layouts, avoid using unnecessary labels and group information logically. Rank the importance of elements, like name and cost, and align them in a visually appealing way to improve the readability and aesthetic of the design.

What is the impact of lines in UI design, and when should they be used?

Lines in UI design can often add unnecessary clutter and make the design harder to read. They should be avoided unless the design style specifically requires them, or if they are used sparingly to separate tightly packed elements for clarity.

What is the importance of spacing in UI design?

Consistent spacing is crucial for maintaining a clean and organized design. It helps improve readability and visual structure, often using a base grid like 4 or 8 pixels to align elements properly.