In our pivot we are refactoring our app’s UI. We are going to make subtle changes to some of the pop up screens and main screens. We will keep the main UI – our users love it – but improve some of the modals and menus.
I am not a designer but will be in charge of this refactoring. I originally designed the app with the help of a Kenyan agency, and like all clients, I wasn’t happy with the outcome. We had to be pragmatic though, and in order to get to market quickly we went ahead with the design. The result is an app I am 75% happy with. During this pivot I will be using “Refactoring UI” a manual that came recommended to me by a designer friend.
The book’s approach is grounded in pragmatism rather than talent, aiming to demystify the design process. Here’s a quick summary generated by ChatGPT:
- Starting with Features, Not Layout: The book advises starting a project by focusing on what the UI should do, rather than getting bogged down with layout details. This approach helps in prioritizing functionality over aesthetics.
- Visual Hierarchy: It emphasizes the importance of visual hierarchy in UI design, using size, weight, and color contrast to guide user navigation and to make interfaces intuitive and user-friendly.
- Layout and Spacing: The authors stress the need for ample whitespace and a systematic approach to layout and spacing, advising against over-cluttered designs.
- Typeface: The book underscores the importance of font choice and recommends a systematic approach to font sizing to maintain consistency and enhance readability.
- Color: It delves into the effective use of color in UI design, offering guidance for those who struggle with color choices.
- Depth: The sixth chapter deals with the use of shadows and light sources in UI to create depth, making designs more dynamic and engaging.
- The Small Touches: Finally, the book discusses how minor tweaks and adjustments can significantly enhance the overall appeal of an app’s design.
What I love about each of the chapters are the visual examples. The authors lay out the ideas behind design before detailing steps to change bad UI to good UI. They are concise about how to do it, and show the before and after as the reader follows. The results is great clarity to the novice how the changes improve UI. I’m a big fan and recommend it. We have already started on our our color choices.