4 principles of web design you should never ignore

Web design is both an art and a science. No matter how talented you are and no matter how developed your creative skills are in this area, there are principles that are not worth putting aside.
An example of all this is Snapchat. After developing the redesign, this company had a lot of problems with user comfort, precisely because these principles were violated. For example, it is important to select the CTA buttons accurately (and not, word for word, color them); It is also necessary to follow certain rules so as not to create identical problems.

Of course there are many design principles that are worth considering however we offer 4 principles that we think are particularly important.


Principle # 1: Fit Law

In simple language, Fits law tells us that the time it takes to get an arrow to the required location is the distance divided by the size of the required location. Consequently a small target at a great distance is undesirable. Conversely, a large target is a good practice for a short distance.

If you can not increase the size of your elements then try your best to reduce the distance required for the arrow to pass.





Principle # 2: The Law of Neural Adaptation

CTA colors are quite a controversial topic in the web design world; Some people think that red is superficial for them, some people prefer blue, some people prefer orange. However better when you understand the law of neural adaptation you will no longer pay attention to it.

In short, this law tells us that for a long time the perception of a certain style causes it to be blocked / neglected in the mind. Which naturally works for you - as a designer. For example, if your big sales page is full of black color scheme, doing CTA in black is not a smart decision either. Naturally the user gets used to the color and the CTA no longer catches the eye, hence it is ignored.

The solution is also simple Try to create a strong contrast between the key elements and the CTA.


Principle # 3: Hicks law

The name of this law comes from William Edmund Hickey, and Hickeys law tells us that the time a user spends to make a certain decision is directly proportional to the number of options offered. Consequently, the increase in options leads to an increase in time as well.

This sounds a bit vague though you can look at the following facts to better understand the meaning of this law:

• A 1 second delay causes a conversion of 7%.
• Removing one tray results in a 50% increase in turnover
• 60% of online applicants refuse to fill out a form because of its length or complexity

Consequently if you want the turnover to increase as easily as possible the information should be understandable and unnecessary alternatives should not figure out. Offer only those options that are prioritized.




Principle # 4: Webers barely noticeable difference law

The Snapchat design update was such a huge crash that Kylie Jenner, one of its most prominent users, protested about it, costing the company $ 1.5 billion.

Snapchat broke exactly Webers barely noticeable difference law, which led to similar negative reactions.

In Webers law, barely noticeable difference refers to the type of unit that is needed for the difference to be sensory. If the difference is barely noticeable, the customer may not react at all. If on the contrary - it is radical it can lead to a strong response.

Therefore, it is recommended that you do all this slowly in your career as a designer, even if you are planning radical changes. Such a step-by-step approach will allow you to analyze the next steps, and will also give you the type of feedback you can consume productively.