Common UI Design Patterns: Building Friendly User Interface Designs in Software Engineering

Common UI Design Patterns: Building Friendly User Interface Designs in Software Engineering

Whether you’re a UI or UX designer who’s just getting started or a seasoned professional, you shouldn’t miss these basic UI design patterns. User interface design in software engineering is one of the crucial expectations to consider. That is the reason here we will investigate a portion of these plan designs that you’ve probably experienced however probably won’t be aware by name.

So, let’s hit them one by one.

1.   Hamburger Menu

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Have you ever seen those three little horizontal lines stacked on top of each other? That’s the hamburger menu! It is usually in the top left or right corner of a mobile app or website. This pattern saves screen real estate and is perfect for mobile devices where space is at a premium.

It is well-recognizable and offers direct access. However, it can be a little annoying for iOS mobile phones due to the same position of the default back button on the top left corner of the screen. To avoid such cases, you can use its variations and alternatives, such as floating Hamburger menus, tabbed menus, slides, and so on.

2.   Cards

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Cards are neat little containers that hold snippets of information, images, or actions. You can find them on Pinterest, Facebook, and countless other websites. These cards make content digestible, scannable, and visually appealing.

While designing a card, make sure to remove unnecessary designs, use a color theme adequately, put a 3:1 element contrast ratio, keep at least 1.5 lines of body text, have a 4.5:1 text contrast ratio, and use another card UI design expectations.

3.   Call-to-Action Buttons

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CTA buttons are like the MVPs of UI design. I mean, these are the actual of our UI designs. They’re the action heroes that drive conversions, whether it’s signing up, buying a product, or simply clicking to learn more.

You can also use 3D effects with bold colors and clear, concise text. Also, make sure that you use the appropriate size of your CTA. Apple suggests it to be 44×44 px for mobile, while Microsoft suggests it to be 32×26 px.

4.   Infinite Scroll

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Have you ever wasted hours just by scrolling? Thank Infinite Scroll for that. Instead of clicking through page after page, Infinite Scroll continuously loads more content as you scroll down.

It’s addictive and keeps users engaged. But it can also be annoying to users due to the endless scrolling, so it’s necessary to consider where to use it.

5.   Modal Windows

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Modal windows are those sleek, pop-up boxes that steal the spotlight when you need to focus on a specific task or action. They’re like the divas of UI design, demanding your full attention until you’ve completed your mission. Modals are great for sign-up forms, login screens, or displaying additional information without leaving the current page.

6.   Tabs

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Tabs allow you to categorize content, making it easy for users to switch through different sections or views. Tabs are a must for organizing information like product details, settings, or different stages in a process.

But tabs aren’t supposed to be added everywhere or randomly. In order to know where you should apply the tabs, you need to think like a visitor rather than a designer. Include those sections in the tab that are high in demand, scannable, and can be helpful in navigating.

Now, if you’re thinking of the places where you shouldn’t place the tabs, you need to think like a seller. Skip the appealing tabs on the pages where content engagement is necessary.

7.   Progress Bars

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Progress bars keep users informed about how much longer they have to wait for a task to complete. Whether it’s downloading a file, uploading an image, or installing software updates, progress bars reduce anxiety and enhance user satisfaction.

8.   Search Bars

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Last but not least, search bars are the Sherlock Holmes of UI design. They help users quickly find what they’re looking for. Whether it’s a website, an app, or an e-commerce platform, a well-placed search bar can be a real lifesaver.

9.   Breadcrumb Navigation

Breadcrumb navigation is your guiding navigator. It’s a trail of clickable links that show users their current location and allow them to backtrack easily. Breadcrumbs help users stay oriented in complex websites or apps.

10.  Slider Controls

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Sliders are the fun-loving, interactive elements in UI design. They allow users to adjust values by dragging a handle along a track. Sliders are perfect for settings like volume control, price range selection, or choosing a level of intensity.

Bottom Line

I hope you enjoyed reading about user interface design patterns in software engineering. As one of the biggest custom software designing firms, our designing team faces many UI challenges day to day and works efficiently to clear them out. So, if you want to know more about such interesting UI facts, patterns, or tips and tricks, Intetics is always here for you!