Technology, admittedly, can be very ageist in design and usability. Many of the features and functions designed into our favourite technology tools make a lot of assumptions about the capabilities of the users. As such, a broad cross-section of those with special accessibility needs may be completely left out of the equation. Thankfully, with a few changes, you can make your digital designs and devices more inclusive. Here is how you can do just that.
4 Key Ways to Make UX/UI Designs Infinitely Better
01. Colour
Colours impact how information is presented. Colours also significantly influence how we receive and perceive said information. As such, it is important to bear certain facts concerning the effect of colour on people when designing our tech tools and devices.
For example, colour psychology experts will confirm that black (or darker) text against a white (or lighter) background is easier on the eyes than the reverse. Similarly, green is one of the easiest colours for the eyes to recognise and one of the last colours we stop recognising when colour blindness associated with age begins to set in. Such information should be considered when choosing colours to complement design layouts.
02. Font Face or Type
Like colours, the fonts used in electronic media design go a long way in how well-received the information presented will be.
As a rule of thumb, Sans Serif fonts tend to read better on screens than Serif fonts. The straight-up and down design is cleaner in its presentation and simply easier to read.
03. Font Size and Weight
The font used to write the text comprising the body of information should be of a particular size to make it legible. For example, a great place to start for websites is between 18px and 21px. As for the weight, 400 (normal) is a great place to start.
04. Letter, Line, and Object Spacing
It has been my experience (based on testing websites on senior citizens), that creating just enough space between letters, words, and lines of text goes a long way in legibility. An average of 1.2 px is an ideal starting point for letter spacing. On the other hand, line spacing can average around 25 px. Importantly, spacing the objects and other artwork features that may appear in any design, also goes a long way and must be considered,
The Final Analysis
There are core values and foundational principles to just about anything you can think of. These values and principles help to anchor and make secure the thing that it applies to. UX/UI design is no different. By employing the principles outlined above in their designs and layouts, UX/UI designers will be able to ensure their creations are more accessible and functional as the information is better presented than when the aforementioned principles are foregone.
