10 UI/UX Design Ideas for Your Informational Website

Much like going to the grocery store, where you’ll talk to strangers, browse for the products you need, be tempted to try something new, and ultimately shape your experience to be as pleasant as possible. A website functions the same way, serving as an interface for users to enter and navigate. As a web designer, you hold the responsibility of ensuring the visitor’s experience is optimal during their time on your site. But what exactly are the characteristics of outstanding user interface design? Let’s unravel 10 incredible UI/UX design ideas for your informational website.

10 UI/UX Design Ideas for Your Informational Website

1. Pay attention to standards.

If it isn’t broken, don’t repair it, as the adage goes. If the standard works, there is no reason to strive to revitalise your website. This includes anything from icons to the typical positioning of items. You want to stay consistent with what your users anticipate. 

Designers, being highly creative individuals, enjoy reinventing things– but this is not always the most excellent idea. Why? Because a redesigned version of known interaction or interface increases “cognitive load”, forcing users to deviate from a previously learned procedure. You may keep reinventing the wheel as long as it improves the design. However, there is no need to attempt to rejuvenate something if it is already effective. 

2. Use recognition instead of recall.

In contrast to effective test-taking techniques, you want your consumers to instantly recognise every aspect of your website. They shouldn’t have to consider it or remember the details. Above all, you are simplifying your interface to make each component easy to understand and navigate from one webpage to another. Recognisable icons can be an excellent way to do this.

People can identify specific icons for specific objects. Another option is to use virtual tours to guide a user; even an experienced user can benefit from it. After seeing the website, people will immediately know what to do; they won’t have to waste mental effort trying to remember the specifics of the process. Well-placed messaging that tells consumers what each feature on your site accomplishes is a potential method of achieving this goal.

3. Maintain user freedom and control.

Taking control away from the user is the last thing you want to do with your UI. To avoid forcing them into a small and constrained space, you would have to give them more control; thus, your UI should let them use it to their advantage. A necessary user action should first be close to the desired action. For instance, the option to edit a post should be conveniently located with the save, publish/submit, and preview buttons. 

It’s helpful if you build your UI in such a way that the user constantly has the impression that there’s a means to undo or back out of their current state. This gives the user the confidence to try out new things and the freedom to do whatever it takes to complete the task. The browser’s back button may create unexpected results, so it’s a good idea to provide a cancel button (like on every page of your e-commerce checkout). 

The undo function combined with a project management system that keeps track of changes (like Google Drive, WordPress, or Git) results in a massive undertaking. You know you’ve done a great job if your interface doesn’t restrict your users.

4. Make sure the user has easy access to everything they require. 

It doesn’t matter if the software is a set of design tools for web design apps, the inventory for a character in a video game, a spreadsheet, or anything else; if the user can’t locate what they’re looking for, they’ll abandon it. It’s much easier to navigate between tabs that have accessible features, such as shortcuts and tooltips that appear when you mouse hover. You won’t waste time hunting for the various options because they are all well-labelled. 

The availability of a “Help” or “Support” button is another instance of this type of feature. It doesn’t matter if you’re making a mobile app, web app, website, or any other kind of UI; the “Help” or “Contact Support” button must always be easily accessible. One way or another, they’ll have to get in touch with you. That’s why it’s crucial to always make the assistance options prominent.

5. Give feedback.

More transparency is needed for users. When a user clicks a button, it should give feedback. Users are left wondering whether to reload the page, restart the laptop, or throw it out the first open window when digital interfaces fail to give much back. Therefore, a button can be animated to disappear as the page is loaded. It goes without saying, loading indicators (like the dotted window’s wheel) convey, “We are working on your request.” 

For file-sharing services like Dropbox and Google Drive, it’s helpful to let consumers know how much time is left to complete that particular action. Frustration and uncertainty can be avoided by providing a pop-up or modal that indicates the user’s activity was successful. A simple “thank you” for the user’s effort whenever they perform a task within your interface can also make a significant difference.

6. Facilitate straightforward decision-making. 

For the sake of the user experience, you must remove all unnecessary obstacles. Eliminating extreme elements is a good strategy for this. There is far too much noise on the web, with so-called “banners” suddenly becoming full-screen advertisements. Pop-ups appear, pleading with users to subscribe to blogs that they were yet to have an opportunity to read. Interstitial videos pause our viewing, making the time pass agonisingly slowly.

Moreover, we won’t even begin discussing widgets, flyouts, and tooltips. Customers always prefer to use a website with a quick load time. The bottom line is that keeping designs as straightforward as possible allows users to make the selections we intend them to make more quickly and effortlessly. After all, the greater the number of alternatives to choose from, the higher the probability that you’ll find one that suits your needs.

7. Decide on the interaction style first.

What if you clicked something that looked like a button but wasn’t and waited for a response? Therefore, it is best to first determine the intended purpose of your interface before designing it. The best results come from adopting just one or two patterns or shifts and fully integrating them into your UI design. 

Swiping is the standard method of doing this on mobile devices. In this age of large touchscreens, this is a much more pressing issue than it might initially appear. It’s essential to think about your users and the technology they’re using. Since, as a designer, you would want to rely on something other than swiping if your target audience consists of older people or people with impaired motor skills. 

Supporting standard keyboard shortcuts can also help reduce the time spent using the mouse, which is especially important if you’re making an app for keyboard-centric users like writers or programmers. Your site’s accessibility will increase in proportion to the degree to which it adheres to these principles. Keep in mind the more consistent your site is, the more the user will enjoy using it.

8. Do your best to create intuitive user interfaces.

Keep in mind that the less information a user has to commit to memory, the quicker and easier they’ll be able to use your interface. Moreover, it stands to reason that the simpler something is, the more likely it will be remembered in the near term. To help with this, you can chunk the data so that it’s easier to take in bite-sized pieces. 

Avoid using generic phrases like “learn more” and “click here” when making links and buttons. Why? because it doesn’t say what topics visitors will “learn more about.” Most readers will scan your website searching for a link that interests them; suggesting that they click “learn more” 10 times isn’t going to help.

9. Achieve elemental unity.

It’s essential to remember that unity can be both aesthetic and intellectual and that both types contribute to better user experience design. When every design aspect works together to convey the same message, you have achieved “visual unity.” A conceptual unity is one in which the content pieces all relate to the same idea. 

Each component should serve a specific purpose and be placed with deliberate intent. Those that are optional to achieving the goal should be eliminated. However, this can backfire if you try to stop details crucial to the overall effect. Be specific so that nothing is misunderstood. Similarly, the use of colour and contrast is essential. Those that are colourblind must also find your software easier to use.

10. Keep things apt and straightforward.

Websites, where text is paramount should prioritise decluttering their design to put the spotlight on the text. Implementing a basic design can make the editorial job easier for your users. Features such as estimated reading time and the option to highlight and respond directly to individual articles can also greatly enhance your site’s usefulness to visitors.

Create large “click targets,” or buttons, icons, and text links, so users can readily see and interact with them. If there isn’t enough room, people will keep clicking the erroneous links in menus, typography, and other lists of links. The online reading and writing platform Medium perfectly illustrates this argument because it is both aesthetically pleasing and highly practical. This website is flawless because it makes excellent use of white space, few colours, and a well-curated set of fonts. 

Always remember your interaction model when considering elements’ positioning and size. Websites that force users to scroll horizontally rather than up and down are penalised search engines.

Conclusion

Ensuring that your UI/UX design services benefit your users and your platform is at the heart of an excellent UX design. UX design is the process of minimising obstacles and maximising the flow of information to the user from the point of entry to the destination. Inspiration is the cornerstone of any great design. We hope our shared design ideas will help you confidently take on your next web design project to best cater to your customer’s needs.

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Our team of expert writers is committed to bringing insights on topics ranging in the fields of technology, marketing, and business. With a wide-reaching range of services on our platform, we help businesses achieve digital transformation end-to-end.