On Delight in Interfaces

I was recently working on some blue sky ideas for a few areas across various product surfaces at DuckDuckGo. As a result of this, I was thinking a lot about fluid interfaces and experiences.

This exercise was very much focused on pushing us to think beyond a layer of paint over existing surfaces, and instead thinking at a layer several elevations above this to rethink those surfaces entirely, particularly extending beyond aesthetics. This sounds so obvious and stupid to say, but seriously, many people still think that design is just about aesthetics and little else.

While visual appeal is important, creating a friendly and intuitive interface is equally crucial. Usability should be a top priority, ensuring someone can find what they need quickly and easily without navigating through multiple pages or menus. Many interfaces I play with still attempt to cram menus with every possible item (we're guilty of this sometimes too...), or are afraid to create contextualised actions that are present when they’re needed and disappear when they’re not.

Animation and micro-interactions are powerful elements in design that serve multiple purposes. They add visual interest, making the website more engaging and less static, thus holding the customer’s attention longer. But beyond aesthetics, these elements significantly enhance the functionality and user experience of a website by guiding users intuitively through the online interface.

Given one of my latest posts talked about how delight isn’t just about animation, it’s important to note that I still believe in the importance of animation and micro-interactions in interfaces.

For instance, subtle animations can effectively draw people's attention to key features or call-to-actions, such as "Sign Up" buttons or "Learn More" links. By making these elements stand out, animations direct people to perform desired actions, contributing to the website's goals, such as increasing conversion rates or encouraging deeper engagement with the site's content.

Micro-interactions, on the other hand, are brief, subtle actions that help people feel more in control of their interactions on a website or app. These can include feedback like gentle button clicks, hover animations, or notification sounds. Such interactions are crucial as they provide immediate and intuitive feedback on actions, confirming that the desired action has been completed successfully, therefore reducing any potential frustration and increasing satisfaction.

These design strategies not only help in retaining user interest but also ensure a smooth and intuitive navigation process. When carefully planned and implemented, animations and micro-interactions can enhance accessibility by signaling accessible paths and features, thus improving the overall UX. Furthermore, they can also serve to surprise and delight users, leaving a positive impression of the brand, encouraging return visits, and ultimately fostering loyalty.

You have access to a diverse range of design tools and frameworks that can help you create visually appealing and user-friendly websites. Material UI or React-Aria are just two popular frameworks that can quickly and easily transform your website into a professional-looking site with beautiful animations and excellent accessibility. You can take animations further with popular libraries like Motion or Lottie. For mobile, you can leverage built in patterns in SwiftUI or Compose. Collaborating closely with designers and utilising these tools and frameworks, you can achieve a website that seamlessly combines functionality and visual appeal, providing an exceptional UX for your users.