Want to build a website that is close to reality? You can surely go for a three dimensional interface. Add drop shadows, textures, gradients and all. But are you aware that not this dynamic design, but something else is the in-thing of web design these days? You know what it is? The flat user interface (UI) design – one of the simplest yet engaging forms of website designing styles is in vogue. Today we’ll be going through 5 Common Flat UI Design Mistakes to Avoid.
If you go just by its name, that is going to be one of the biggest mistakes. The flat UI design is nothing flat or mundane. However, it needs to be:
- Clean
- Simple
- Colorful
It’s true that this form of design removes all forms of stylistic aspects that can create illusions of a three-dimensional appearance. This form of design is both honest as well as trendy. However, the objective of this is a simple one: to be as minimalistic as possible.
Flat Design Not without Its Set of Mistakes
Remaining within the minimalistic parameters help to make the websites look more interesting and stylish. According to web design experts, this flat UI design is only a hint at the fact that the world of design is maturing fast. It appears sharp and clear, which have a telling effect on the viewer. And the most important feature of such a design is its usability. It is user-friendly and is being regarded as the future of web design. However, flat UI design is not without its own set of follies. Let’s have a look at some of the most common issues with this form of design.
1. Going Too Simple
Yes, it’s true that you need to make the user interface simple when going for a flat UI design. But remember, simplicity might as well be a problem at times. A website too simple might be difficult for the users to navigate. Websites should usually be at least as much detailed as to help the users to differentiate between various elements, namely:
- Text
- Message
- Image
- Button
In fact, you cannot expect the website to be user-friendly if things are not discernable. For a perfect user experience, the website needs to have a similar base design so that you can match different items of user interface there.
2. Choosing the Wrong Colors
What’s the most important component of web design? Yes, there can be many. But you just can’t deny the role that colors play. They have the power to make or mar the design of a website. More so, when you are going for a flat design. So, it is essential for you, as a web designer, to choose the right colors for your website. Don’t choose the colors that do not work well on all screens. This can give the website a bad or cheap look, which never go with any business portal. Instead, you should choose the right shades and contrasts. Besides, ensure that the colors you choose for the website show up perfectly on different types of screens.
3. No Separate Colors for Clickable Links
Planning to include links in the flat design? You will, of course, have to make sure that the links are clickable and they lead to other websites. However, when you are including the links in the website, you need to keep a few other things in mind. Ensure that the links are clearly visible even when it is placed in between the texts. For this, the links need to have colors, which are not similar to those of the texts, so that the users do not have any problem in spotting them. Even if you are not making it of any bright color, the links should at least be in blue, the default color for such hyperlinks. Moreover, the users can also confuse between images and buttons, if there is no indication that the buttons are clickable
4. Lack of Visual Hierarchy in a Page
When a visitor to your website takes a look at the landing page, she immediately needs to understand what the most important thing is there. If you are planning to keep this visual hierarchy intact, you will have to focus on:
- Shades
- Shadows
- Textures
- Placement of different page elements
This visual hierarchy in the page plays a major role in enhancing user experience. However, if you are planning to go for a flat web design, creating this hierarchy becomes extremely difficult. Hence, the user experience is affected significantly due to this.
5. Selecting the Wrong Fonts
What fonts are you planning to use for the flat design of your website? It is extremely important to use them prudently. A few common mistakes might occur while choosing the typography for the flat web designs. These can occur because of a number of reasons, such as:
- Not knowing the meaning of the terms
- Not focusing on unity and coherence
- Avoiding cross matching
These mistakes in selecting the fonts for a flat web design can hurt your business objectives in the long run.
Even with all its follies, flat design is one of the most popular forms of web design these days. It is the in thing now, but required change. More than a flat design, an almost flat design will be a great idea for your website. Such designs are usually light and hence, help to make the websites faster. However, if you are going for such a design, it is important to try to keep away the common mistakes of flat UI design. The result will be an enchanting site that will attract a large number of visitors and the footfalls will surely convert in a positive manner in the balance sheet at the end of the year.