10 interaction design rules you must never break

UI Design best practices.

In life, there are certain rules you must never break. If you do there will be hell to pay. In User Interface design there are also rules to live by. They are called “heuristics” or general principles that improve usability in user interfaces. These are repeatable patterns that have been tested over time and help users navigate an interface. A well-designed interface will always contemplate the following principles. A not so well designed interface will surely lack one or more of these principles. You’re a UI designer so why would you break one of these rules and cause your users such headache?

This list was adapted from Norman Neilsen’s 10 Heuristics for User Interface design.

1. Visibility of System Status

The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

Always give your users appropriate information, hints and context so they know where they are within the system at all times. This allows the user to feel in control and know what to do next. Did the item get…