Psychology in User Interface Design

BairesDevBlog

User interfaces (UIs) are how we communicate with machinery and technology. A successful user interface successfully understands how humans think, feel, and behave. In essence, UIs are reliant on psychology. Who would have thought?

A huge part of human psychology is our attention and perception. What draws our attention? What makes us zero in on a certain point? When a machine wants us to pay attention to a certain piece, UI designers can use visual hierarchy, color psychology, and clear layouts to guide our eyes. For example, a brighter color like red or yellow would catch our eyes more than a dull beige or gray. So, having a brighter color message for an error signal would be better than a duller color.

Our short-term memory is well, very short-term. UI designers must ensure that a machine or technology requires little mental capacity. This could be done by simplifying layouts, using clear language ("Look here" instead of "Move your eyes to this exact location right now"), and minimizing clutter. On the topic of memory, people earn best through patterns and consistency. UI designers leverage this by using familiar design elements and maintaining a consistent layout across different pages.  This makes it easier for users to remember how to use the interface.

At the end of the day, UI needs to be usable and efficient. Understanding human psychology when developing UI makes better, human-centered interfaces. After all, UI is for humans to use and understand!