Because such patterns are widely spread, users get accustomed to them and know how each UX pattern works. This leads to the fact that implementing UX patterns into your design makes it much easier for users to interact with the product interface and for a designer, it saves time and prevents reinventing the wheel.
But are design patterns in UX really so necessary? If yes, then how to use them correctly? And finally, won’t these ready-made design solutions make your design boring? In our article, we will cover all these questions.
“Design used to be the seasoning you’d sprinkle on for taste; now it’s the flour you need at the start of the recipe.”
John Maeda
Designer and Technologies
When you visit a website, you probably expect to find the navigation up in the header, the main CTA somewhere to the left, and the logo (or other visuals) on the right side of a page. This is an example of a common UX design pattern.
Here is another example: when you open a gallery of pictures you know that there should be some right-left arrows to scroll through the images, and it is also a pattern. In most cases, app/website interfaces are composed of such ready-made solutions.
Sometimes, designers create new patterns (such as "swipe left-right" onTinder, which, actually, can be replaced with simple "yes or no"). Some patterns appeared with the emergence of touch screen phones on the market - the interaction with such interfaces has changed a bit, and therefore new patterns had to be created.
The main task of a UX designer is to create the most user-friendly interface for a target audience. What does the most user-friendly mean? This means that a person interacting with this interface solves their tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. And UI/UX design patterns facilitate this goal. The usage of patterns saves the designer’s time and helps the user to complete more tasks in a unit of time.
But except for these obvious advantages here are some more pros of using design patterns:
he main task of a UX designer is to create the most user-friendly interface for a target audience. What does the most user-friendly mean? This means that a person interacting with this interface solves their tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. And UI/UX design patterns facilitate this goal. The usage of patterns saves the designer’s time and helps the user to complete more tasks in a unit of time.
But except for these obvious advantages here are some more pros of using design patterns:
When you start searching for design patterns you will find plenty on the Web, but that doesn’t mean you should over-rely on them. The goal of UX patterns is to solve usability issues. Therefore, if there is a problem, look for a solution and vice versa, if there is no flaw with the user experience do not overwhelm your interface with common patterns.