Hi! Today I’m breaking down 10 essential steps that will make your design cleaner, more understandable, and more confident. Even experienced designers sometimes forget these, and for beginners, they are absolutely critical. These principles are universal—they work in any project, regardless of trends, style, or button color. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Choose Your Layout and Content Structure
Structure is the foundation. Without it, even the most beautiful design will feel chaotic. Types of Layouts:
Two-Column Layout
- Use when you have a lot of content.
- Helps organize information clearly.
- Perfect for landing pages, blogs, or pages with extensive information.
Single-Column Layout
- Ideal for minimalist interfaces or small amounts of text.
- Helps the user follow a logical line.
- Corners form a triangle, guiding the user’s attention.
Pro Tip: Think of your layout as an arrow. Elements should lead the user: headline → text → button → visual accents.
Step 2: Work with Text
Text is key. A visually appealing interface loses meaning if the text isn’t readable. What to Do:
Break Up Text:
- 50–75 characters per line is optimal.
- Split large paragraphs into smaller blocks (2–3 sentences).
- Users scan text visually, so long blocks can overwhelm.
Optimize Your Writing:
- Remove unnecessary words.
- Example: instead of “significantly increases user satisfaction and contributes to higher sales, ” use “Increases satisfaction and sales. ”
Bulleted Lists + Icons:
- Lists give the eye a starting point.
- Icons serve as visual anchors.
- Pairing each bullet with a small icon makes the list engaging and easy to scan.
Why It Matters: Reduces cognitive load and makes your text much easier and faster to read.
Step 3: Establish a Consistent Spacing System
Proper spacing gives your design room to breathe. How to Do It:
- Choose a base unit (e. g., 4px).
- Make all spacing multiples of that unit: 16, 32, 64px.
Group elements logically:
- Headline + text = one group
- Image = separate group
Effect: The layout looks organized, elements don’t feel cramped, and the eye naturally finds the key information.
Pro Tip: Use Auto Layout (Figma/Adobe XD) to maintain spacing when elements resize automatically.
Step 4: Line Height
Line-height adds “air” between lines, making text more readable.
Recommendations:
- Headlines: 1:1 (e. g., font-size 54px → line-height ≈ 54px).
- Paragraphs: 1. 5x (150% of font size).
- Use percentages for responsive text.
Why It Works: Helps users read longer texts, creates a visual rhythm, and improves scanability.
Step 5: Letter Spacing
Letter spacing affects readability and the overall feel of text.
Tips:
- Headlines: slightly tighten (-1) to create a cohesive unit.
- Paragraphs: keep neutral (0) for optimal readability.
- Buttons: slightly expand (+1–3%) to make them feel clickable.
Why It Matters: Small tweaks make your layout appear professional and polished.
Step 6: Font Selection
Too many fonts = visual chaos.
Guidelines:
- Start with one font (preferably a sans-serif grotesque).
- Once comfortable, add a second font for accents.
- Google Fonts offers superfamilies: serif, sans-serif, display, and text variants.
- Why: Fonts set the mood. The wrong font can ruin your design instantly.
Step 7: Color Palette
Color is the first thing users notice.
How to Pick Colors:
- Main color = brand color.
- Secondary color = complement, not compete.
- Always check contrast with tools (Figma, Contrast Checker).
Pro Tip: Color should highlight the main message and maintain visual hierarchy.
Step 8: Buttons
Buttons are the most important UI elements.
Rules:
- Rounded rectangles are best.
- Aspect ratio: horizontal padding ≈ 1. 8–2 × vertical padding.
- Add color, glow, and subtle hover effects to make buttons stand out.
Why: Buttons are the action point—the reason users came.
Step 9: Decor
- Decor brings life to your interface, but shouldn’t distract.
- Add soft gradients, subtle textures, or small illustrations.
- Keep the main focus on headlines and buttons.
- Decor adds emotion without creating clutter.
Tip: Think “soft charm, ” not “visual carnival. ”
Step 10: Check Your Composition
Composition is king.
How to Check:
- Use the “squint test”: narrow your eyes to see only shapes and outlines.
- Elements with the most visual weight should guide the eye.
- Ensure the order: headline → text → button → decor.
Why: Users must immediately know where to look and what to do.
Conclusion
These 10 steps aren’t just hacks—they’re a way of thinking. If you follow them:
- Any design will look modern and emotional.
- You’ll achieve a clear visual hierarchy.
- User experience improves, cognitive load decreases.
Use this as a checklist for every project and improve step by step.
