(A Guide to Basic UI/UX Design Principles)

Hey there!
This article is for beginner (and not only beginner) designers who want to understand how UI/UX works and why intuitive interfaces feel good to use. The methods I’ll share are applicable across many fields — because human psychology is wired to enjoy clean, structured visuals where everything is in its place and easy to navigate. This doesn’t just apply to interfaces — it’s true for life in general.

But what exactly is intuitive design? And how do you make it actually work?

📐 Composition Techniques

Composition is the way you arrange elements so they feel balanced and communicate the right visual message. Everything you place on a layout — buttons, text, shapes, images, videos — is part of that composition.

Let’s go over the core techniques every designer should have burned into their brain (and ideally dream about at night).

1. 🎯 Emphasis & Hierarchy

These two principles are closely connected and usually work together.

Emphasis is about making something stand out so the user doesn’t miss the important stuff.
You can create emphasis using color, size, contrast, animation, or even shape.

Examples of emphasis:

• A bright “Submit” button that catches your eye instantly.

• A big headline that stands out from body text.

• A high-contrast element that doesn’t blend into the background.

  

  

  

  Why it matters:
  So users don’t have to guess where to look first. Think of it as the traffic sign of your interface.

  Hierarchy, on the other hand, is about organizing everything by importance. Some things need to lead; others follow.

Tools for hierarchy:

• Typography — use different font sizes, weights, and styles.

• Positioning — important elements go higher or more central.

• White space — the more space around something, the more it stands out.

2. 📏 Scale & Proportion

This is all about size.

Larger elements naturally draw more attention. That’s basically visual hierarchy through scale.

Why it matters:
Adjusting object sizes helps you control the visual atmosphere and guide the user’s attention.

Proportion is more than just “this square is smaller than that one.” It’s about visual harmony. Golden ratios, grid systems, rule of thirds — all of it helps make your layout feel balanced.
Too many identical elements? Boring. One thing breaks the pattern? Intriguing.

3. ⚡ Contrast

Contrast is when something strongly differs from the rest, immediately catching the eye.
Imagine a soft, pastel layout full of rounded buttons — then suddenly, BAM! A yellow square. Boom — your eyes lock on it.

Contrast doesn’t mean “make it brighter” — it means make it different.

Types of contrast:

• Color — dark text on a light background (or vice versa).

• Shape — a triangle among circles.

• Size — tiny object next to a huge one.

• Saturation — one super-vivid element, others toned down.

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  Why it matters:
  To direct the eye. To make sure something stands out and doesn’t get lost. Contrast is like a visual shout: “HEY! LOOK HERE!”

  ⚠️ Just don’t overdo it.
  One strong contrast = powerful.
  Five in a row = chaos.

4. 🔁 Repetition & Pattern

Repetition creates unity. When you reuse elements (buttons, cards, icons, headers), your design starts to feel more cohesive.

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  Why it matters:
  It builds familiarity and structure. When users see repeating elements, they feel more confident navigating the design.
  If everything is different, the user gets lost. If there’s rhythm and repetition — they relax.

5. ⚖ Balance & Alignment

Now we’re talking about visual weight and breathing room.

Negative space (aka empty space) is your best friend. It lets your design breathe.
But it’s a balance:

• Too much space = empty and awkward.

• Too little = cluttered and chaotic.

Balance is about offsetting loud elements with quiet ones. It helps maintain a calm, readable experience.

Alignment also matters a lot. Elements that follow a grid or line up cleanly always look more professional than those placed randomly.

🎵 Movement & Rhythm

You don’t need motion blur to suggest movement.

If you arrange elements with a visual flow (like a row of increasing sizes), the eye naturally moves across them.

Rhythm is repetition with intention.
Imagine a drum beat. That’s your layout. A repeated element, spaced evenly, becomes a beat the user follows with their eyes.

Both movement and rhythm help guide attention — just in different ways.

• Rhythm is subtle: the eye flows naturally.

• Contrast is bold: the eye snaps to it.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Everything you just read is the foundation. The framework. The skeleton of good design.

But here’s the twist: don’t be afraid to break the rules.
Do it on purpose. Do it with reason. Break them only after you’ve learned them, experimented, felt them in your bones.

Most importantly — know why you’re doing it. That’s what separates good design from chaos.

👤 About the Author

I’m Savy Forson — a UI/UX designer and motion designer passionate about creating interfaces that feel intuitive, clean, and alive. I focus on user-centered design, structure, and motion that enhances the overall experience — not distracts from it.

📩 Email: SavyForson@gmail.com
🎨 Behance: behance.net/Forson
🏀 Dribbble: dribbble.com/SavyForson