Usability of Flat Buttons
Reading Time – 3 min. User interaction habits are altering as a result of flat buttons, and we can observe this in usability testing results.
Articles
Practical UX articles on interface design, usability and research — from form validation to dark mode, each answering one question with evidence.
Is there an optimal font size and line height ratio?
Reading Time – 2 min. The best line height for body text is about 1.5 times the font size, tighter for headings. Plus leading vs line height and the ideal line length.
Clockwise or counter-clockwise rotated text: which is easier to read?
Reading Time – 6 min. Neither direction is easier to read. Every study that has tested clockwise against counter-clockwise rotated text — going back to 1956 — has failed to find a reliable difference between them. So pick by convention, not legibility: rotate counter-clockwise (reading bottom to top) for chart axis labels and vertical UI labels, and clockwise (top to bottom) for anything modelled on a UK or US book spine.
How to display duration (HH:MM) so it isn’t confusing?
Reading Time – 5 min. Label the units. "2:30" reads as half past two just as easily as two and a half hours, so anywhere a duration could be mistaken for a clock time, write "2h 30m" or "2 hr 30 min" instead. Keep the HH:MM form only where the context makes it unmistakable — a video scrubber, a timesheet column with a header that says so — and never put a duration and a timestamp in the same column.
How Do Rounded Corners Affect Usability?
Reading Time – 3 min. Rounded vs sharp corners in web design: rounded corners feel friendlier and group content, sharp ones feel precise and suit dense UIs. When to use each.
Designing effective toggle buttons
Reading Time – 6 min. A toggle switch is for one binary setting that takes effect the instant it is flipped — Wi-Fi on or off, notifications on or off. If the change needs a Save button, if the two states are named alternatives like List and Map, or if the user is picking several things from a list, a switch is the wrong control. Use a checkbox, a radio group or a segmented button instead.
Ideal column width for paragraphs online
Reading Time – 2 min. Columns only make sense in a web setting if you're trying to convey a very small amount of information; otherwise, they have a negative impact on…
Update, Create, Delete: Which UX Copy works best?
Reading Time – 2 min. The best way to refer to these objects is determined by: who's using the system, what's actually being done; and what extra actions can be taken.
Button Hover: Should it become lighter or darker?
Reading Time – 3 min. The button hover states come in different shapes and sizes. The pattern you use doesn't matter, as long as it makes sense for your app.
Should the Cancel button appear first or second?
Reading Time – 3 min. Should the Cancel button appear first or second? When naming a button, it's better to clarify what it does rather than just labeling it as…