Good design is more than just making cool images or “scroll-stopping” graphics. Whether you’re creating a card for social media or revamping an old landing page, it’s crucial to remember the importance of design — less about making things pretty, and more about solving problems and guiding users with intention.
Here are five simple design tips that can help you improve clarity and create more engaging digital experiences, no matter what you’re designing.
1. Make your work “scannable”
Most users don’t read websites like they read books. They scan. They skim. Their eyes flit across the page, looking for the piece of info they need. Then they bounce. So, your layout should support fast, friction-less navigation of information.
What a “scannable” page looks like:
- Use headings and subheadings to break up content and guide attention
- Keep paragraphs short—think 2–4 lines max
- Use bullet points or numbered lists for key information
- Make sure important content isn’t buried halfway down the page
Having a webpage that’s easy to skim can also be helpful to AI scrapers and search engine crawlers, which can increase your content’s discoverability.
Tools like the Hemingway Editor can help you evaluate content readability and accessibility.
2. White space isn’t wasted space
White space (also called negative space) is the breathing room your design needs. It’s not just a waste of space, or a space you have to intentionally leave empty.
It’s a strategic part of your design that creates an emphasis and helps the user understand what part of your design they should look at. Without enough of it, your design can feel cramped, chaotic, or just plain hard to navigate.
How to use white space well:
- Add generous padding around text and images
- Use consistent margins and gutters in grids
- Let key elements stand on their own; don’t cram things together
- Treat white space as part of your visual rhythm
White space helps establish hierarchy. In UI design, it also reduces cognitive load, thus making interfaces more approachable and usable.
3. Use color with purpose
Color can express brand personality, set mood, and direct attention—but it’s easy to overdo. A good color system isn’t about using more colors; it’s about using fewer, more intentionally.
Best practices:
- Stick to a defined palette (3–5 colors is often enough)
- Use high contrast for text and backgrounds for accessibility
- Save accent colors for calls to action or important highlights
- Make sure your colors meet WCAG contrast standards (use this tool to check)
Tools like Coolors and Adobe Color can help you build palettes. Also, keep in mind that color alone shouldn’t be the only way to communicate meaning—use icons, labels, shapes, and text too.
4. Prioritize function over flashy elements
A flashy design might impress our moms, but if users can’t navigate it, it won’t succeed. Good design solves problems. It anticipates what users need and helps them get there, quickly and confidently.
Think like a user:
- Can people tell what this is and what they should do next?
- Are buttons clearly labeled and easy to find?
- Is anything slowing the user down (pop-ups, animations, clutter)?
- Is the experience seamless across screen sizes and devices?
Sometimes the best design decision is the most boring one—like a standard input field or a plain text link. Familiar patterns work because users already understand them. Don’t reinvent the wheel unless you have a very good reason.
Here’s an example of a website that doesn’t reinvent the wheel: Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s company. (Looks like the website hasn’t seen an update since 1996!)
5. Create, test, iterate
No design is perfect out of the gate. The best designers test their work through user interviews, A/B tests, or even just asking a friend to try the interface. Every user input presents an opportunity to learn to improve.
What to test:
- Do people understand what your interface or message is about?
- Can they complete a task without confusion?
- What do they click on? What do they ignore?
- Are there any accessibility issues?
Even a handful of small usability tests can reveal major improvements. Tools like Figma makes it easy and fast to create prototypes, and platforms like Maze or Hotjar let you gather user insights at any stage.
You don’t need to be a seasoned designer to make smart design choices. These tips are simple enough to remember but powerful in practice.
Good design is about empathy, consistency, and constant iteration. If we treat every layout like a conversation with our user, we’ll already be ahead of most.
