
What is the mental model of the user interface—or at least the UI buttons?
The Feedback Aspect
Just like with most physical buttons, if a user wants to press it, he or she touches it. The feedback comes from its look and feel (it looks like a button; it feels like it can be pressed by actually pressing it).
With UI buttons, a user could get feedback from the following:
- Visual Design
- It looks like a button
- It feels like it is clickable
- Accessibility
- It says that it is a button
It Feels Like it Is Clickable
With some techniques in Visual Design, a designer could reinforce the feeling that the button functions as expected.
The Light Source
Does the button budge up when hovered? Or does it budge down?
If up, then the shade becomes lighter as it moves closer to the light source—which is naturally above us (in the real world). If down, then darker.
The LED Light
Does the button light up when hovered?
If yes, then the shade becomes lighter—whether the light comes from the body of the button or simply around the button.
You may combine those different techniques—but basically, those are the considerations why the shade of a button would be darker or lighter when hovered.
Please note that for devices with pointing device, the mouse changing to a pointer is enough feedback for the button to feel like it is clickable.
However, for touch devices, to feel like it is clickable, a user will actually press it.
Summary
- Style for Usability: Interactivity
- Style for Visual Design: Colors & Graphic Elements of Groups
- Style for Visual Design: Layout
Summary
- Style for Usability of Interactive Elements: Active Area
- Style for Visual Design: Colors & Graphic Elements of Individuals
Summary
- Convert the marked up groups into
<div class="group-name">
- Instead of
<div>
, mark up the group of form elements in<form>
- Mark up the text nodes in
<div class="text">
- Add class attributes to elements that need to be differentiated
One thing to consider when designing the visuals of a timeline is that the highlight (in the form of a bullet point) must be on the date.
See the Pen Timeline Visual Design on Article Dates by Brian Dys (@briandys) on CodePen.