June 2020

Brian Dys

Creative Leadership
Brian Dys Archive Index
527
Design Lead @ PayMaya
Categories

Active Element

14:08:20
14:08:20
Brian Dys Avatar Brian Dys
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An Active Element is a user interface element that can be interacted with. It’s something you do something on (like click, tap, type on). A very basic example is a text link like this:

[codepen_embed height=”266″ theme_id=”1820″ slug_hash=”GpyBgM” default_tab=”result” user=”BrianSahagun”]See the Pen Text Link by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.[/codepen_embed]

Or a button like this:

[codepen_embed height=”266″ theme_id=”1820″ slug_hash=”ZbvjYN” default_tab=”result” user=”BrianSahagun”]See the Pen Button Example by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.[/codepen_embed]

Also a text input like this:

[codepen_embed height=”266″ theme_id=”1820″ slug_hash=”zvpLGY” default_tab=”result” user=”BrianSahagun”]See the Pen Text Input Example by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.[/codepen_embed]

Categories

3 Layers of an Active Element

10:24:15
10:24:15
Brian Dys Avatar Brian Dys
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Imagine this ombre cake:

Ombre Cake
Photo by sackerman519 on Flickr.

It looks yummy and it has layers.

It is similar with active elements – they must have three levels for the purpose of CSS.

The first level is the textual element itself. The second level holds the function of the active element (e.g., <a> or <button>). The third level is for positioning. Initially, it appears that the default way to put it is this way:

[html]
<a>Label</a>
[/html]

And since this is for the purpose of CSS, we must impement Framing for the textual element and for positioning. These frames will act as hooks for CSS. Look at this example:

[html]

<div> <!– Frame for positioning –>
<a>
<span> <!– Frame for textual element –>
Label
</span>
</a>
</div>

[/html]

Here’s a demo to show a floated button:

[codepen_embed height=”266″ theme_id=”1820″ slug_hash=”VvyxJJ” default_tab=”result” user=”BrianSahagun”]See the Pen 3 Layers of an Active Element Article Entry Admin Actions by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.[/codepen_embed]

Oh and by the way, here’s an ombre potato:

Ombre Potato
Source: Ombre Potato and Cheese Torte on Green Gourmet Giraffe
Categories

Padding

16:43:33
16:43:33
Brian Dys Avatar Brian Dys
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Padding

Imagine a 16 x 16 px home icon that also has a 16 x 16 px active area. This little thing is prone to be missed upon activating (clicking or tapping) especially when laid out side by side with other active elements with similar dimensions.

See the Pen A Small Icon with a Small Active Area by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.

Providing ample space around it away from other elements might lessen the chance of mistakenly activating something else but it won’t make it easier to hit. This is where Padding comes in.

Padding refers to increasing, at least to a minimum of 38 x 38 px the dimensions of the active area of an element. This technique prioritizes the usability of that active element in such a way that it is easily clicked by a pointing device or tapped by touch because of it’s big-enough area.

See the Pen A Small Icon with a 38 x 38 px Active Area by Brian Dys Sahagun (@BrianSahagun) on CodePen.

Padding: Responsive Wrap

A type of Padding wherein the active area, apart from having minimum dimensions, its size is being determined by its content. The active area at 38 px is wrapped around a content but if the content is bigger than the minimum of 38 px, the container will respond.

Characteristics

  • initial fixed height
  • width is determined by content and horizontal padding

[html]

<div class="axn_cr">
<a href="#">
<span class="label">Label</span>
</a>
</div>

[/html]

[css]
a
{
display: inline-block;
padding-left: 1rem;
padding-right: 1rem;
height: 48px;
min-width: 48px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
[/css]

Related Terms

  • Activate
  • Active Area
  • Active ELement
Categories

Building a Technical Vocabulary

14:42:25
14:42:25
Brian Dys Avatar Brian Dys
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As front-end designers, we are using patterns over and over again – we are employing specific techniques to answer specific needs. But what we lack is a term, a name tag for those methods.

It’s simply like the Flying V of The Mighty Ducks!

Flying V - Shirt Print Design by MrTWilson
A t-shirt print design by MrTWilson at Redbubble.

So far, I’ve added Padding and Framing to my vocabulary.

Let’s try another one. Say for example, I need the following for my website’s header:

  • Fixed-height header
  • Responsive width
  • The content of the header are all vertically-aligned in the middle
  • If the content of the header exceeds the fixed height, then it will respond

What kind of solution does this need and what can we name the technique?