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8 Golden Rules of Interface Design & Best Practices

Posted on  18 February, 2025
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Designing a great user interface requires more than just creativity—it requires UI UX designers to follow structure and proven principles to ensure a seamless user experience. 

Alongside Heuristic Evaluation, one of the most widely recognized frameworks in UI Design is Ben Schneiderman’s 8 golden rules of interface design​. For years, UI UX designers have widely adopted these principles to enhance usability, minimize user frustration, and improve overall experience across various digital platforms.

In this blog, we’ll dive deep into these 8 golden rules of user interface design​ and explore best practices for applying them effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned UI UX Auditor, these principles will serve as a strong foundation for designing interfaces that truly resonate with users.

1. Strive for Consistency

Strive for Consistency - 8 golden rules

Consistency is the first rule of Shneiderman’s 8 Golden Rules of Interface Design​​. When users interact with a product, they rely on familiar patterns to navigate through interfaces and complete tasks efficiently. A consistent design ensures that similar actions and elements behave predictably across the system, reducing the learning curve and preventing confusion.

Best Practices for Striving for Consistency:

  • Use standard UI patterns (e.g., keeping navigation menus at the top left of a website, or placing a shopping cart icon in the upper-right corner of an eCommerce app.)
  • Maintain uniform language and terminology (e.g., if you use “Sign Up” on the homepage, avoid using “Register” or “Create Account” elsewhere.)
  • Ensure visual consistency (e.g., using the same brand colors, typography, button shapes, and spacing across all pages.)

2. Seek Universal Usability

Seek Universal Usability - 8 rules of UI design

The Rule of Seeking Universal Usability aims to ensure that digital products, interfaces, and systems are usable and accessible by the widest possible range of users – regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or technological access. To achieve this, interfaces should offer flexible ways to complete tasks while also giving users the freedom to choose what works best for them, making the experience more intuitive and efficient.

Best Practices for Seeking Universal Usability:

  • Provide shortcuts for advanced users, while tooltips and contextual help for beginners.
  • Ensure accessibility for all users (e.g., Apple’s iOS VoiceOver feature enables visually impaired users to navigate devices.)
  • Allow user customization (e.g., Letting users modify text size and color themes on apps for better readability.)

3. Offer Informative Feedback 

When users take action on your website, they should receive immediate feedback to understand where they are in the process. Without clear responses, they may feel uncertain or assume something went wrong. Instead of leaving them guessing, the system should provide timely and clear feedback at every step. This helps users determine whether their action was successful and what to do next.

Best Practices for Offering Informative Feedback:

  • Provide immediate feedback for small actions (e.g., a button should change color when clicked, or a hover state should indicate that an element is interactive.)
  • Use feedback for longer processes (e.g., a progress bar for file uploads or a loading spinner for data processing helps users understand that the system is working.)
  • Display error messages and success notifications (e.g., after submitting a form, show a message like “Your request has been sent!” or “Please enter a valid email address.”)

4. Design Dialog to Yield Closure

Design Dialog to Yield Closure - UI design

The rule aims to ensure that users receive clear feedback after completing a task, confirming that their action was successful and the process is complete. Without clear closure, users may feel unsure about whether they’ve completed a task successfully or if further action is needed. To prevent confusion, provide confirmation messages and clear next steps, guiding users smoothly through their journey and reducing frustration.

Best Practices for Designing Dialogs to Yield Closure:

  • Provide a completion message at the end of a process (e.g., after submitting a form, show “Your request has been received!” instead of leaving users unsure if it went through.)
  • Offer well-defined next steps (e.g., after purchasing a product online, show options like “Track your order” or “Continue shopping.”)

You may want to read more: The Ultimate Guide to Heuristic Evaluation in UX Design

5. Offer Simple Error Handling

Offer Simple Error Handling

One of the most important aspects of a good interface is avoiding errors as much as possible. When users do make an error, your system should make it easy for them to understand what went wrong and how to fix it. A simple way to handle errors is to display clear messages that explain the issue and provide actionable solutions while also offering descriptive hints to guide users toward the correct input before they make a mistake.

Best Practices for Offering Simple Error Handling:

  • Provide real-time validation (e.g., Notify users if a password doesn’t meet the required criteria.)
  • Disable unavailable or invalid options (e.g., gray out the “Next” button until all required fields are filled correctly in a multi-step form.)
  • Offer clear and actionable error messages (e.g., instead of “Invalid input,” use “Please enter a valid email address in the format example@email.com.”)

6. Permit Easy Reversal of Actions

Permit Easy Reversal of Actions

It’s a relief for users to know they can easily undo a mistake. When users can quickly fix errors, they feel relaxed and are likely to explore the interface without fear of making mistakes. This rule applies to any action or data entry, whether it’s a single click or a series of steps.

Best Practices for Permitting Easy Reversal of Actions:

  • Support Undo and Redo for reversible actions (e.g., Google Docs allow users to undo typing errors or restore previous document versions.)
  • Provide clear Cancel buttons (e.g., in a multi-step checkout process, a visible “Cancel” or “Back” button allows users to modify their selections without losing progress.)
  • Implement an action history when applicable (e.g., design software like Photoshop includes a history panel, enabling users to revert to earlier versions of their work.)

7. Support Internal Locus of Control

Support Internal Locus of Control

It is necessary for users to feel in control of the system rather than being directed by it. When they can make decisions, take actions freely, and navigate without unnecessary restrictions, they engage more confidently and experience less frustration. Your system should respond predictably to user input and avoid forcing them into rigid workflows. When interactions feel intuitive and actions lead to expected results, users feel a greater sense of ownership. 

Best Practices for Supporting Internal Locus of Control:

  • Ensure user-initiated actions (e.g., instead of automatically submitting a form once all fields are filled, provide a clear “Submit” button so users can confirm their input before proceeding.)
  • Maintain predictability (e.g., a “Delete” button should always trigger a confirmation prompt before permanently removing an item, ensuring users are aware of the consequences.)
  • Provide customization options (e.g., allow users to rearrange dashboard widgets, adjust font sizes, or enable dark mode based on their needs.)

8. Reduce Short-Term Memory Load

Reduce Short-Term Memory Load - 8 golden rules of UI

The final rule in Shneiderman and Plaisant’s rules of interface design highlights a fundamental principle of human-computer interaction: “minimizing the cognitive effort required to make interfaces easier to use”. The human brain can only process a limited amount of information at a time. When users are overwhelmed with excessive details, complex layouts, or frequent window changes, it becomes harder for them to focus and complete tasks efficiently.

Best Practices for Reducing Short-Term Memory Load:

  • Remember user preferences (e.g., offer a “Remember this password” option on login pages, so users don’t have to re-enter credentials each time they access).
  • Use recognition over recall (e.g., instead of requiring users to type, provide dropdown menus or autofill suggestions to help them select familiar options.)
  • Provide context and keep key information visible (e.g., in a multi-step checkout process, display a progress bar and order summary to remind users of their selections without navigating back.)

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Conclusion

In this blog, we have explored Shneiderman’s 8 Golden Rules of Interface Design, along with practical examples and best practices to help you create intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences. Applying these principles ensures that interfaces are consistent, accessible, and easy to navigate, ultimately enhancing usability and improving user satisfaction.

Looking for expert guidance to refine your interface design? Our usability experts at Lollypop Design Studio are here to support you. As a leading UI/UX design company, we specialize in providing tailored UX audit solutions, leveraging “Interface Design” to elevate user experiences across all digital platforms.

Contact us today to explore a customized UX audit process designed to meet your specific goals and needs.

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